Page 72 of Deepest Obsession

“Soph?” Xander brushes his fingers across my cheek.

“W-what?”

“The flash drive.”

I look down. He’s opened the top drawer, revealing the insurance papers and the missing flash drive I pocketed. With a breath of disappointment, I fish it out and place it in his palm.

Once the drawer is closed, he sighs. “I meant it when I said what’s mine is yours, Soph. But the things in here don’t concern you.”

“Actually, I’m quite concerned.” I glance up at him. He’s perfectly calm, without even a hint of annoyance showing. “What’s going on with Brooke and this David guy?”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

“That’s not your call,” I snap, pushing against his chest. “Do I need to drag Dominic into this?”

Xander chuckles. “Dominic is on my side, little bird. He knows I’ll kill him if he interferes with your safety.”

“My safety.”

He runs a hand through my hair before placing a kiss on my forehead. “I know you’re curious. But you don’t need to know.”

“Xan. Am I in danger?” Dominic’s words echo through my mind.

You’re fucking with her life.

“Not if you trust me. I trust you, sweetheart. Can you do the same?”

My words catch in my throat. He trusts me. He trusts me.

Even if Tristan hadn’t barged into my room, I still would’ve said yes to Xander. I want this to work out. But now? Now I’m here, in Xander’s house, practically Tristan’s puppet.

And he trusts me.

Shoving down the self-loathing creeping through my chest, I look up and into Xander’s perfectly brown eyes. “I’m trying to.”

“Then take a leap of faith.” He leans down, and his lips graze my neck. “I promise I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

Under different circumstances, maybe I would’ve let it go. But now? I have to find out a way to get out from under Tristan’s thumb. But in the meantime, I need information.

“If I’m not allowed to keep secrets from you, then why are you allowed to keep secrets from me?” I say.

Xander raises an eyebrow. He lifts my chin with two fingers, forcing me to keep eye contact with him. “You are keeping a secret from me, little bird. Or are you planning on coming clean?”

My breath hitches as he traces a finger up my stomach and in between my breasts, stopping at the base of my throat. I shake my head.

“Then let it go.” His voice is low, and he’s so close I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “And don’t ever go behind my back like this again.”

“I won’t,” I whisper.

He leans down to kiss me, but just then, his phone goes off. In an instant, he yanks his phone out of his pocket. “Blaze. How’s my sister?” He pauses. “Is she all right?”

He grunts in frustration before pulling his phone away and dialing a different number. He waits impatiently, tapping a finger against my arm. “Yes, Doctor Shepherd. Brooke’s been attacked. I need you to go to her place and check her out.” He listens for a moment before saying, “Possible concussion. She stayed conscious, though.” After a quick exchange of Brooke’s address, he hangs up.

“Is she okay?” I wrap my arms around his waist, peering up at him.

“She’ll be fine. Now, come with me.” He takes my hand in his, pulling me off the desk and out of the office. Then down a hallway or two until we’re in his bedroom.

“Xan, I’m not tired.”

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