Page 51 of Shadows of Obsession

And in that moment I see the resignation and can't help but smile. Many think the art of torture lies in how much pain you can inflict, but the secret is how quickly you can convince them the torture won't end.

Physically, a person can resist many torture techniques. Is it pleasant? Obviously not. But it's the psyche that breaks first and refuses to assimilate the pain.

"Aidan Greyworth. Five hundred thousand dollars dollars," he tells me, and his head drops forward.

I take a breath to calm my heartbeat, because I knew.

I knew her ex-boyfriend was involved in this since I read Lev's report. Something in me hoped it wasn't him. That maybe it had to do with me and this was Devin's method of continuing to provoke me.

That would have meant I was the target of the attack. But his answer only deepens the void in my stomach.

Luna was the target.

I take my Ruger MAX-9 from behind me, and in two seconds the gun's sound is swallowed by silence.

My hand is already dialing Lev.

"Why don't I have news about Aidan yet?" I say as soon as he answers.

"About who?" comes Lev's response, and my finger flexes on the trigger, firing three shots into the ceiling that I know he hears through the phone.

"What the hell, Ro?" Lev says, now alert.

"Luna's ex-boyfriend. You said he disappeared a few months ago. I want to know what you found. Where he is. If he's changed his sneakers since then," I say, enunciating each word.

"I haven't found him, Roman. I can't track someone who doesn't have an active phone, who doesn't have social media, who doesn't have a stable address. Not that quickly at least." The calmness in his response irritates me.

"How are we doing with Devin?" I ask through clenched teeth.

"He was seen at a downtown club, but after ten minutes he got into a convoy of cars and we lost him on the traffic cameras," he answers.

I take another breath.

"That's two problems you're not solving for me, Lev. Why the hell am I paying you and your people if I need to find two men and you're not capable?" I yell into the phone.

Rationally, I know what I'm asking isn't simple. Devin has his own people and is aware that both Damien and I have put him on the black list.

But Aidan? Something doesn't add up here.

I've read his report. This isn't a man intelligent enough to know how to cover his tracks so well. Someone's helping that bastard, and when I find them, I'll have Damien teach me how to flay them alive.

Chapter 21

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Luna

Anuska leads me to an upstairs room to catch a few hours of sleep. And, although I could have sworn I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, the discussion with Roman, the attack, my body screaming for rest, and all the other emotions make me collapse the moment my head hits the pillow. I don't know how long it takes me to fall asleep, but it seems almost instant.

I walk mechanically while leaving the building, with Aidan and Igor following me.

Aidan wears a grave expression while staring straight ahead. The 'artist' who started carving me like a piece of wood takes out his car keys and shoves me into the back seat.

I could have screamed for help, but I'm convinced he would have killed me on the spot and abandoned me there. Before any neighbor could react or police could arrive, I would have been dead already. I have no doubt.

"Where are we going?" Aidan's the one who asks. His voice has a slightly elevated tone, and only because I know him do I know he's panicked. His shoulders are rigid and I see every wrinkle etched deeper on his face.

"Damien's at the club," he answers.

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