Page 50 of Abundance of Obsession

Even from a distance, the man in the photo is unmistakable. Chocolate brown eyes filled with hatred. Slicked-back hair. Hard features, an impenetrable gaze. He has the look of a mobster in this photo.

“It’s him,” I breathe.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” I confirm. “That’s the Damien Estrada I met.”

Ryker puts the phone back in his pocket. “Are you going to tell me how the fuck you met one of the most dangerous men in this country?”

My throat goes dry, but I try to swallow. We get down to business. “I met him one evening at a club. At Maximus.”

Ryker shakes his head. “That’s impossible. I don’t believe he’d dare set foot in this part of the city.”

“But it’s him, Ryker. I don’t know if it’s courage or dumb luck on his part, and I don’t care. It’s him.”

I shift in my chair. Everything is feeling tight.

“Go on, Zoe.”

“So I met him at that club. We danced a little and had a drink. He caught my eye, and I caught his. I gave him my number, and we made plans to go out. That’s all.”

“Fuck.” Ryker rubs his neck. “That’s it? That’s more than we’ve had so far. Why didn’t you say that right away?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. At first, I couldn’t believe he was a cartel member. Your enemy.” A laugh escapes my throat, and when it dies down, I continue. “Because what are the fucking odds that I go out dancing and meet someone like that? Of course. Only I could be that lucky. To never meet a normal man again…”

“Zoe, that changes everything. But you’re a magnet for trouble—we agree on that.”

“And I’ve thought a few things through, Ryker. I can help you guys. Damien isn’t finished with me yet. We’ve got another date planned. I’m closer to him than anyone else right now. And we can save time trying to find out anything or get to Aisling. Use me.”

“Jesus. You have no idea what you’re asking me to do, Zoe.” He jumps up, walks over to the bar, and pours two fingers of whiskey into a glass. Downing the entire contents in one gulp, he slams the glass down. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

“No. Think about it, Ryker. I’m close enough to him.”

In one swift motion, he turns and fixes me with a hard stare. “You think I don’t understand that? For God’s sake, we’re talking about the third in line to power in Veirix. This is fucking dangerous. He’s a murderer and a psychopath. Do you know what he does to people who cross him? His torture has made him famous in the underworld. I’m—I’m no saint, and I’m not afraid of him, but I’m afraid of what he might do to you if by some miracle he figures out who you are, Zoe.”

The door bursts open. Eli storms in. He slams it shut behind him, and his gaze darts from Ryker to me and back.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

I press my lips together but steal a glance at my brother-in-law.

“Can I help you with something, Eli?” Ryker asks.

Eli strides over to us, puts his hands on his hips, and glares at me. “I’ve heard, Ryker, that you have a guest.”

The tension in the room reaches a peak, and you can feel it. Finally, Ryker sighs. “Sit down.”

Eli obediently follows the order as Ryker starts again. “Zoe came to me with the news that she’d met Damien Estrada.”

“What the fuck?” He raises his voice, incredulous. “How? When?”

“I met him at Maximus one evening.” My eyes tell him to shut up. I’m unsure if he understands me without words, but I hope so.

“That’s not all,” Ryker continues. “Zoe came with an offer to help. She wants to be the mole we were talking about.”

Eli’s icy gaze meets mine, and I can’t move. It drills into me, intending to get to my deepest, most hidden secret. He doesn’t take his eyes off me.

Clamping his jaw shut, he shoots those lightning bolts with his eyes.