Page 51 of Hidden Obsession

Chapter Twenty-Three

At first Masonthought he was hallucinating, still fighting to emerge from whatever substance Travis had injected him with. His hallucination turned into the most horrific nightmare when Cleo materialized, very much alive, before his eyes. She wasn’t dead. Travis had lied to him, robbing him of all hope. Hope had returned but not for long. Now bound and gagged, he looked around at his surroundings before assessing the situation the best he could from his place on the bed.

It was the weapon in Travis’s hand that finally lifted the last wisps of the drug from his mind. He twisted on the bed, desperate to get free, but it was no use. Travis was a professional, one who would take into consideration every single detail to achieve his mission. From the look of pure fright on Cleo’s face, Mason knew he would have to be even more cunning, better than he had ever been, to save Cleo and make sure she lived. Mason knew what Travis wanted to do, kill Cleo in front of him so he could cut the link between them. Mason had to play it differently in order to find a way to take the upper hand.

Turning away from Cleo, breaking eye contact with her when she had so much hope and fear in her eyes almost crushed him. However, his reaction had the expected result with Travis.

“Mason, don’t turn away from the inevitable. From your destiny.”

Cleo gasped, and there was some shuffling before his love was pushed into the corner of the small room. She fell hard, knocking her head against the wall, but turned immediately to reach him before stopping abruptly. Travis must have aimed his gun at her.

A firm hand on his shoulder forced him on his back. Travis towered over him, that same hurt and desperate look on his face. “I’m sorry I drugged you, but there was no other way.” His hand traced the contour of his face, and Mason forced himself not to react, not to flinch away. On the contrary, he leaned into the touch and let his eyes close, forcing the bile in his throat down. “How I wish you could see me how I see you, Mason. Your blindness is pushing me to extremes.”

Mason let his desperation seep out, allowing tears to fill his eyes. His reaction stunned Travis who removed his gag. Gulping air, Mason felt his tears escape. Travis’ attention was on him, and he intended to keep it this way.

“Travis, I don’t know what to say.” And it was the absolute truth. Still vulnerable, he had to find a way to pull the threat away and silently prayed for Cleo to remain immobile and silent so that she’d be forgotten.

Travis’ face softened as he cupped his cheek. “How often I dreamed of seeing you so open to me.”

Mason nodded. “You should have told me earlier. You would have prevented so much pain. You are so important to me, Travis. It’s tearing me apart to see how much you held back, how much you hid from me over the years. We lost so much time.”

Falling to his knees, Travis brought Mason to a sitting position. His eyes gleaming, he let the gun fall on the floor, allowing him to cup Mason’s cheek. “Oh, how much I want to believe you. How I want this to be real and true.”

Mason knew everything he held dear hung in the balance when he leaned forward and kissed his former friend. Travis’ sudden intake of breath confirmed to Mason that he held the key that might save Cleo.

Despite his body rebelling against the intimate contact, he reined in his reaction and traced the seams of Travis’ lips with his tongue. Travis slid closer between his legs and circled his hips with arms, deepening the connection, a visible sign he was entranced.

As Travis started sliding his hand over his thighs and under his shirt, Mason leaned back. “Send her away. I don’t want her here. I only want you.”

Would his former friend fall for his lies? His heart pumping, Mason waited as Travis debated his request. Before he could rule it out and grab his weapon again, Mason used his last trump card. “Keep my hands bound, I don’t care. I know you will take care of me, and at some point, you’ll see that I’ll take care of you. That you are becoming my world too.”

Travis shuddered and leaned his forehead against his. “You know I never wanted to hurt or kill her. I just wanted you to see me. To love me.”

Mason’s heart hurt for Travis. He hated to see him hurting this much but also realized how disconnected from the notion of right and wrong he was. In his first sincere gesture, Mason kissed his forehead. “I know. Sorry for being a slow learner.”

This time, it was a sob that came from his lips. “Yes. Yes, you are.” Travis looked up at Cleo who had surely turned into a frightened mouse. “You. Get out. Now.”

Even if Mason would have sold his soul to look at her one last time, he instead leaned his head against Travis’s chest and hoped with all he could that she’d understand and obey without making a fuss. They were in a dangerous and challenging situation, and the risk to their lives was still very high. All he wanted was to at least save one. Hers.

Movement behind him confirmed Cleo was indeed moving, making her way around the bed in the confined space. Smart woman. Proud and desperate, he heard the door open and shut and knew she was safe.

Travis lifted his head with his hands and gave him a chaste kiss. “Do you feel this new chapter for both of us?”

The smile he gave him was false, but he could bide his time to take care of this threat against Cleo. “You have a way of making that chapter quite suspenseful.”

With a laugh, Travis got to his feet. “I never saw myself like that, but I guess desperation was the cause of it. You should rest now. I’ll take the wheel and get us away from Miami. Then, we’ll be able to talk.” On those words, Travis closed the bedroom door on him, and soon, the engine roared.

Mason restrained himself from acting. A quick look around told him there was nothing to help free him from the tape. Also, he wanted Travis to be convinced of his sudden change of heart a while longer. Long enough for them to leave Miami and make sure Cleo was safe forever.

* * *

Her heart in her throat,Cleo ran out of the RV as fast as possible, retracing her steps toward the car in sheer panic. She didn’t have a cell phone and wasn’t convinced Travis wouldn’t have a change of heart and kill her.

How much time had passed since Travis had kidnapped her? Was the team still looking for Mason or had they noticed her sudden disappearance? Cleo was wondering if she was in the right area, unable to find the car when someone grabbed her shoulder.

The sheer terror that engulfed her made her scream at the top of her lungs.

“Hey, hey! Cleo, it’s me!”