Deadly Obsession

by Beck, J. L.

  Forcing my heavy eyes open, I find that Zane is sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes roaming over my body. There is a frantic look hidden in those depths, almost as if he thinks I’m going to disappear on him again.

  “How did you get him to help you?”

  “Let’s just say, I’m indebted to the Castro family for a little while.”

  Frowning, I reach for his hand and interlace our fingers. “What do you mean, indebted?”

  Zane’s lip curls in disgust, but I know his anger and feelings aren’t directed at me. “It means I do as your new-found father says until otherwise.”

  His response is like a slap in the face back to reality. Yes, Zane wouldn’t have been able to get to me without Matteo’s help, I realize that, but the last thing I want is for him to be stuck in this world, for both of us to be stuck here. I don’t want to be a pawn to anyone, and I want even less for Zane to be.

  Shaking my head, I try to process all the information I’ve learned about today. I have so many questions, so many things I need to know, but my brain is exhausted. All of this has been so tiring…finding out Matteo is my father. I don’t know him.

  The only thing I’m sure of when it comes to him is that he’s evil. The aura he gives off tells me so. I doubt there is a merciful bone in his body. I remember what Xander whispered in my ear before he let me go.

  “Don’t trust Matteo.”

  Even without Xander’s warning, I wouldn’t trust him. It’s just another confirmation for me not to do so. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m naive to the dark world I’ve been thrust into, but I’m not stupid. A man like Matteo, like Xander, they’re willing to step on anyone that gets in their way, and that includes me. Just because Xander didn’t treat me like a true captive, doesn’t mean the next time we cross paths, he won’t draw blood.

  My thoughts swirl and shift, and the sedated feeling I had just a short while ago is gone. In its place, anxiety has bloomed, festering like a wound that won’t heal.

  “I don’t understand…” I whisper more to myself than Zane. “I’ve been in the system since, well, as long as I can remember. If he was really my father, how did he not find me? Especially since he obviously has money at his disposal.”

  “As far as I know, both him and Christian have been looking for you for at least a decade, if not longer. Your mom changed her name, and when she died, no one knew who you were or who your father was. You were a Jane Doe for a while, being passed around from foster home to foster home. Then someone decided to give you a name. I don’t know everything, but I do know that whatever Matteo is up to is bad. I have to get you away from him.”

  “Xander said the same thing…”

  “What do you mean, Xander said the same thing?” Zane’s expression becomes intuitive.

  “Xander told me not to trust Matteo. Which I mean, coming from another mobster family doesn’t really mean much of anything, but given that he could’ve hurt me while I was being held captive and he didn’t, kind of speaks volumes to me.”

  My eyes catch on the tightness of Zane’s jaw. “They’re both criminals, who would kill you the second you became useless to them.”

  “Are you saying you don’t trust Xander?”

  “Fuck, no. Why do you trust him?” The defensive tone he’s giving me makes it hard for me to want to answer him honestly.

  “I don’t... I guess… Maybe a little.” I shrug. “I mean, he didn’t have to treat me the way he did. The room he kept me in was clean and quiet, and none of his men messed with me. He brought me clothes and made sure I was fed well. Although, I’m not supposed to tell anyone any of those things. Plus, I really liked his wife.”

  “You met his wife?” Zane looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.

  “Yeah, she came and hung out with me. Kept me company, so I wasn’t so alone.”

  For a moment, it seems I’ve rendered Zane speechless. He just looks at me with wide eyes, his expression flat.

  “Wow…I’m kinda shocked. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad he treated you well, but nothing you said is something Xander would do. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did this by design. Trying to keep you on his good side for some reason, but that would mean he knew who you were. Which puts you in danger and on his radar.”

  “Ugh, I don’t know. All of this is too much. My brain needs a rest. All I know is that I don’t want anything to do with Matteo, even if he is my father. I don’t know him, and I don’t want to get to know him either.”

