Page 40 of Dangerous Obsession

The coffee maker takes a second to warm up, but I collect the K-cups and mugs while I wait. Then I lean on the counter and fold my arms over my chest. My neck is really sore, so I rub it with one hand, closing my eyes. An image of Willow in the shower flashes in my mind, the water running over her creamy curves. It sparks the memory of a dream I had, her on me, riding me while I slept. Her pussy was so wet, so slick and ready for me. I want that dream to be a reality, but sex with Willow lately has been scarce. I have to provoke her to argue with me, which I don’t have any interest in with this massive of a headache.

The click of the single-serving coffee machine tells me it’s ready to brew our morning Joe, so I turn and pop a K-cup into the slot and close the lid, then put the mug beneath the spout and hit the twelve-ounce button. The light flashes, warning me I need to add water. Willow was the last to use the damn thing and she never refills the reservoir. I scowl and pull the plastic tank off the machine and carry it across the room to the sink to fill it.

As the water line slowly creeps higher on fill lines painted on the side of the reservoir, I look out over the backyard. The sprinklers are on despite the rain we had last night. It’s going to make the entire yard a mud bog. Frustrated, I reach for the key around my neck to unlock the back door so I can turn the water off, but I quickly realize it’s not there. I fumble around my neckline, groping myself, but the key is gone.

“What the hell?” I head for the living room, retracing my steps. I came home and locked the door. Willow looked like she was ready to throw the cast iron through the front window because I’d been gone. I dropped the key on the end table, but picking up the half-empty six-pack revealed no key there. “Fuck’s sake,” I hiss and turn to look at the front door. The key remains in the lock, chain dangling.

I freeze for a second, staring at that key. My mind is blank. I remember coming home, but not much after that. “Willow?” I call again. I remove the key and move straight toward the stairs. I still hear water running, but she’s been in there a while. “Willow? Do you want coffee?”

I don’t even knock on the door. I push it open to find the shower isn’t running at all. The water I hear running has to be the sprinkler. “Willow, this isn’t funny!” I turn and walk across the hall to her room. The door stands open, light streaming in from her window too. The room is empty, bed fussed from her nap yesterday but unslept in last night.

“Fuck!” I tear through the rest of the upstairs, searching my room and both closets. Then I return to the bathroom, just to double check that she isn’t hiding behind the shower curtain. When I realize she is gone—like actually took my key and let herself out—it all comes back to me. I stand in the open bathroom doorway remembering how she fed me that beer one after another. How she apologized as she slid across my cock, teasing me as the drug kicked in.

I kick the trash can hard and it slams into the wall and spills out its contents. I’m so furious I can’t think. I put a hand over my forehead, as if shielding my eyes from the sun, and clench my jaw. That woman has no clue what she’s doing. She has gone off into this city alone with no protection. I grope my waist frantically and find my Glock still shoved in my waistband where I left it. At least she’s not stupid enough to take that. She has no clue how to even use a weapon if she tried.

Angry, I stare into the mirror for a moment, trying to decide how to handle this. I need to go after her and find her, but I won’t be able to do it alone. I’ll need the help of a few of my soldiers at least. I brace my hands on the counter and drop my head, sighing loudly, and my eyes catch something on the floor. A small white plastic stick. Next to it is a pink box with cursive writing on it.

I bend to pick up the box so I can see it more clearly, and instantly I know what it is. Which only makes me pick up the white stick even faster. Two lines indicate a positive test, though it’s probably been hours since she took it. “She’s pregnant?” I shake my head, reeling over the news. Willow is pregnant with my child and now she’s out on those streets alone. I sit on the closed toilet lid and run a hand through my hair while I try to wrap my head around this.

It's bad enough that the Italians will hunt her down, but if they know she’s carrying my child, they will do far worse. And they will do it all in the name of drawing me out so they can exact revenge. I can’t do this myself. I need help, and my brothers aren’t getting a choice now.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and hit Sven’s number on speed dial. He doesn’t even wait two whole rings to pick up. “Leo, where the fuck are you? We’ve been trying to call. After you left, Dad—”

“I don’t have time for this, Sven. I need help now.”

“What? Dad went to the hospital in the squad, man. They say he had a heart attack.”

“Sven, listen to me.” I take a deep breath. The news about my father is shocking, but I can’t do anything about that right now, and he is in the best place possible with doctors who will do everything they can. “Willow is in danger. She left the house. She fucking drugged me and took my key. She’s out there, and they’re going to kill her.”

“Slow down, buddy.” Sven doesn’t sound entirely opposed to the idea, but I don’t have time to fuck with his questioning.

“Are you helping me or not?” I head downstairs where I still hear water running, and remember along the way that I left the sink to fill the reservoir. I suddenly do not need that coffee at all, so I shut the water off and leave the thing sit in the sink. The sprinkler is still on, but the backyard can be a mud bog. I no longer care.

“You know what Dad said, and now he’s in the hospital.”

“Sven, she’s pregnant.”

There is a cold tension on the line as he absorbs my words. I hear some talking in the background before I hear him breathe heavily into the receiver. “Come to the hospital and we’ll talk it out. Dad has asked for you personally. Everyone else is here. If you want your family to back you up, you need to act like you have a family.”

The line beeps a few times indicating he hung up and I am ready to smash my phone to pieces. Except, he’s right. I do need my family to back me up, and I know the only way I’m getting anyone’s support is to show up at that hospital. Besides the fact that I have to have their permission to use my guys. By now they will have told all of my men that I’m off limits until I get with the program. I have no choice.

I climb into my car and drive across town to the hospital, all the while scanning every sidewalk, outdoor café, and street corner for Willow’s hazel eyes. I have no idea where she could even be or if she managed to get somewhere safe. All I know is she isn’t with me and that means she’s at risk no matter where she is.

At the hospital, I stop by the information desk to find my father is on the fourth floor with his normal cardiologist, Dr. Haymer. He’s had a few scares in the past, but never an actual heart attack. Haymer is the best in the business and we spare no expense to make sure Dad is taken care of so I know exactly where to go. The VIP suite in the only wing of the hospital dedicated to the wealthy.

My appearance in the doorway seems to shock my entire family except Sven, who probably was waiting for me. Dad’s eyes are open, though he looks to be slightly drugged. They all turn with different expressions on their faces. “Hey,” I mumble and step into the room. Matty glares at me; Rome nods in solidarity. Dominic’s lips are pursed but he remains calm and stoic. Sven shakes his head and gestures at Dad.

“He’s been waiting.” Sven steps back so I can walk right up to Dad’s bedside, which I do with my hands shoved in my pockets.

“Tried to run out of here early?” I asked, trying to make a joke, but my father is too serious to laugh at it.

“This is where you belong, Leonid. I need you to come home, do your job. Forget that girl.” Dad reaches for my hand and I pull my right hand from my pocket to let him draw strength from my grip.

“I am willing to come home, but there are things I won’t change about my life.” I want to unleash, but that won’t help anyone. My head isn’t in this right now. My mind races; all I can think about is getting back out there and finding Willow.

“Dad, there’s something you should know.” Sven interrupts our conversation. I look up at him, wondering what the hell he’s doing. I need to make my father understand that I need the full force of this family behind me when I go hunting. Dad’s eyes turn upward toward my brother’s face. “I spoke with Monroe.” Monroe—the dirty cop we have in bed with us to keep us safe from certain legal consequences for our business. What would Sven speak to him about?

“About?” Dad’s question hangs in the air and Sven steps up to the side of the bed. Dominic and Matty look curious, but Rome stands confidently watching over, as if he knows what will be said before it’s out in the air.

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