Page 93 of Shadows of Obsession

Before lifting him from the floor, I tell him what I used to say to him and Niko when we were children.

"You can act like a man!"

I see the recognition on his face that, after a few seconds, turns to resignation.

Anton and Niko lift Denis and cuff him to the chains suspended from the ceiling. In a few seconds, I've cut his shirt off and then leave him hanging for a few minutes, during which time I know his muscles will already start feeling the stress they're under from the chains.

When it seems to me his arms are well numbed and I see the veins in his neck tensing, I start hitting him. All the frustration and betrayal, I pour out in each punch. I know I'll leave marks, but what matters now is showing my fury.

Niko comes up beside me, and I take a few steps back. He didn't see Denis’s face like I saw it, but I know he heard what I said.

"A few days ago I told Roman to give you more responsibilities. That's how much trust I had in you," he tells him, and his fist connects with Denis's ribs.

Our cousin's body crumples slightly, breath hissing between clenched teeth. His gaze grows unfocused, pupils dilating as pain blooms across his features—each wince, each shallow breath, each droplet of sweat forming at his temple telling its own story of betrayal and consequence.

My phone rings then and I see it's Kai. Who's at my home. With Luna. I don't even need to wonder if I should answer; in the next second, I have the phone to my ear.

"Talk to me!"

"She’ll need physical therapy for that shoulder, but otherwise nothing that some pain pills and rest won't heal."

But I sense something in his voice at the end. A hesitation.

"Kai…," I say, and he knows I'm losing patience.

"She received a message and went completely pale. I don't know what it means, but I think she had a panic episode," he tells me, and my vision turns white.

The bastard sent her another message, and I know too well how she reacted last time this happened.

"I’ll keep in touch," I tell Kai and hang up. I need to get home. "Leave him like that. I don't want anyone touching him except me!" I order, and Niko and Anton nod.

Both understand the plan.

"Luna had a panic attack," I tell Niko before he can ask, when I notice him following me outside.

"Love suits you, Ro!" he shouts after me, and his laugh is the last thing I register before getting in the car.

I'm certain I run at least three red lights, but all I want is to get to her faster. I disappointed her today when I allowed her to be taken. I won't leave her alone to suffer through this panic attack.

Kai wouldn't have mentioned anything if he didn't consider it serious, and that only intensifies my fury. I've stopped questioning what's so special about this woman that makes me drop everything to get to her. I would say she brings my weaknesses to the surface, but that's the problem.

She is my weakness.

When I park in front of the house, I practically jump out of the car. I already know who sent her that message that made her react like this. It's the same idiot who bothered her before when she was having lunch with Clara.

I breathe in and out several times. I need to calm down.

I open the bedroom door and see her curled up on the bed, although the room is dark. I realize she's not sleeping. I can hearher breathing and how accelerated it is. I feel her eyes on me, and without clearly seeing her face, I already know she's crying.

She rises to her knees on the bed, and I move toward her while throwing my jacket on the chairback. I'm overwhelmed by the need to hold her in my arms and ensure that no one will ever cause her even the slightest worry again.

"Luna," I say softly, and her name is all I manage to get out before her arms wrap around my neck.

I close my eyes and allow myself to breathe in her perfume. Cherries and something else sweet. Like her.

"I'll never escape him," she tells me, murmuring into my neck.

I know who that "him" is and I know his days are numbered, yet I need to calm her.

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