  “And you shouldn’t. Matteo might be your father, but I don’t think that means much to a man like him, especially when he just found you. I don’t know what he has planned, but I won’t let him hurt you. Someone like him always has an agenda, and no matter what he says, you’re not safe here.”

  Hearing him say exactly what I’ve been thinking this whole time, only solidifies what we need to do. We have to escape, but how if Zane is stuck under my new-found father’s thumb?

  Sitting up, I move a little closer to him. I can feel his come dripping out of me and onto my thighs with the movement. Gripping him by the jaw, I gently turn his face to mine. “I’m not leaving without you, Zane.”

  His dark gaze looks like it’s a million miles away when it finally meets mine. “I was afraid you’d say that…”

  9

  By the time morning comes, I’m in no better mood than I was when I went to sleep. The only thing I have to smile about is the fact that I have Dove in my arms when I wake up. Aside from that, I hate this place, and I hate that I’m stuck working for Matteo.

  An insistent knock echoes against the wooden door.

  “Tell it to go away,” Dove grumbles into my chest.

  “I wish I could,” I reply and roll out of bed. I’m in nothing but my boxers, but I don’t care. I’d open the door if I was buck ass naked.

  The knocking continues even as I walk to the door. Fondly, I remember a time when I killed men for lesser things. My hands itch to do some damage to whoever is on the other side of that door. Then again, the fact that I have Dove back should give me even more of an incentive not to do something stupid. Killing one of Matteo’s men or him would start a full-on war, and without anyone on my side, I’d be as good as dead, and so would Dove.

  As soon as I open the door, I want to close it.

  “Good morning. Matteo is requesting you have breakfast with him,” Karl sneers from just outside the doorway, his beady eyes try and see into the room, but I use my body as a shield to block him.

  “Tell him we’ll be right down,” I say before slamming the door in his face.

  When I turn around, Dove is climbing out of bed, completely naked, and heading toward the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower first.”

  “I’ll join you.” I smirk and follow her, watching her ass jiggle slightly with each step. I groan as my dick stirs to life.

  Dove turns on the shower and steps under the spray as soon as the water is hot enough. I lose my boxers and join her in the large double showerhead stall. Taking one of the washcloths, I soap it up and start washing Dove’s body gently while she washes her hair.

  “This feels nice,” Dove murmurs. “I didn’t want to admit it before, but I like you taking care of me.”

  “And I love taking care of you. I won’t ever stop either.”

  After I’ve washed every inch of her beautiful body, she takes the washcloth from my hand and does the same for me. Washing me from head to toe, being extra gentle around my fresh shot wounds. My cock is rock hard by the time we rinse off, but I know Castro is waiting, and I’d like him in a good mood since I’m going to tell him we’re leaving today.

  We step out of the shower, and I wrap Dove up in an oversized towel before drying off myself. We get dressed quickly and head downstairs even though Dove’s long dark hair is still wet.

  When we get to the bottom of the stairs, Karl meets us and takes us to the dining room. Castro is already sitting at the table. In front of him, a colorful spread of breakfast
food. There are only three plates on the table, but food to feed about thirty mouths.

  “Good morning,” Castro greets. “Please, sit, make yourself at home.”

  “Why did you want us at breakfast?” I ask bluntly as I take the seat next to Matteo.

  “To see my daughter for one…” Matteo curls his top lip, but he’s going to have to do better than that if he wants to scare me. I’ve taken tougher shits than him. I’ve ripped out men’s organs and strangled them with them.

  “We’re happy to have breakfast with you, but after that, I’m taking Dove away from here. She doesn’t belong here, and she wants to go home.”

  Matteo seems confused, which is weird because I’m pretty sure I spelled it out clear as day to him. “You seem to still be under the impression that you make the rules. It’s you who owes me, and as for Dove, she’s a big girl and can make her own decisions—”

  “I want to go home,” Dove interrupts Matteo.

  Castro throws back his head and laughs. “You are home now, Daughter. At last, you’re home. You’re the heir to the Castro empire. My only child.”

