Page 117 of Shadows of Obsession

It's not an accusation, it's an observation.

"I'm saving myself for later."

I have someone tied up in the interrogation area of another warehouse, the same place we took Tim and Gavin. Where we took Tim and Gavin. Now Aidan is there too, and it seems somehow poetic how all the men who tried to hurt Luna will end up between those walls.

I messaged Sergey to bring her to the warehouse. Although he was quite shaken after the car chase and attack by the Irish, the next day he asked to resume his duties even though his face is still swollen and his ribs are fragile. These are the people I know I could put all my trust in. I know Sergey feels guilty that he couldn't protect Luna, but I explained that the blame for this falls on me. Not him.

When I arrive at the warehouse, I spot Luna standing next to Sergey. She's wearing a red coat and tall boots over jeans. Her cinnamon strands cover her glasses because of the wind, and when I come up next to her, I notice her nose is red from the cold.

"Sorry I'm late," I tell her while leaning down to kiss her.

"There wasn't any traffic," she answers, smiling between kisses.

"Sergey, go get a coffee. This will take a while." I signal him to go to the barracks where soldiers can hang out while we handle interrogations.

"If you need me, I'll be at the door."

"You don't need to stay at the warehouse door," Luna tells him, moving closer to me to warm up.

"With all due respect, if you're in that warehouse, I'll be at its door in case you need anything," he says, and his voice is unwavering.

"Ugh, nothing but overprotective men. Thank you, Sergey," she says warmly and turns to me.

"Are you ready? I can have Sergey take you home and handle this myself."

Because I know her soul. It's not made for the violence she's about to see.

"Yes. I'm ready," she says in a determined tone, and without saying anything else, I take her hand and lead her to the basement.

For me, it's the umpteenth time I've been here. For her, it's the first. I analyze her every reaction and flinch. If at any moment I see she's not okay, I don't care how ready she thinks she is. I'll handle the idiot chained up in the middle of the basement myself.

Aidan wakes up when the basement door closes behind us, and his eyes focus on Luna.

"Sweetie, Luna, please." His voice is lifeless.

You could swear he's a broken man, but I know people like him. I'm no expert, but he clearly has mental issues. Luna told me he seemed unaware that he was the one who hit her when they moved her from the house where they were keeping Roxy. His entire behavior toward her makes me believe he suffers from some undiagnosed mental illness.

"I promise to leave you alone. I promise. You'll never hear from me again," he tells her, with tears in his eyes.

She watches him, her gaze following his movements while her face remains still as stone. Not a twitch at the corner of her lips,not a crease between her brows, nothing like the woman whose every emotion usually plays across her features like an open book. Whatever she's feeling now, she's locked it away where even I can't reach it.

She takes off her red coat and leaves it on the table. She turns back to Aidan, and I'm impressed when she does nothing but look at him. The way she boils him with her silence makes me smile uncontrollably.Have fun, my love.

Aidan then looks at me and tries to negotiate his fate with me.

"Please. Devin threatened me. I had no choice. I would never have... I won't do it again. It's the last time..."

Luna's laugh is all that's heard in the basement. It's an empty, cold laugh that makes me raise my eyebrows.

"Do you know how many times you swore it would be the last time you'd ask for money?" she asks, and her tone, authoritative and cold, leaves no room for interpretation.

Sweet Luna isn't here.

"Sweetie, I swear, it's the last—"

He doesn't finish because Luna's voice makes me turn my head toward her.

"LUNA! IT'S LUNA! Not little Luna, notsweetie, not whatever other name you've given me. IT'S SIMPLY LUNA!" she shouts at him, and I see Aidan flinching as if her scream had hit him.

---