Page 50 of Deadly Obsession

I fell asleep in Elias’s arms but woke an hour later when the sun started rising. Elias’s cubicle room is encased in floor to ceiling windows, and he has black out shades, but a sliver of sun managed to peek through, right into my eye.

Plus, the man talks in his sleep. Some words were unintelligible as he jerked around. A few words I made out like, ‘No. Mom. Wake.’

He dreams about the night he found his mother dead on the living room floor.

Not a dream. Anightmare.

I carefully get out of bed, thankful he’s no longer spooning me, and rush to the bathroom to relieve myself.

I pause at the mirror, taking in my disheveled appearance. As much as I would love to show the world the marks Elias gave me, I’ll have to cover them up before going to my parents’ for Christmas. Except I’m not ashamed of these marks. They weren’t left in malice. They were given with consent. For me and my pleasure.

Elias said we’d talk this morning about what I’m hiding from him, but I can’t. Not yet. Not until I can get my parents to safety.

I know I should let Elias help me, maybe even Noah, but I’m too scared. What if Chase hurts or kills them, because of me? I know they’re all tough and scary or whatever but there’s just too much at stake here.

I have to at least try and do this on my own first.

I quietly find my clothes around his bedroom floor and get dressed.

I give the peaceful bear of a man one more look, then walk out of his bedroom.

He’s going to be so pissed.

Grabbing my purse, I open the front door to his penthouse just a crack. When I’m sure the coast is clear, I step out and push the button to the elevator.

Nothing happens.

Shit. He used a card to work it last night.

“Can I help you ma’am?”

The deep voice makes me jump, and I stumble back slightly.

“Just trying to leave.” I wave my phone at the massive man dressed in a suit. “My car is here.”

“Let me get Mr. Carter.”

“No!”

The man, who towers over me by half a foot, and with muscles all over in places I didn’t know could have muscles, raises a brow.

“He’s asleep. Please, I just… need to go.”

The man purses his full lips. I’ve seen him before. He’s almost always with Elias. He must be his head bodyguard or something. He’s quite gorgeous—tall, dark, and handsome. If I were… available, I’d flirt my way out of this situation.

“Am I a prisoner here?”

He shakes his head.

“Then you have to let me go.”

“With all due respect, ma’am—”

I swear if he calls me ma’am one more time, I’ll kick him in the nuts.

Wait… maybe I should do that.

“If I let you leave, Mr. Carter will kill me.”