Page 95 of Deadly Obsession
I notice someone waving at me from over Elias’s shoulder. I wave back at the karaoke DJ, and he points at the television. I nod, letting him know to put in one of my usual songs to sing. It’ll probably take half an hour to get to me so I guess I can share my boring life with the least boring person I know.
Especially since he’s waiting so patiently like a good boy.
“I was born and raised in Connecticut in the same home where you found me on Christmas Day.”
I frown, realizing my parents may never be able to go back to that home. Even if Elias finds Chase, I’d be worried about Mom and Dad being connected to Elias now. I wonder if he can put them in some sort of witness protection.
“I grew up fat, and I was bullied in elementary school for it, then puberty hit me, and my breasts got bigger which, despite still being fat, made me popular with the boys at school. It fed into my ego and gave me more confidence in myself and my body. I was happy for the most part and did well in school. I did everything a high school kid was supposed to do. Decent grades, extracurricular activities. Iapplied to dozens of colleges and got accepted to some of them, but I realized I didn’t want to go to school anymore, so after graduation, I moved here to Manhattan.
“I made good money waitressing, so I saved as much as I could while I tried different things to see what I enjoyed and what direction to take my life. By the time I met Chase, I was itching for an adventure. To travel. I hadn’t been anywhere except Atlantic City, a yearly trip my parents would take to kick off summer. We didn’t have a whole lot of money. My mom was a teacher, and my dad had a safety officer position at this furniture making company before they both retired.”
I pause when the bar roars with excitement as a singer starts belting out the latest Taylor Swift song. Elias winces, which makes me smile.
This is torture for him.
When the bar’s enthusiasm becomes bearable, I continue.
“Chase was normal when we first met. He’d constantly compliment me, tell me how much he loved my body. Now that I think about it, he was definitely love bombing me. Then he’d slowly spew off micro-aggressions about my weight, tearing down all that work I did to build up my self-confidence. He used the fact that I’d never had a long-term relationship and convinced me that it was because of my wild nature, and no one could keep up with me like he could. Then it was my appearance...noone wants to bring a girl who looks like you home to their parents.I think I was excited about the idea of Chase—this beautiful rocker bad boy who gave me attention—that I believed his words. It got to a point that I didn’t realize he was controlling me until it was too late, and I was too scared to leave him.
“When he started dealing drugs, that was my sign to get out of the abusive marriage. I wanted nothing to do with him so I changed my name and moved back to the city where I figured it would be too big for him to find me, but I didn’t account for my parents. Even though he never let me visit them, they were easy to track down.”
Elias brings our joined hands up to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.
“I won't let anything happen to them. To you.”
The server drops off our drinks and Elias orders another round. I take a big gulp of my booze and close my eyes.
Because I’m about to go deep.
“I know you’ll protect me, but Elias, what does my future with you look like? Will I always be in danger? Will I always need protection? Will I always be looking over my shoulder? Will my parents always need to be hiding?”
“Sage—”
“I have to work. I have to do something. I can’t just be the mob boss’s trophy girlfriend. I will lose my freaking mind. But I’m about to turn thirty-three, and I have no idea what I want to do with my life.”
He sighs, and I expect him to appear hurt or worried by my words.
He’s not.
If anything, he’s determined.
“I promise you this will all be over soon. I will find Chase, and we’re so close to connecting Lenetti to the mob wives’ murders and taking down the Empire. I’m going to turn this city around, and Ineedyou to be by my side, but you’ll never be a trophy. You’re not someone I can win. You’re someone I earn. You’re someone who will make me stronger. And you do not hesitate to take me down a few notches. So, I will never expect you to ‘just be the mob boss’s trophy.’ I want you to be my partner, but not as my girlfriend. As mywife.”
“What?” The word barely comes out a whisper, and he must not have heard it. Or maybe he’s ignoring the shock on my face because he keeps talking.
“What do you enjoy doing?”
Fuck.
How the hell can I function after he just laid into me with that speech? And to say he wants me as his wife? I know he’s said shit like that before, but I honestly thought he was joking or just saying it to push my buttons.
It’s fine.
This is fine.
Answerhis question, Sage.
“I um... I think I’m pretty good at planning parties. I’ve worked at a few bars where they let me handle events or they’d let me book bands.”
