Frayed Obsession (The Frayed Trilogy 1)

“Come with me.” I turn on my heel, not willing to drag this day out any longer. I lead Grace down the hall and check the text from Easton. He’s letting me know one of his men will be here shortly, and I know he won’t leave until they are. But the last thing I want right now is a fucking babysitter.

Switching on the light to the guest bedroom, I inspect the room I’ve never bothered to enter before now. It looks clean, and the sheets appear fresh. I’m sure the cleaning lady who comes once a week makes sure it’s always ready for use, even if I’ve never had a need for it.

Until now.

I shouldn’t even care. She should be grateful she’s here at all.

I watch Grace as she takes in the room—the large queen-size bed, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the attached ensuite. Her whole apartment could fit inside this room, but she simply regards the space with indifference, which is surprising. For someone who has nothing but the clothes on her back, she doesn’t seem very interested.

My brow furrows, annoyed that I want to know what she’s thinking.

“You’ll stay here until we can verify what you told us,” I say.

“But—”

“No.”

She snaps her mouth shut.

“This is non-negotiable. If you try to run, we’ll find you, and I guarantee you won’t like what happens. I’ll hold up my end of the deal, but only after I know you aren’t lying, and I get what I want.”

She holds the strap of her bag over her shoulder tightly, enough to show the whites of her knuckles. My eyes drift down her small frame and to her swollen ankle.

For the love of—

“Sit down, for God’s sake,” I growl.

Her shocked expression only serves to annoy me more, and I leave the room before I do something stupid, slamming the door shut behind me.