Page 26 of Abundance of Obsession

I gather my composure like shards of glass from a shattered cup. Her hopeful anticipation is unbearable. As gently as I can, I say, “Let’s go, Zoe. We’ll get back to this, but not today.”

She bites her lower lip again, and I feel the need to slip my fingers in there and free it from the grip of her teeth. All I do is open the door and jump out of the car.

The air is crisp, and that’s what I need. A little relief from the heat.

Circling the car, I open the door for her. She’s lost in her thoughts, and I’m lost in mine.

Two steps from the apartment building’s front door, I glimpse something across the street. My eyes narrow.

“What’s wrong?” Zoe asks, grabbing my jacket sleeve as I come to a stop. Then she follows my gaze.

Across the street, in front of the restaurant entrance, stands my father. He’s accompanied by two other members of the Pact. I’ve seen them before, but we’ve never talked. Besides those two, my father’s talking to none other than Vice President Matthews. His son, Aiden, stands two steps away from them, talking on the phone.

Father pats Matthews on the shoulder, and they both laugh. All five turn around and, one by one, step into the restaurant.

Through the large windows, I see the hostess leading them farther inside, and they sit down at a round table.

I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This makes no sense.

At the final second, however, I observe Aiden turn to face us. Even though he has finished his call, he’s still looking at his screen.

Let’s call it a hunch. Call it whatever you like. But I know what’s about to happen.

In time, I grab Zoe, turn her away from Aiden, wrap my arms around her waist, pull her close to me, and kiss her before she can protest. A second before Aiden’s eyes turn our way and he recognizes me.

Chapter 7

Eli

Idon’t mind having blood on my hands. It doesn’t disgust me; it doesn’t make me feel nauseous or dizzy. Quite the opposite. Blood has always been something beautiful.

My gaze falls on my fisted hands. They’re covered in red to my forearms, blending in with my tattoos.

Blood is a shade of this world and of my life.

“You see, Nelson,” I say without taking my eyes off my hands. “If you hadn’t decided to sell your ass, we wouldn’t be here. You know better than anyone that the Pact doesn’t treat betrayal lightly.”

My eyes drift up.

Nelson is standing by the basement wall. Hands chained to metal hooks. Legs bound by another chain.

A few years my senior, he has blond hair and a handsome face. He’s successful at one of the money-making firms on Wall Street. Not because of his own actions, no. Because of the Pact.

But did he appreciate it? No, he didn’t.

Following James’s death, he joined the ranks of those opposing the power my brother deserves.

And my job is to protect Ryker with my life until my last breath. I owe it to him.

That’s why we’re in this situation. Nelson isn’t just siding with former General Matthews. That would be too easy. Even though he’s entitled to his own opinion, the Pact’s oath explicitly states his duty is to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brothers.

Ryker holds power over the Pact, whether or not he desires it. Nelson betrayed him. Betrayed us all by stirring up others, recruited mercenaries for Aiden in secret, and painted a target on my best friend’s back.

“What did you expect? Hm? Did you think I wouldn’t find out? You’re not that naïve. You should have known the dark web is my playground. I grew up in a place you don’t have the faintest idea about.” I shake my head, unable to comprehend his stupidity. “And yet you still thought it was a great idea to set my brother up?”

Nelson’s eyes, weary from torture, meet mine. It’s hard for him to raise his head. Exhausted, with broken ribs, he’s struggling to breathe. A collapsed lung is my strong suspicion. The exposed chest bears red and purple marks from the blows he has taken. In a few places, I burned cigarette marks into him.

He’s wearing nothing but jeans stained with basement grime, blood, urine, and floodwater.