  Dove visibly shudders at the word heir. She is clearly uncomfortable, and I know she wants to speak up, but she refrains.

  He must think he’s so smart, that he’s pulled the cloth right over my eyes by helping me save Dove, little does he know, I see right through his bullshit exterior. He doesn’t want a relationship with her. He wants to use her, and I’m going to figure out in what way.

  “I know you’re up to something, and I don’t like it. I smell bullshit.”

  Matteo chuckles. “I only smell bacon, my friend… speaking of, could you hand me some.”

  I take my fork and spear a few pieces of bacon with it, imagining I was stabbing Matteo’s eyeball instead. He takes the bacon from my fork with his meaty fingers and shoves it into his mouth.

  “So, you’re really going to stick to the story that all you want is to have a relationship with your daughter?”

  “Of course, I want more than that. I want her to be part of the family, part of the business. I want her to continue my bloodline. Marry and give me grandchildren to lead the next generation...”

  The clang of a fork hitting the plate fills the room as Dove’s silverware slips from her shaking hand.

  “I know it’s a lot to take in and get used to, but you’ll be fine, child. You’re my daughter, after all.”

  “I don’t want to be part of any of this, and I definitely wouldn’t want my children—if I would choose to have any—to be part of this either.”

  Matteo sighs heavily, his eyes gleam with danger. He is clearly annoyed with Dove’s outburst. “I don’t care what you want. You are my flesh and blood, and you will do what’s best for the family.”

  “Don’t fucking talk to her like that,” I growl, slamming my fist onto the table. Silverware and expensive china rattle from the impact.

  Matteo turns his attention to me, pinning me with a murderous gaze. “Let’s be very clear, Zane, the only reason you are still here—inside of my house—is to make the transition for Dove easier. If you don’t behave yourself, I will have you removed, and Dove will have to figure things out the hard way. Am I clear?”

  My jaw hurts from grinding my teeth, and my muscles ache from exercising restraint when I give him a slight nod. He grins, and I have to look down at my plate before the last shred of my control is gone. Motherfucker. He’ll pay for this. He. Will. Pay.

  I take a deep breath and look up at Dove. I expect her to be terrified, maybe cry. Instead, she surprises the hell out of me by swallowing her emotions and putting her game face on instead.

  “Maybe we got off on the wrong foot,” she announces. “Like you said, I’m not used to all of this, and it will take me a while to adjust to the idea of me having a family. I’ve been on my own for most of my life, and Zane has been in my life the longest. If you want me to marry him and have children, then so be it.”

  “Oh, child.” Matteo chuckles deeply. “You won’t marry him, of course. You have to marry one of my men. Someone I trust.”

  I’m going to kill him. I don’t know when and where, but he just signed his death certificate. He’ll die by my hands, and it will be a painful death.

  I look at Dove across the table and see the flicker of fear in her eyes. It kills me, rips a hole in my chest. I want to kill Matteo now, jam the knife next to my plate in his throat and watch him bleed out on the white tablecloth.

  But I know his men would kill me after. I’d never get Dove out of here alive, and that thought is the only thing stopping me from acting on instinct.

  Surprising me, yet again, Dove remains calm. “I love Zane. I don’t think I can marry someone else. There must be another way.”

  “Love will get you killed in this business, child. I need you to marry someone that can be head of the family business, someone strong, a leader, not a hitman from one of my rivals. That’s never going to happen.” He pauses, and for a moment, it is painfully silent in the room, then Matteo continues, “Look, the best I can do for you is let Zane keep working for me. He can even be your guard. Which will work out great, since I know he would die to protect you. Hell, I don’t even care if you two keep fucking as long as you play the dutiful wife for everyone else to see.”

  I open my mouth, about to say something when I see Dove shake her head across the table. Forcing the words back down, I sit silently instead.

  “Can you just give me some time? I don’t know anything about this family yet. I don’t even know you. Can we take this slow?”

  “Of course. It’s not like I’m planning on dying any time soon.”

