“And that was after Bodhi used his persuasion techniques. Before that, he was locked up tight,” I agree.
K runs a hand over his jaw as he watches Dove at the bar with his sister. She throws back some bright green cocktail then taps the bar for another one. He cracks his neck. He’s on edge tonight, ready for a fight. “If he was just her therapist, why would the fucker be calling her on repeat?”
I raise a brow, more intrigued. This is the first I’m hearing about it. “Is that who she’s screening tonight?”
“He’s been calling her for days. Upped the intensity today and has been calling or texting every half-hour,” Kasen growls, shoving his phone in our direction. “The last one,” he mutters, showing us his phone screen. He must have installed custom spyware on her phone before they gave it back to her so he can see exactly what she’s doing on it at all times. Smart.
TALON: You have one day to get back here or I’m coming to get you.
“Well, fuck, that doesn’t sound like he’s her therapist,” I mutter, thinking back to when we visited his office just a couple of days ago. He came across as professional.
“He sounds more like a clingy ex if he’s calling her that often,” Bodhi agrees. “Knew I should have taken care of the fucker when we had the chance. There was something slimy about him and the way he talked about her. It was like there was some secret he was keeping.”
K runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. “She told me she never had a relationship before, but she’s clearly fucked someone, someone with experience is my guess.”
I try to shake off the crawling feeling that gives me. “The dude was nearly old enough to be her father. You sure she wasn’t lying to you about the relationship thing? We know she’s still hiding stuff from her past from us, and I’m pretty sure a girl like that has had a few boyfriends in her time.”
“She wasn’t lying, I could tell. Maybe the age gap was the appeal. We all know she has daddy issues. The fucker lures her in and makes her feel comfortable with him, helps her through her grief, then takes advantage of the poor girl. Now she’s taken off, he’s pissed and wants his plaything back,” Kasen seethes.
A shiver slithers down my spine at that horrifying thought. “You think he’s the one leaving her these messages? That he somehow knows what was happening to her mum and is copying it to scare her away from Deadwater Bay? Thinking maybe so she will go back to him?”
“I did a little snooping into his past. He’s ex-military. Was a special operations medic, and when he retired, he opened a practice in Breakers Point. From what I could find, his methods aren’t always conventional. I think our little birdie might have found herself in his trap, this creep’s plaything, and she had more reasons than theSouthern Breakers to skip town over,” Kasen replies, a murderous look in his eyes.
“I’ll send someone to bring him in,” Bodhi snips, pulling out his phone.
“I did. He hasn’t been seen for a couple of days,” Kasen snaps.
Sickness lingers in the pit of my stomach. The shit from her past just keeps getting worse. “Yeah, that’s not ideal,” I agree.
Bodhi’s eyes narrow in on Kasen. “Why is this the first I’m hearing about this shit when it’s a security issue?”
“I had it handled,” Kasen growls back.
Bodhi takes a step closer to him, the tension intensifying. “Until he disappeared.”
I step in between them, shoving them apart. Now is not the time for us to fall apart. “Put an alert in the system. If the fucker turns up in our town, we will have him brought in.”
“Dick-measuring contest?” Dove chuckles as she approaches us, clearly on the tipsy side already since her hate for us has simmered down. I fake a smile for her. It’s nice to see her happy, even if it’s because she’s had too much to drink already.
Kasen takes a step back from us and turns his attention on her, slipping the fresh cocktail from her hand with a filthy look on his face. “Can you try and not get yourself in trouble tonight?” he chastises her.
She looks over at Bodhi then back to Kasen, her smirk turning bitchy as she snatches her drink back. “Could say the same for you.”
“Hello, boys,” comes Gloria’s shrill voice from behind us. We all turn to find her sauntering toward us in a skintight little black dress that shows off her massive tits with the low neckline.
Kasen moves in behind Dove, one hand on her waist and the other pulling her hip into his body protectively, making it obvious she’s with him.
Dove squirms uncomfortably, trying to get him to release her, but that only makes his grip tighten. His face lowers to her ear, and he growls something in it.
I smirk at her. She has to know when she behaves like a kid, he’s going to treat her like one. And sculling cocktails like there is no tomorrow is number one on that list. Especially at a family dinner.
Gloria kisses all of us on the cheek as she greets us, her fruity perfume wafting in the air all around like a cloud it’s so strong.
Dove’s eyes narrow in on her, and I know she’s trying to work her out. Worrying about Gloria isn’t worth her time. Can’t she see that’s why K pulled her into his grip as soon as the woman walked in the room? He’s obsessed with her and only her. And it appears she might not hate him as much as she says, or why would she care that another woman wants him?
I give Kasen a look, knowing how badly he didn’t want to come to this dinner tonight. Only a few more days till the will reading and we won’t have to tolerate Gloria anymore.
“Did you have to bring the bimbo?” Gloria snips in Kasen’s direction, completely ignoring Dove. I knew she wasn’t smart, but I didn’t think she had a death wish.
