Page 131 of Abundance of Obsession

For a split second, I see understanding in his eyes.

He knows.

Taking one last drag, I flick the cigarette at Damien. It bursts into flames at once.

Moans and hoarse screams fill the room. They sound like the sweetest melody, but I have no time to savor it.

Closing the door behind me, I cut myself off from his last signs of life. I have to admit that the soundproofing here top-notch too.

Within moments, I step outside. Zoe’s already waiting by the car. But that’s not what stops me in my tracks.

Four men stand on either side of my woman, two on the right, two on the left.

Their attire is ordinary; nothing distinguishes them. And yet the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Something’s wrong.

What the hell is going on? Oh, fuck!

One of them is familiar. My eyes have met his before. Back then, at the port, when we took over the shipment and Nico died.

Veirix.

My eyes dart to Zoe, who stands calmly. Her slightly dilated pupils signal her terror. Thank God none of them are touching her or pointing a gun at her.

In a flash, I assess my options. One against four. It could be tough, especially since I don’t have a gun with me. Why the hell didn’t I bring one today?

I’m a fucking idiot!

The guy I recognize takes a step toward me, holding out his hand. “This is for you,” he says, and only then do I notice he’s holding a phone.

There’s no way I’m going to answer this call when my woman is standing among those Veirix bastards!

And yet he pushes his hand even closer, urging me on.

In the end, I grab the phone and hold it to my ear.

“Hello.” My voice is anything but friendly.

“Hello, Eli,” a woman’s voice says. I’m shocked. I recognize that voice, even if it sounds more mature.

After so many years of searching, after everything we went through for Ryker, for her, I finally hear her.

“Aisling,” I breathe, and a little girl with blond hair appears before my eyes. I remember her; she was adorable. Though now she’s neither one nor the other.

“You just killed one of my people.”

I grit my teeth. This isn’t the turn of events I expected. “If you’re aware of this, it means you just let me do it.”

Aisling snorts on the other end. “Your Zoe will pay for this—”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I growl with disgust.

Jesus. Ryker is completely unaware of the person his sister has transformed into. She’s not the sweet little Aisling we all remember anymore.

“Shhh, shhh, shhh… Eli… Can’t you see that balance builds this world? You took something of mine, and now I’m going to take something of yours.”

“Why are you like this, Aisling? Your brother has sacrificed his whole life to find you, reach you, and bring you home. We all wanted that. And you—”

“Shut the fuck up, Eli! Spare me the sappy stories about my little brother who loves me.”