Page 93 of Possession

Me – Appreciate that.

I flip over to a text thread that’s new.

Me – You okay?

Bubbles appear and disappear over and over before I get an answer.

Rocco – Only if Landyn is.

Me – She will be, thanks to you. Be in my office at nine. We need to talk.

This time I get an immediate answer.

Rocco – As long as our conversation is about torturing that motherfucker.

Me – Settle down. You work for me, and you don’t make a move without my orders. He’ll pay. I’ll make sure of it.

Rocco – I want to kill him.

Stand in line, buddy.

Me – Nine o’clock. My office.

Rocco – I’ll be there with a shit-eating grin on my fucked-up face if we’re planning his murder.

Shit. The kid is intense. I like it. But if he only knew I’m trying to keep him out of prison instead of putting him in it, he’d tone it down.

Me – Enough. We’ll talk tomorrow.

Rocco – I can’t fucking wait.

I put the phone down because he’s not going to stop. I roll and stare down at the woman in my arms.

Just a few hours ago, I made myself swear off her, and now we’re glued to each other with hardly any clothes on.

No matter how much I know this is crossing the line, I’ve wanted nothing more than to be right here. At first, I thought it was because she’s the closest thing I’ve had to normal for two years.

But as the days click on, I realize it’s just her. Especially after today. Touching her, making her come, and knowing she wants me as much as I want her.

Knowing that someone else touched her. Hurt her. Fuck. That changes everything.

I can’t stand the marks on her fair skin. The scrapes, the scratches, the bruises.

I lean in and kiss the top of her head and whisper, “No one will hurt you again, baby. Ever.”

22

NOTHING AND EVERYTHING

Brax

“Five minutes is a long time to be away from my wife after last night, Rocco. Are you going to answer my question?”

He does the same thing he’s done since I sat him down. He stares at me—unmoving and intense.

I thread the pen through my fingers, staring right back.

Finally, he gives me one shake of his head.

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