Page 52 of Shadows of Obsession

A single thought gnaws at my mind: where to get fifty thousand dollars to pay his debt. If I survive this night, I need to find a solution. Aidan will never leave me alone.

The policeman's laugh still echoes in my mind from when he ridiculed me after I told him my ex-boyfriend was harassing me.

"You'll make up," he told me when I showed him the hundred calls and messages where he insisted I answer him.

The same type of officers were the ones who convinced me to withdraw my complaints.

"If it goes to court, it'll be a show for years!"

What stopped me from taking him to court was not wanting to ruin his life - he was already struggling to keep a job. A record would've killed any chance of employment. Look where being nice got me - now I'm wondering if I'll live to see tomorrow.

The car pulls up to a club with a green neon sign reading 'Red Poppy.' Bass thumps from inside, but instead of the front entrance, Aidan and I are steered around back, where another guy nods at the one crushing my hand.

After he punches in a code, the door clicks open.

We're herded down a tunnel, where the music turns muffled. A door opens on the right into an office with soft lighting.

Behind the desk, there's some stone artwork on the wall with a bookshelf beside it. Above, a chandelier looks like tangled stars. Two guys dressed like my hand-crusher stand by the door, with another sprawled on the couch.

I instantly know Damien is the guy behind the desk. He's talking to someone on the phone, and when his eyes land on us, he hangs up without explanation.

I can't help but look at him, given he's the man who will decide what happens to me, and at first glance...I'm in trouble. His brown eyes study me from head to toe. He's dressed like the other men in a leather jacket, jeans, and boots. His hair is dark, and I could swear it has some red reflections in this light, but I'm probably not seeing clearly anymore.

Although he's an attractive man, that's not what matters now, but rather how the atmosphere in the room has become suffocating, heavy with anticipation for what's to come. Even the air seems to have stopped, no one daring to breathe.

"Explain."

That's all he says while his gaze fixes on Igor.

"You wanted Aidan Greyworth found. Well, I found him," Igor announces in his deep baritone, and I feel my entire body shudder at the name.

My reaction doesn't escape Damien, who narrows his eyes and runs a hand through his hair.

"I see. Who's she?"

"How do you think I convinced him to appear?" Igor asks.

"Damien, if you give me one more week..." Aidan tries to intervene, but one look from Damien silences him.

The adults are talking now.

"I see that, Igor. What I don't understand is why I have a trembling woman in my office, with marks from your hands on her arms and blood on my carpet," Damien emphasizes, focusing on me again.

I don't know what to tell him. This man knows what his employee is capable of and doesn't seem bothered that I'm bleeding on his carpet. When they took me from my home, Ididn't have time to change, and my shirt is probably soaked with blood from Igor's masterpiece.

"It was the only way to make him appear," my attacker answers in what I could swear is a...proud tone.

There's a moment of silence where no one moves. I see a vein pulse in Damien's neck, and when he speaks, it takes me a few seconds to realize he's addressing me.

"Where did he hurt you?"

My eyes grow wide with fear, my tongue turns to lead, and I feel a weight on my chest, but I close my eyes and whisper.

"On my back."

In five seconds, Damien is behind me, lifting my shirt. I'm surprised by how gently he touches the material, probably seeing how much blood covers it.

I feel his breath on my neck, and then Igor releases my hand.

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