Page 127 of Devious Obsession
I let out a slow breath and crack my neck. My undershirt is soaked with sweat for no goddamn reason. But the thought of finding Aspen, of chasing her down, eases some of my anger. Tamps it, however temporary.
39
ASPEN
“Ijust want to know that you’re okay.” My sister’s voice is quiet, hushed.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was hiding.
I bite my tongue against asking about it, choosing to believe that Mom wouldn’t have a problem with Dakota talking to me. Or Len, although I haven’t heard from my younger sister in weeks.
My heart pangs. I miss them more than I want to admit. Seeing them in New York for just a blip of time wasn’t enough.
“I’m okay,” I assure her. “How are you guys? Where—”
“Mom said I’m not allowed to tell anyone where we are,” she whispers. “I heard her arguing on the phone…”
“With who?”
“Uncle Cillian. I think he wanted to know where she was, and she wouldn’t say. And then they started talking about you.” Dakota lets out a breath. “It’s just freaking me out a little, you know? Stephen hired us bodyguards.”
“What?” My spine snaps straighter.
“There are three of them, and they’re with us all the time. They kind of freak me out. This whole situation does. I don’t like taking all my classes online.”
She’s quiet. Sensitive. More than I ever was—but then again, I learned to be tough from a young age. All Dakota was told was that our lives were being uprooted and we were constantly afraid. Lennox was too young when we started running from our father. She doesn’t know any better.
“They’re coming back,” Dakota says in a rush. “I’ve got to go.”
She hangs up before I can get a word in edgewise, and I’m left staring at my phone screen. I’ve got two messages from Steele almost twenty minutes ago.
I left the stadium after he was kicked out. The fight was explosive and short-lived, and I have no idea what set Steele off. Maybe it was me?
Coming to his practice was a dumb idea anyway.
But now I scan his texts, and a chill sweeps through me.
Steele
I’m hunting you tonight, sweetheart. Better run.
Don’t think hiding will work—I’ll find you either way.
That chill is replaced with excitement. Anything to block out the pang of missing my family. I look around, aware that I’m just standing on the sidewalk halfway between the stadium and my apartment. I’d been taking the scenic route while I talked to Dakota… and part of me doesn’t want to go back and risk interrupting whatever Thalia has going on with my uncle.Ifthere’s anything going on. I mean, maybe I just interrupted a misguided first kiss, never to be repeated.
I can kind of see the allure. My uncle’s a big, tattooed, dangerous guy—I also will get sick if I think about it too much. The thought oftalkingto her about it turns my stomach.
I shut off my phone, not bothering to answer Steele. He might be tracking me down right this very moment. The sun has set, and the streetlights are flickering on. Instead of going to my apartment, I head toward campus. There’s a forest on the other side, a few walking trails carved through it and lined with woodchips. It’s all very meticulously maintained by the city, with the exception of proper lighting.
Anyway. A proper hunt needs a proper atmosphere, in my opinion. I unwind my scarf from around my neck and stow it in my jacket pocket, then resolve to move faster. Goosebumps rise on my arms and race down my spine.
I cast a furtive glance behind me, almost unsurprised to see someone following me.
Of course he found me.
Unless it’s not Steele… he mentioned the possibility of a stalker the other day, when his search for my music came up empty. But I’m not sure who the hell would stalk me. I glance back again, and the person walking is gone.
My heart skips.
