Page 2 of Illicit Obsession

As hard as I fought against it, tears pricked my eyes. It had been years since I’d heard her speak.

“Tell us your secret, Jagger, then all of this will disappear. You can finally move forward. I’m doing you a huge favor.”

My body trembled as the recording continued, with the sounds of us kissing and moaning as we made out. I remembered every sound, every breath. Even though I’d promised her, it had been our last night together.

Agony twisted my stomach into a million knots as I was overcome with grief—the soft lilt of her tone wreaked havoc on me.

“What happened, Jagger? What did you do?” the Black Widow asked.

I sucked in a huge breath, trying to clear my head.

“If you tell us, then you’ll have everything you’ve dreamed of: a family, a career, and more women than you could imagine at your fingertips. Most of all, I can grant you hope. All I ask is for your darkest secret in return. Pledge your loyalty to each man here and they will do the same.”

Frowning, I looked around the room at each person staring at me. I could have sworn a few of them nodded. Had they already talked about their pasts?

“Who are they?” I gestured to the strangers on the other side of the glass.

“Members. Each have shared their secret and now have successful lives and careers. They will forever be a part of the brotherhood. You can have the same thing. Once you tell us yours, they will share with you as well.”

I swallowed hard, wishing I had some water. Closing my eyes, I listened to the recording continue to play. She had sent me the video later that evening. It was still on my phone, but I couldn’t bear to watch it. Now, I was listening to it and so were the people in this room.

“You’re a perfect fit for the society, Jagger. Name your price. We need someone like you.”

“I want the pro deal. Nothing else matters. I have nothing left except football.”

Moans of her pleasure filtered through the speaker, and it took everything inside me not to break down and sob.

“Then you’ll have it. Don’t misunderstand my intentions. I’ve hand-picked every member. You have skills and value. Let the society give you the world. All I need is something that proves to us that you’re all in. Betrayal of the members is punishable by death, so are you willing to pay the price to make all your dreams come true?”

The recording finally stopped, and a heavy silence hung in the room as the others patiently stood and waited for my answer. I had nothing to lose. Whoever the Black Widow was, he realized what I would say, or he wouldn’t have the recording. He was one clever son of a bitch. I had to give him that. If he could deliver on the pro deal in exchange for dirt that he already knew, what the hell was I really losing? The others had to share too. We would all be on an equal footing. I was familiar with the pledge process since my uncle was the president of an MC, the Dirty Bastards. I understood how that loyalty worked—a secret for a secret.

Taking a deep breath, I realized that if this asshole knew, anyone could find out, and that knowledge left me vulnerable. Hell, I would need some friends to help me bury it. All this time, I thought I was protected. As soon as I was finished here, I would need to find a way to erase my past once and for all. Maybe the Black Widow had done me a favor and saved my ass.

I squared my shoulders, ready. “I . . .” My voice cracked. “My biggest secret is—”

ChapterOne

Jagger ~ Four Years Ago

My heart raced as visions of handcuffs and jail cells flashed through my mind. If I got caught, my comfortable life would be stripped away from me in an instant.

Sweat slickened my palms as I envisioned the police rushing in, handcuffing me, and shoving me into the back of a cop car. A million scenarios ran through my head, but the one on replay was how bleak my future would be if I were caught. The thought of spending my days inside a prison cell stole my breath. But no matter how wrong my actions were, I couldn’t stop obsessing about my stepsister.

“Jag?” Ari’s soft voice rippled through the air. I focused on her silhouette as she emerged from the darkness, her beautiful blonde hair accentuated by the moonlight spilling through the parted curtains of my bedroom.

“Close the door,” I whispered.

Ari poked her head into the hall, shut it before securing the lock, and tiptoed to my bed.

“Every night I sneak into your room, I’m terrified we’ll get caught. As hard as I try to talk myself out of it, I can’t. With Mom’s friends staying the night, too, it makes it even more risky.”

“I know, baby.” I motioned for her to sit next to me.

“Happy birthday.” Her smile lit up my heart.

“What are you going to give me?” I raised my brow and soaked up her innocence. Ari was gullible and naïve except when it came to me.

Her giggle reached my ears. “Something special.”

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