Page 34 of A Monster's Obsession

Abbott hadn’t made any other moves toward Sasha, her business, or even Founder’s, so I made the call to let one of my other guys sit on him, and Darby return to Founder’s. Nash Industries was doing well here on the island, and I was able to broker several deals.

We now owned land that surrounded the hospital, and we have plans to build a physical rehabilitation center, a pediatric center, and a building for counseling. It is worth millions of dollars, and I even decided to consult on the building plans.

I haven’t done any work as an architect since I was promoted two years ago. I miss it sometimes. Drawing buildings and structures was always comforting for me. Creating something nobody has ever seen before then watching it being built gives me a feeling like nothing ever had before.

I sit in my new office of Nash Industries and admire the view of downtown. My “other” office is in a warehouse by the port. As a matter of fact, I spend more time there than I do this office. The port office is an integral part of the family business. It’s not too far from Sasha’s gallery.

Right now, I’m working on investment properties that we can convert into luxury boutiques in the downtown area when my phone rings. When I answer it, the gruff voice has me pausing.

“Meet me at the office at the port.” His growly voice rings in my ear before he hangs up the phone. It is a very rare occasion that the man even talks to me, but I don’t think he’s ever called me directly. Markos is an enigma, a very unstable and dangerous enigma.

We may not talk on the phone, but we are business associates. And if Markos wants me to meet him at the Port office, then some shit has either gone down or about to go down. Either way, I grab my phone and tell Brennan to bring the car around.

I make it to the Port office in fifteen minutes, and Markos is there with a beat up man lying hogtied on the floor. I run a hand down my face and breathe out slowly. I don’t know why the hell Markos has this guy here, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before I found out.

“Markos, what the fuck, man?” I sigh as I go to my desk and open the bottom drawer. I pulled out a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. I pour a generous amount of liquid into each glass and hand him one.

Markos downs it in one gulp, and I sit down and take a sip. My gaze shoots over to the beat up man when he groans. I sit up in my seat when I recognize his bruised face.

“He was sneaking around the gallery last night after it was closed. Bambi was there alone.” I frown at Markos’ words. Neither one of our women should ever be alone, especially at the gallery.

“What the fuck do you mean she was alone?” My voice is a low growl, and I have a very distinct feeling that I’m going to have to kill a motherfucker today.

“I found the extra guard dead after Bambi came back because she’d left something at the gallery.”

“Why the fuck am I just hearing about this? This was last night!” I’m livid. I jump up and go to the groaning man and start kicking him.

“Why in the fuck have you been hanging around? I told you to leave my wife alone! Speak up,Austin, you piece of shit!” I yell! My control is slipping with each kick I land on his body.

How did I not know about any of this? When I dropped Sasha off this morning, two of my men had done their usual sweep, and nothing was out of place. How in the hell did Austin Thomas kill one of my men? He was a sniveling lawyer who did more kissing ass than he did litigating.

“I’ve already asked him these questions,” Markos says entirely too calm. I should’ve known it was a reason why the man was lying tied up and not already dead. It’s not like Markos is known to have any self-control or a conscience for that matter.

“He was just being a fucking stalker. He has pictures of everything. He’s been following your wife for a long time. I’d kill his ass if I were you.” Markos throws a phone down on the desk. “He didn’t kill the guard, but he saw who did, though. That’s why he’s not dead.”

“Who killed the guard?” The answer Markos gives me knocks me off my feet. I’ve been betrayed by someone I trusted. I never saw it coming.

“Time to clean house, Nash,” Markos says as he rises from his seated position and heads toward the door. “Next time, I won’t clean up your mess, asshole.” Markos throws over his shoulder before leaving.

“Thanks! You crazy motherfucker!” I holler at his departing back. A clean house is an understatement. Everyone involved in this shit is about to feel my fury!Everyone!

***

“Darby!” I bellowed his name as I entered the floor of the warehouse. I left Thomas passed out on the floor of my office. His ass is as good as dead.

I went through the pictures on the cell phone, and the shit is disturbing. Austin Thomas had been following Sasha even before they began dating. The images ranged from her day to day life at the gallery, running errands, to even Sasha at her parent’s house. There were even pictures of the gallery itself, which raised red flags in my mind. However, the longer I looked, the more the pictures became sexual in nature. Close up shots of Sasha’s breasts, of her legs, or of her bending over. Thomas was completely obsessed with her. The problem is, there’s only room for one obsessed Monster in Sasha’s life.

It was clear the man had a very unhealthy desire to be with my wife. The only time he hadn’t taken pictures of her was when she was in our home. There was no way he would’ve been able to gain access to our property, and obviously, he knew that.

“Why the hell are you yelling?” Darby comes out of nowhere with a frown covering his face. I’ve been working the hell out of him, and I know he’s tired of my ass, but I don’t give a damn. We’re in a crisis, and now that I know that I’ve been betrayed, it affects us all. Especially him.

“Meet me in my office now!” I storm back into the office with Darby on my heels. He closes the door behind him, crosses the room, and sits in the chair without saying anything. He doesn’t even bat a lash at Thomas’ prone body lying on the floor. The lack of surprise on his face speaks volumes.

“You knew about this bullshit,” I accuse him. He’s entirely too fucking calm. Darby is a master at not showing emotion, but he’s not that good. I know him too well.

“Markos is good at what he does, but carrying a groaning beat up man into our place won’t go unnoticed,” Darby replies with a shrug.

He’s fucking shrugging all nonchalant like I won’t fuck him up. He knows damn well that after Cara died, security is a top priority for me. I have cameras everywhere. Darby should’ve known that Thomas was following Sasha. I placed a high functioning security system as well as cameras all over the gallery. If there was anyone lurking, Darby would be the first to know.