Page 19 of A Monster's Obsession

“Then why are you calling me, Saw?” His tone was light, but I knew he was looking for a real answer. An answer that I couldn’t give him at the moment because my wife didn’t want anybody to know we were married. I sighed in frustration.

“Just checking on you. There’s shit going down with the family, so we’ll need to meet sooner rather than later.”

“Right. Family shit.” Lennox growled, and I knew he was mad, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Look, you wanted to be kept in the loop, so I’m keeping you in the motherfucking loop,” I growled back.

“You’re right. Lunch this week. I’ll talk to you later.” Lennox disconnected before I could say anything else. He had a reason to be upset, so I wouldn’t hold his petulance against him. But he better his shit together, or we would have problems.

***

I waited as long as I could before I called Sasha. I knew Flynn was with her, and I trusted him. He would never let anything happen to her, but I still couldn’t help myself. We had just found out that her cousin Joe had gone to jail for armed robbery right after the deal with Sasha and Patrick Abbott had fallen through. It wasn’t a coincidence, Sasha’s cousin set her up, but I would get his ass eventually. Even if he was in jail.

“Hello?” Sasha’s sweet voice was hesitant as it filtered through the line.

“Céile.” I smiled as I called her the Gaelic word for wife.

“Hi, Monster.” Her voice was small and uncertain, and I didn’t like it at all.

“How’s it going at the gallery? Is Flynn talking your head off?” Sasha chuckled. We both knew the only person Flynn talked to in length was Darby. You were lucky if he gave you more than one or two words at a time.

“Yeah, he’s a regular chatty Cathy.” She giggled, and I smiled at the girlish sound coming from her. Sasha was always so light-hearted and fun. I hope we could get back to that place where she could be that person with me again.

“I bet. No matter how chatty Flynn might be, I need you to stay with him at all times.” I didn’t want to sound overbearing, but I didn’t trust Abbott one fucking bit. He would strike when we least expected it. His family was pissed that the council wouldn’t hear him out after my father gave them proof of the marriage.

Sasha huffed in obvious frustration, “Flynn is my new shadow. I got it.”

“You can huff and puff all you want to, but don’t fucking leave Flynn’s sight, and I mean that shit,” I growled in the phone. Every time I wanted to be nice, she triggered the beast in me.

“Did you need something, Sawyer? Or did you just call to be an asshole?” Sasha didn’t know it, but her sass was just feeding my need for her.

“I need you to know that your sass will get you a wet pussy and a spanked ass,” I smirked at the little gasp Sasha released in response. She could pretend all she wanted, but I knew she liked the filthy shit I said to her.

“You don’t have to be so crass.” Sasha’s reply was breathless, and I chuckled.

“I’m a monster because I don’t sugarcoat shit. Plus, I’m just telling the truth, Céile. I want to make sure you’re safe. There’s a threat out there, and Flynn is there to protect you.” I knew I was overprotective, but it couldn’t be helped. I made mistakes before by not telling Sasha everything, so I would make sure she was fully aware of what was going on.

“I promise I get it. I won’t leave Flynn.”

“Good. We have a dinner date at six, so don’t be late.” I hung up the phone before she had a chance to reply. Sasha never liked my bossiness, but it is who I am. I’ve always been a boss; it was something she’d have to get used to.

After I hung up, I made reservations for theAnchor. Itwas a well-to-do establishment that Lennox told me about. Hopefully, Sasha would enjoy the food. Although I knew she wasn’t into the whole elite bullshit, my woman was a foody. Her palate was extensive, and she loved trying new things. I wanted to share that with her.

I made my way back to my study to call Oran Hale. We had been in several meetings to hash out some property deals, and it dawned on me that he might know who Bruce Todd was selling the gallery to. The phone rang several times before a gruff Oran picked up.

“This better be fucking important, Nash. Calling me on a Sunday. Me and Trophy have shit to do.” I chuckled at the man. Nobody got between him and his wife.

“Yeah, it is. I needed to know who Bruce Todd was trying to sell the gallery that Sasha was renting to. I’ve done some looking and run into some brick walls.”

“Sasha Phillips?” Oran’s voice held confusion, and I wanted to correct him on her last name, but I resisted for now.

“Yes,” I answered instead.

“Alright, give me an hour, and I’ll get back to you.” Oran disconnected the call, and I knew that he would come through.

Darby had managed to get all the other information that I’d asked him for. He had gotten all of the background on Bruce Todd, all of the banks that denied Sasha a small business loan, and who had put offers on the building. However, he couldn’t find out who counter offered Todd to interfere with Sasha’s agreement with the man. And Bruce Todd had left the island as soon as the papers on the building were transferred into Sasha’s name.

It was as if someone were purposely blocking the information, and it was suspicious. It was also pissing me the fuck off.