Page 4 of Abundance of Obsession

Ryker doesn’t buy what I’m trying to sell. It’s in his eyes, and I’m about to get the proof.

“What a load of bullshit.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.” He sizes me up, trying to get to the bottom of it. “You think you’re not good enough for this? That love isn't for you? When you meet the right woman, we’ll come back to this. Then you can apologize for your stupidity. You’re made for a bachelor life? And that’s why you always have this strange look when you look at me and Ash?”

A lump forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe. My heart skips a beat. Drops of sweat appear on the back of my neck.

Did someone turn up the heat?

No. There’s no way he could have noticed.

“I don’t fucking know what you’re talking about,” I snap.

Ryker leans back and continues. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. For a minute there, I thought you wanted my Ash, but no. It’s not about her. It’s about what’s between me and her. Isn’t it?”

“That’s simply not my thing, Ryker. I’ll never love anyone the way you two love each other. I’m not capable of it. And I don’t intend to be. Commit myself solely to one person? Hand over that kind of power to someone? No offense, but that’s just plain dumb.”

He ponders my words, staring at me, deep in thought.

This is the kind of thinking that concerns me. I never know what will come of it.

Sipping my coffee, I wait. Finally, that mysterious conclusion comes. “The day will come when you’ll eat your words, Eli. I’ll wait for that moment.”

It’s time to wrap this up. Theo seems to agree, because for once, he’s the one who changes the subject. “We need to plan our next moves with the Pact. Ryker, what’s on your mind?”

Relief washes over me when Ry finally lets it go.

“Foremost, I need a second-in-command. My plan isn’t to keep the vice president as a general. I need someone I trust with my life.”

“I’m voting yes for Theo,” I suggest right away. “He’s got that mysterious something most people shit their pants at the sight of.”

Theo snorts and shakes his head. His icy gaze pierces straight through my soul. Or maybe he meant my beating heart. “What a load of crap. I’ve seen no one shit themselves when they saw me.”

With a grin, I point at him. “Ha! Because they’ve already run away; you wouldn’t catch a whiff of them. Tell him, brother.”

“There’s some truth to that,” Ryker agrees and scratches his jaw. The corner of his mouth turns up.

Theo’s eyes bounce between Ryker and me. “No, no, and no. I don’t have what it takes to be your second, Ryker. No problem with being third in line. My vote goes to Eli. He’s a ruthless asshole, has no heart, and will never have a wife, so we can cross off a soft spot right off the bat.”

“I’m just a hacking expert. I know nothing about it. Besides, I’ll kill half of them right away because they’ll question my authority as a given and not a deserved one.”

Ryker groans. There’s no trace of humor in his voice. “As far as I’m concerned, you can even draw straws. I need you both. James is dead, but that doesn’t mean the enemies are off our list. We’ve got a problem with the VP and Aiden. All eyes are on us, the other cartel is itching to expand the availability of fentanyl, and to top all that, I still haven’t found Aisling.” He puts his hands to his face and rubs, frustrated.

“You’re right,” I say a moment later. “You’re not alone in this. If Theo doesn’t want to be your number two, I’ll take the job. I’m in.”

“Yeah, we’re in this together. Let’s sort this out,” Theo says.

No idea what “sorting this out” means. But I won’t leave my brothers high and dry.

One thing, however, keeps bothering me. “You know, I don’t quite understand this whole thing with Vice President Matthews and his son. It doesn’t add up to me. They want to unite the cartels and their influence. They want to create a fucking empire. Why didn’t they just shoot you, Ryker?”

“Aiden must have known you’d become the head of the Pact,” Theo remarks.

“Exactly,” I agree. “And that means if he got rid of you, he’d have a clear path to the top. Why didn’t he do it?”

For a while, Ryker’s gaze is vacant as he looks at the tabletop and doesn’t speak. Finally, he says, “I won’t pretend that question doesn’t haunt me. It’s hard to shake the idea it’s still his plan. He’s got me where he wants me.”