Page 20 of The Dark Obsession

Cementing my decision that from now on, I will be the only one she’ll come to, the only one to protect her, the only one to provide her with all her heart’s desires.

And if I must kill every other asshole who dares to look her in the process,then so be it.

No one, not her family, and certainly no stranger will come close to her again.

I’m all she needs from now on.

She will soon come to realize that.

Even though I hate to disrupt her tight hold on me, the distress in her eyes is making my blood boil like never before.

Grabbing Nero by his collar, I pull him away from Malory, cursing myself for not knowing that she feared large dogs.

I wouldn’t have put her in this situation if I knew.

“Hey, it’s okay, little one. He won’t hurt you.” I try soothing her. “Nothing ever will.”

Offering comforting words to anyone has never been something I cared for. Or was even capable of.

Ever since I could understand the world around me, I’ve come to realize that feelings are a burden. The same going for interpersonal relationships, something I’ve always steered clear from. With one exception apparently.

Malory’s hands are still shaking when she reluctantly lets me take one, bringing it up to Nero’s snout as he sniffs her knuckles with interest.

“I found him as a puppy, dumped in an alley near an underground fighting ring back in Los Angeles. They probably deemed him too weak for dogfights. So, I took him in.”

I don’t know what compelled me in that moment, but seeing him there on the verge of death, I saw myself in the animal.

I also saw what he could become, I saw his strength just like someone else has seen mine.

Nero’s wet nose nudges her hand and without further hesitation, the dog snuggles his head against her open palm.

With a tentative smile, I feel Malory’s muscles loosen as she gently pats his head.

“Sorry,” My princess looks down at her feet, unnecessarily embarrassed about what just transpired. “I used to be really scared of dogs as a child since I haven’t ever been around any. I’ve gotten mostly over it with age though. He just took me by surprise.”

It’s impressive how openly she shares her vulnerabilities, especially with the man who kidnapped her not too long ago of all people.

“He can be a little intense at times, but there’s no one more loyal.”

Seeing the two most important beings in my life together fills me with such deep-rooted sense of belonging, making me completely certain that bringing her here was the best decision I could have made.

Not that I stopped for a second to question my actions since I learned of her existence.

My obsession wouldn’t allow for a future where Malory wasn’t by my side.

“His name is Nero.”

“Italian for black?” She asks curiously, still stroking his short, dark fur.

“Yeah, exactly.” I mutter under my breath, astonished that she caught onto the little inside joke I have with myself.

If my father didn’t bother giving me an Italian name, pissing all over his heritage, the least I could do was to give one to my dog just to spite the dead bastard.

Nero rolls over at Malory’s feet while she tenderly rubs his belly, falling under her spell as easily as I did.

Before I can get jealous of my own damn dog, I make my way inside, waiting for them to follow.

“I tried making it homier with some blankets and other shit, but I’ve left most of the decorating up to you. It’s your place after all.”

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