Page 73 of Unholy Obsession

“A conversation,” he says with the kind of grim patience people use when explaining things to toddlers—or women they’ve just had abducted off the side of the street, apparently. He pulls a silk handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabs athis face, wiping away the spittle I didn’t intend but am honestly proud of.

“The shorter, the better, if you’d stand still for a moment.”

“Oh,fine,” I hiss, dragging out the F just enough to spit again because why not double down?

His jaw tightens, but he smooths it over with condescending British calm.

“I should’ve known my son would continue his rebellion by taking up with someone so… completely unsuitable.”

“Who the fuck are you, anyway? An anal-retentive dick in a suit? Got it.”

He squares his shoulders, standing taller like that’s supposed to intimidate me. “I’m one of the most respected men in the world, young lady. And you’d do well to watch your tongue if you don’t want these men to cut it out.”

I blink, then slowly look around. “We’re on a public street, genius. There are cameras.”

He smiles. Not a warm smile—a predatory one. “They’ll have all conveniently gone out for these few minutes.”

Great. Love that for me.

“So let me get down to it,” he continues, pulling out a literal checkbook. Like this is 1997. “What will it cost me for you to leave my son be?”

I actually laugh. Right in his face. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I’m quite serious.”

He scribbles something on the check. “Will a million do it?”

I blink. Then scoff. “You really are one jaded motherfucker. Don’t you want your son to behappy?”

His expression flattens, deadpan. “I highly doubt the daughter of a whore from nowhere, Ireland—who grew up to be a sex addict, no less—could make my son happy.”

Oof. That one lands like a punch to the gut, but I swallow it down.

“Two million,” he bites out.

I jab my finger in his face. “You can take your money and shove it up your ass.”

“Fifty million.”

I laugh, shaking my head. That’s how much my brother paid when Anna auctioned off her virginity.

“If you know so much about me, then you know I’ve already got a billionaire brother. I don’t need your filthy money.”

“A billionaire brother who’s not speaking to you.” He gets right in my face, eyes burning. “You live in such a pretty penthouse, but what happens when he stops paying your rent? And stops paying for your fancy car? Or did he already, and that’s why you’re taking public transit like the provincial you really are?”

I toss my hands up, smiling wildly. “I guess I’ll finally have to get off my ass and get a job.”

“But you’ve never managed to hold a job, have you? Onehundredmillion dollars.” He over-annunciates every word. “My final offer. You never have to worry about your brother again. Or ever work a day in your life.”

I blink down at the cold concrete of the sidewalk underneath my feet, then laugh—a wild, unhinged laugh that starts deep in my belly and rolls out, loud and ugly. I’m laughing so hard I have to bend over, slapping my knee like he just told the world’s funniest joke.

Bane’s father stands there, rigid as a statue, his face carved from stone.

Then, he looks at one of his brutes and gives the tiniest of nods.

In a flash, Billy lunges, grabbing me by the coat andslammingme against a nearby brick wall.

My laughter dies out, replaced by a grin so sharp it could cut glass.

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