Page 98 of Abundance of Obsession

Ryker takes another sip. “Not particularly. It’s been a while, and Aiden hasn’t made a move. My gut tells me I was wrong about his motives. He’s plotting something else. I haven’t figured out what yet.”

“And I feel he’s two steps ahead of us,” Theo adds.

From the corner of my eye, I glance at him. For the first time, I take my eyes off Zoe. Theo keeps his eyes on the floor, though. Frowning, he’s deep in thought. Then he speaks again. “We should pull her out of the mole hole now.”

Interesting…

He’s talking about Zoe. It’s almost like he’s…

Worried?

Something immediately stirs inside me…

The urge to say out loud that she’s mine. And only mine.

But I don’t. Something holds me back.

“Yeah... It’s what we planned. Perhaps not right away, so he doesn’t get suspicious. The guy’s not stupid.”

Ryker’s words distract me from Theo.

I spot my woman in the crowd again. She’s talking to Ethan, but at some point she stops. Looks up. Straight at me. Can she sense me? And my gaze on her?

“Let’s go downstairs to the guys. We should be part of the party,” I say, and at that very second, someone knocks.

Ryker invites the visitor inside. Dave from security enters.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Elliot, but the courier brought this for you.” He’s holding a cardboard box in his hands.

My muscles knot tight, a sudden clench that shoots through me, a palpable rigidity taking hold.

Too fast. Too hard.

A cold wave of alarm washes over me, prickling my skin. Glancing at each of my brothers, I see in their eyes that I’m not the only one feeling this.

“Just a regular courier?” I ask, just to be sure.

“Yes,” Dave confirms, placing the package on the desk.

When we’re alone, we approach it. Ry pulls a switchblade from his pocket and cuts the tape.

That feeling returns, the same one I had at the terminal.

Something’s wrong here…

But I keep quiet.

Ryker pulls back the paper.

And then we all stop moving.

Not because we want to.

Only because our bodies… simply refuse to cooperate.

Inside, in a clear bag tied with a red ribbon…

...lies Ricardo Ortega’s head!