Page 14 of Hunted Temptation
Also, it didn’t help that any time I tried to tell someone, they acted like I was a problem. Like I was lying or making things up. I just assumed it was normal, and I eventually stopped trying to tell anyone what was happening to me. I declared it asmynormal. And I isolated myself from the world, which my father loved.
No friends, no ears to hear the secret horrors of my world. He absolutely loved every part of it. And was more than happy to have me home, locked in the house, and at his beck and call always. Something I absolutely hated… and still do.
Chapter Five
VAUGHN
The dress shiftsas he holds it up by just his extended index finger. It’s a pink dress, which wouldn’t be an issue per se, except this isn’t just a pink dress. It’s made to look like a child's dress. It’s got lots of layers at the bottom with poofy sleeves and pale pink.
What the actual fuck?
Elodie reaches for the dress, her fingers sliding across the fabric that is displayed on the bed. He stays where he is for a moment, his mouth moving, and I’m pissed I haven’t been able to get some listening devices in her bedroom. I would like to know what the fuck is going on right now.
Scoggins leaves the room, closing the door behind him as Elodie slips the dress on her body. I’m disgusted at the sight of her in that outfit. It’s clearly some kind of kink thing, which is fine. Kinks can be a hell of a lot of fun, even little-girl kinks. They aren’t for me, but that’s for a whole fucked-up childhood reason.
This isn’t a fun thing, though. The way she’s wincing as she gently fastens all the bows and ribbons at the waist, up thecenter of the torso, and on the sleeves. She looks pale, beyond pale. And when she turns to face the full-length mirror, her eyes immediately turn downcast.
Shame.
This isn’t something fun. She’s not excited. She’s dreading this.
Once she’s dressed, she opens her bedroom door, then slips out into the hallway. She doesn’t go in search of her father the way I expect. Instead, she moves to another room down the hall. Then slips inside. I lose her for a moment before I am able to pull up the camera feed for that room.
It’s a fairly plain room. There is a bed in the center, with a metal headboard and footboard, plus a nightstand. The bedding is simple, light green with large, fluffy pillows. She stands at the side of the bed, turning her head to look behind her.
I watch as her father walks into the room. Another room that I don’t have a listening device hidden inside, and I’m completely fucking regretting it. Lifting my hands, I press my fingertips together as I watch what’s unfolding in front of me.
Scoggins moves toward her. She faces him fully, her eyes finding his. She tilts her head backward slightly, her eyes focused on her father’s. She slides her gaze to the side, then shifts it back to meet his. She tips her chin in a single nod before taking a step backward.
My brain is fucked up, so it goes to some seriously sick fucking thoughts. But then again, isn’t that who this motherfucker is? He is a sick piece of shit, and I have a feeling I know just how deep his depravity goes.
My phone rings. I don’t bother looking at the caller ID, mainly because I can’t look away from the computer. I have to watch the inside, the outside, all of it. I’m trying to concentrate on what’s going on, and really, I don’t have time to answer phone calls, but I do anyway.
“Vaughn.”
“We need to have a meeting tonight,” Theron murmurs. “An hour.”
I press my lips together in a thin line. “I can’t tonight,” I say. “I’m onto something.”
“Are you going to end him tonight?” Theron asks.
I want to tell him yes, but I’m not sure. If I kill him right now, what does that mean for Elodie? I think I may want her even more now. Maybe it’s because of some kind of trauma bond thing. I don’t know what it is, but I find her absolutely fucking mesmerizing.
Absolutely mesmerizing. I should not be as attracted to her as I am, but I’m going with it for now. Maybe once I fuck her, I’ll be over it. Maybe it’s just that forbidden aspect. The trauma, the forbidden, whatever the fuck it is, I don’t know, but if I don’t get a taste of her to assuage my desires, then I don’t think I’m going to be able to think straight.
“What are you onto?” he asks.
“I think there is a big fish coming to Scoggins’s place. I’m watching now.”
“Call me.”
Theron ends the call abruptly, knowing that I’m focusing on the job. At least that’s what he thinks I’m focused on. I’m trying hard to keep my attention on Scoggins, but admittedly, Elodie holds far more of my focus than she should.
Headlights flash in the corner of my eye. Turning toward the outside feed, I watch as a sedan pulls into the driveway. It’s expensive. An Audi. A moment later, a man unfolds from the back seat.
Whoever he is, he has a driver.
Interesting.
