Page 32 of Depths of Obsession
“Is she one of those who died?” I ask, my voice tight.
“Yeah,” Rocco says, his tone dark. “Her and two of her friends. Two others who seem to have no connection to this woman also died. I’m not sure where they got the drugs, because the man in white didn’t complete the buy.”
“Son of a bitch,” I mutter, my fingers clenching as I hit play again. The video jerks forward, the woman disappears from the frame. There’s nothing, and I’m about to stop it when suddenly, a man steps from the shadows. He moves quickly, almost out of the shot. I rewind and play again, pausing as the man enters the frame.
A chill runs down my spine. The man on the screen has dark hair, and he’s wearing a black button-down shirt with a long, black leather trench coat over it. He’s tall and well-built, but what really catches my attention—the thing that makes my blood run cold—is that he looks exactly like me.
“Jesus, he could be my brother,” I breathe, staring at the screen in shock.
Rocco nods, his expression tense. “I know. It’s fucking scary. I’m running facial recognition on him, but I’m not getting anything.”
There’s something in Rocco’s eyes—something he’s not saying. “What?” I ask.
He hesitates, then looks at me. “I think he’s from the magick realm,” he says slowly.
“And?” I raise an eyebrow, my patience running thin. “What else, Rocco? What else can you possibly say that would make this worse?”
Rocco shifts uncomfortably. “And I think maybe he’s altered himself to look like you. I don’t think he looks like that all the time.”
I stare at Rocco, my mind spinning. “You think he uses magick to make himself look like me when he’s selling the drugs, and then when he leaves, he goes back to his normal face?” It’s insane. The idea is so far out there, so ridiculous, I almost can’t believe it.
“It makes sense,” Rocco says, his voice steady despite the craziness of what he’s suggesting. “I can’t find a damn thing on this guy. Not anywhere. But if he only looks like this for a short period of time, then that could explain it. I’m sure he looks like you in passing anyway. I think he just enhances it when he sells in your clubs. And I don’t know if he’s doing it himself or if someone else is doing it for him.”
I close my eyes, my mind reeling. “Who hates me this much? Who wants to destroy me so badly?” The question is a knife in my gut. I open my eyes and look at Rocco, my chest tightening. “Seriously, who hates me that much?” I ask, my voice almost a whisper.
Rocco’s expression is grim. “I have no idea, but I’m working on finding out.”
I stare at the screen, the image frozen on the man who looks so much like me. “But why bother to look like me?” I ask, my voice filled with confusion and anger.
“Because it lays the groundwork for you to get blamed,” Rocco says, his eyes dark.
“Yeah, but I’m not at that club, and I can prove my alibi, so why bother?” I demand, frustration lacing my words.
Rocco shrugs. “Because up until the last couple of months, you were running all over the world, checking in on all your clubs. The overdoses happened at clubs you were either at or had just been there. You were supposed to be in Dubai this week. You canceled it. It makes you look like you are the dealer, and you could easily take the fall for the overdoses. It’s only since…” Rocco trails off, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
“Since what?” I demand, my patience fraying.
“Since Pippa entered your orbit through Mia and Renzo’s engagement and subsequent marriage that you’ve stuck around here. You haven’t left town in a while. I’m guessing that eventually, he’s going to realize that you keep canceling and head back this way.”
“I fucking hope so because I’ll be ready and waiting for that fucker,” I growl, the anger boiling in my veins, ready to spill over. “You know what, though? That means he has access to my schedule somehow. Someone has to be feeding him information.”
“Fuck I missed that totally,” Rocco says and swears again.
“Find out who ASAP.”
Luca, Renzo’s voice comes through the open channel, but I ignore him. I just don’t have it in me to deal with him right now.
Luca,he says again, more insistent.Answer me. It’s about Pippa.
My heart stops, and my stomach twists.What’s wrong with Pippa?I ask, my mind suddenly filled with dread. I turn back to Rocco. “Did you send Paolo and Vic to watch over Pippa?”
Rocco nods, but his expression is concerned. “Yeah.”
“Call them.” I switch back to Renzo, my heart pounding.What about Pippa?
“She’s on her way to her parents’ house. She thinks her father will hurt her mother, and I’m afraid she might be right.”
I’m on my feet in an instant, my heart racing.What do you mean on her way? When did she leave?
