Page 51 of Abundance of Obsession

A shiver runs down my spine.

When he speaks again, his voice is low and dangerous. “Over my fucking dead body.”

Chapter 14

Eli

Imust be fucking dreaming. Or better yet, I’m in a comedy that isn’t even the slightest bit funny.

What the hell is going on here?

Zoe’s narrowed eyes don’t leave my face. She’s staring at me like I’m the enemy. But I’m not the one who’s the enemy, for fuck’s sake. Right now, she’s the one who is. She has no goddamn idea what she’s proposing, what she’s getting herself into. She’s out of her mind—and that’s saying a lot—if she thinks I’m going to agree to this.

The blood in my veins burns like a living fire. My jaw throbs. The artery in my neck pounds like a hammer. My hands clench into fists so I don’t grab my Raven and shake her with all my might. If it were anyone else, they would have been lying dead at my feet long ago. I’m sure I could kill with just a look and sheer willpower.

But not her. Not Raven. So, what should I do with her now?

The best solution seems to be to drag her down to the basement. Chain her to the wall. Lock her up.

She would be furious. Sassy. She would hate me.

But she would be safe.

In my head, that doesn’t sound ironic at all.

Over my dead body…

“Why not?” Ryker’s question pulls my attention away from the black-haired temptress. I shoot another furious glare, this time in his direction.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hiss through clenched teeth, and my brother tilts his head back, never taking his eyes off me.

I’m seriously considering punching him in the face right now.

It’s more than certain that somewhere deep inside, aggression is rising, and it’s damn hard to hold back. With every passing minute, it grows inside me. It takes hold of me. Takes away any rational thinking. And to hell with it! My brain’s already like ground meat for this woman.

“Not joking.” Ryker shakes his head. “I’m asking because I’m genuinely interested.”

“Ash will make your smile stretch from ear to ear. With a knife,” I blurt out and get up from the couch.

We face off as if we were real rivals, not brothers. And it’s stronger than me. For the first time in my shitty life, I’m not sure if we’re on the same side.

“Likely,” he replies.

“She’ll rip open your chest and tear your heart out.”

“Looks like you know her well.”

“In the end, she’ll dance in a pool of your blood, laughing her head off.”

He just shrugs and grins. “What can I say? I love my Little Killer.”

“And then—” I start, but I’m not allowed to finish.

“Stop it, both of you!” Zoe can’t take it anymore. Her scream echoes through the room. “I’m an adult. I know what I’m getting into. It’s a dangerous mission. I understand who Damien is—maybe even better than the two of you put together!”

“Zozo—” I try again.

“Don’t ‘Zozo’ me right now! I know what I’m doing. I know what’s at stake in this game.”