  You should be, old man. Because I’m planning your death right now.

  10

  After breakfast, we retreat to our bedroom. Zane is quiet the entire walk back upstairs, and I feel myself imploding from the inside out. So many things just happened.

  My father… if I can even call him that, told me that he wants me to marry and have children with a man of his choosing. He’s made it incredibly clear that if things don’t go the way he wants, if Zane tries to interfere, he’ll retaliate. My mind is spinning.

  He thinks he can control me, make choices for me, but he doesn’t even know who I am. I’m going to have to play by his rules until I come up with a plan, but the second I figure something out, I’m gone.

  When we reach the bedroom and walk inside, Zane closes the bedroom door behind us, flicking the lock into place. A gasp escapes my lips when I’m pinned to the nearest wall. Lifting my head, my gaze collides with his. Fiery rage flickers deep in those depths. I can see his pain, feel his rage as he lifts his hand, and gently strokes my cheek.

  “All I could think about while we were down there was how he planned to marry you off to another man, and how I will do everything in my power to stop him from doing so.” His teeth are clenched so tightly the words come out clipped. “I can’t let him take you from me. I didn’t do everything I’ve done, fight tooth and nail, barter, and beg to get you back, only to have you given to another man.”

  The pain and anguish in his voice feel like a dull butter knife cutting through my flesh. Placing my hands against his chest, I fist the fabric and tug him closer. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not marrying anyone. All he’s trying to do is get you to react. You should know, I won’t just do what I’m told.”

  A hint of a smile creeps onto his lips. “Oh, I know you don’t do what you’re told, but that’s with me. How do I know you won’t bend to his will if he threatens me, if he tries to hurt me or someone else you care about? I won’t put you through that. You aren’t any safer here than you were with Christian or Xander. We’re leaving, and we’re doing it tonight.”

  Swallowing around the thick knot that’s formed in my throat, I ask, “Tonight?”

  “Yes, tonight. We aren’t staying here another night.” I’m not sure we should try an escape so soon.

  Part of me thinks Matteo will expect it, but p
art of me feels that if I tell Zane we can’t leave yet, he’ll think I want to stay when really I want to put as much distance between us and this house of terror as I can.

  Ghosting his lips against my forehead, he pulls back and walks over to the window. He pulls the curtain back and peers outside. Slivers of sunlight enter the room but disappear when he lets the curtain fall closed. Turning back toward me, determination oozes from his pores. His gaze is hard, and I know there isn’t any point in trying to sway him.

  “We’ll spend the day biding our time. Come nightfall, we’ll leave.”

  “Okay.” I nod. I don’t tell him how nervous I am, or that I feel like something bad is going to happen. It’s probably nothing. Or at least, I hope it isn’t.

  * * *

  By the time night falls, I’m a nervous wreck, but Zane has shot down any of my reasonings. I tried my best to talk him out of this, but nothing has worked.

  “It’s time,” Zane says, tugging me to the door. “Remember, stay behind me.”

  I nod and follow behind him as he steps out of the room. We find the hallway quiet and empty, but we both know that Matteo’s guards are around here somewhere. I haven’t noticed any cameras inside this place, but that doesn’t mean there are none. Maybe he’s just good at hiding them. We have to be fast and precise because we’ll likely only get one shot at this.

  On light feet, we walk down the hall, about halfway down the stairs, we catch sight of one of the guards. Luckily, he is facing away from us, so we have the element of surprise going for us. Silently and fast as lightning Zane rushes toward him.

  The guard doesn’t see us coming, and Zane has an arm wrapped around his throat, squeezing the life out of him before he can make a single sound.

  Shocked, I watch as Zane with nothing but a void expression in his eyes, chokes the man to death. I watch as he struggles until his body slowly sags to the floor. Strangely, I know I should feel some type of remorse, feel sadness, or at least some shame watching this happen right before my eyes. The truth is, I feel neither. At this moment, I’m numb, the void of feelings is confusing, but also liberating.