Page 32 of Shadows of Obsession

Only two people have ever sparked real curiosity in me. One of them is Victoria - she's drawn feelings from me since day one. I don't know if what I feel is textbook love, but I'd burn the world down for my little sister.

So when I realized I couldn't get Luna's eyes out of my head, it hit me - she's the first person to haunt my thoughts like this. For someone who's never dealt with these...distractions, let's just say I'm intrigued.

In the elevator, I can feel her tension, but there's no way I'm letting her go home alone. Her perfume fills the space, and suddenly it clicks.

I know this scent. Different from the restaurant, different from the party.

This is what I smelled on Victoria. At the hospital. When Goran mentioned some young woman checking the bracelets before my sister vanished.

Well, damn. That's why Vi, who is always scented like vanilla, suddenly smelled of flowers.

I hadn't connected it to Luna until now. I'm not a religious man, but this feels like a sign. And being the spiritual person I apparently now am, who am I to ignore divine intervention?

After dealing with Tim, I needed to know more about my new employee. Lev's my guy for digging up information - I put him on Luna's case while he asks around about this Smert business.

Within hours, I had a complete file on Luna Radulescu. Romanian born, moved to Chicago with her parents at age four.

Her social circle's tiny - mainly just that girl Roxy from Los Amantes. Likes Asian and Mexican food, lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment.

But what really caught my attention: a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend. Multiple police reports she later dropped.

I don't like assumptions, so I'll wait for her to tell me that story herself. Because whether she likes it or not, Luna's become my new fascination. Especially after that kiss that won't leave my head. Today took everything I had not to kiss her again. Every time her fingers brushed mine, my promise to wait for her to beg nearly crumbled.Almost.

In the parking lot, I catch her confused look and gesture her over. Usually my driver waits out front, but tonight I want privacy. I head for one of my personal cars kept in the company garage.

I head toward the only car I have here, a Volvo XC90, and open the door for her. I don't know why she seems so surprised by my gesture, but I hear her murmuring a "thank you" as she gets in.

Once I'm behind the wheel, I realize how relaxed I am in her presence, which is unnatural.

My guard's always up, always waiting for the next threat. But right now, all I feel is peace. And that just makes her more intriguing - poor thing doesn't know she's only drawing me in deeper.

“I haven't told you where I live,” she says, though I think she's noticed we're heading straight for her place.

“It's in your employee file, Luna,” I tell her. A half-truth - Lev's report is what really told me.

What fascinates me is how she looks at me - like she senses the predator beneath the suit but craves it anyway. That's why I've stopped pretending to be something I'm not, like I do with everyone else outside my inner circle.

I've always hated lies, so having someone see the real me feels like coming up for air after almost drowning.

When she asked about Tim earlier, it took a split second to decide to tell her the truth. Something told me she was strong enough to handle it - to understand why her instincts about me were right all along. And I don't regret it for a second.

She's the first woman I've ever let glimpse anything about my organization. Though I didn't spell it out, I know she's pieced together that Tim won't be causing any more problems.Ever.

My explanation seems to settle her somehow - she sinks deeper into the seat, fidgeting with her ring.

"Why me?" I hear her asking, and I know what she means.

Why this curiosity with her, why am I not as professional as I normally am. And, because I want her to feel comfortable with me, I tell her the truth.

"I don't know. I just know your eyes shouldn't carry so much weight in them, and it bothers me."

I feel her gaze, but I don't turn to look at her, continuing to focus on the road.

The building where she lives appears on the horizon in a few minutes, and when we arrive, I signal her not to open the doorbut to wait for me. I've never had girlfriends, but somehow, for her, I want to make this gesture.

When I open it, Luna has a smile on her lips, and I freeze with the door open when I see her. She's not a sad woman, but she always has a resilience on her face as if she doesn't want you to see beyond what she allows. The fact that she's smiling so easily now creates a strange feeling in my chest.

"What's the reason?"

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