Deadly Obsession (The Obsession Duet 2)

“Nice talk, now run along. I have work to do but be back down at seven for dinner,” he orders in a stern voice, much like a father would talk to his daughter if she disobeyed him. My body reacts before my brain catches up, and I scurry from the room. Once in the hall, I’m tempted to turn around and go back into his office and tell him I’m not leaving because he told me to but because I’m going to be sick over what he told me but don’t.

As soon as I get the chance to kill the man that calls himself my father, I will. And I won’t mourn him, knowing I’ll have taken another bad man off of this earth. I’ll rescue all those women who he’s taken and hurt, and I’ll smile triumphantly while doing so.

Matteo Castro will die at my hands if it’s the last thing I do.

13

Another day of killings. I don’t remember a time when murdering people was ever so tiring to me. I think my biggest problem is I’m doing it for some asshole instead of myself. As soon as I enter Matteo’s house, I know something is off. Voices drift from the dining room through the hallway. One is definitely Matteo, and one is Dove’s, but I don’t recognize the third voice at first. Not until I get closer, at least.

Clenching my fists and grinding my teeth, I walk into the house until I get to the dining room. Matteo, Dove, and Alberto are sitting around the table like they’re having a fucking Sunday family dinner. Chatting and laughing casually, completely comfortable with each other. For the first time since we got here, Dove doesn’t look out of place, and I don’t fucking like it one bit.

What kind of game is she playing?

“Having a good ole time, I see,” I say as I step further into the room. All eyes turn to me. Neither Matteo nor Alberto are even trying to hide their annoyance by my presence anymore. Dove looks at me with a mixture of guilt and apprehension. She is up to something, hiding her plans from me, and I don’t like it.

“We’re having a great time,” Matteo says, raising his glass of wine to me. “We were just telling Dove about summers in Italy and how I’d like to take her next year.”

“I would love that father,” Dove chimes in. Father? Since when is she calling him father?

My eyes skate to Alberto, who is looking at Dove. There is a longing in his eyes that makes me want to reach out and crush him.

“Stop staring at her!” I snarl at him.

He doesn’t even seem to be shocked at my outburst, which only angers me more. Does he have a fucking death wish? I’m like a damn ticking time bomb. Wonder what happens when I explode? Oh, I know…

“She isn’t yours, and I can look at her if I want to. Maybe I’ll even touch her?” he threatens, and I lurch toward him. I’m ready to rip his throat out when Dove’s warm hand gently covers my bloodied one. Turning my icy glare to her, she meets my ice with fire.

“Enough you two. Don’t act like children.” Matteo dabs at his lips with a napkin before tossing it on his nearly empty plate. “You care to join us, or would you rather eat in the kitchen with the other staff?”

I’d rather slit your throat with the knife in my boot.

“I’m afraid I lost my appetite.” Turning around, I head up the stairs, not stopping until I’m inside our room.

Pacing the floor, I wait for the door to open and for her to come in at any moment. When she still isn’t here after twenty minutes, I fear that I made a terrible mistake. I should’ve stayed downstairs. Is she in danger?

I’m just about to run back downstairs when the door opens, and Dove appears in front of me.

“What the fuck was that?” I growl as soon as she closes the door behind her.

“It was just dinner, Zane.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me. We both know that was more than dinner. You called him father! What the hell are you thinking?” I throw my hands up in the air, not knowing what to do. I want to punch the wall or better, punch Alberto, but neither would end well for me.

“I’m thinking that fighting him on everything is not going to work out. He asked me to come have dinner with them, so I went. He asked me to call him father, so I did.” She folds her arms in front of her body as she defends her actions.

I huff. “Oh, great, you’re playing the obedient daughter now?”

“Yes! Emphasis on playing. Do you think I enjoyed sitting there with them, pretending to have a great time when I know you are out there in danger?” Her eyes fill with tears, but I don’t know if it’s because she was really worried or just because she is so angry.