Page 51 of Deadly Obsession

“He wouldn’t,” I say, laughing. The man isn’t humored. My smile drops, and my heart races. “Would he?”

“I’ll go get him.”

Shit.

I panic and when he turns, about to open the penthouse door, I grab the vase from the foyer table and smash it over his head.

I must have hit a sweet spot because he stumbles and falls to the ground, unmoving.

“Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m sorry. Please don’t be dead.”

I check for his breath underneath his nose and sigh with relief when air hits my hand.

God, I’m a horrible person. I’d rather injure a man than talk to Elias… who probably heard the vase breaking and is going to be out here in seconds.

I search the unconscious man’s pants for a key card and whisper scream ‘yes’ when I find it in the first pocket. I tap it to the pad next to the elevator and the doors open. I rush inside and tap the card again before pressing the button for the lobby.

The doors shut, and I let out one long breath of relief.

Less than a minute later, the doors are opening. I lift my head high as if I didn’t just knock a man unconscious and start walking. The suited men in the lobby give me an odd look, but they don’t stop me. Maybe they assume if I got past beefy man number one, then I’m allowed to leave.

This sure feels like a prisoner situation.

Would Elias have let me leave? Should I have woken him up? He may be bossy, but he listens to the word no. He doesn’t force me to do anything I don’t want to.

I can’t think about that right now. I accept that I likely overreacted, and Elias is probably going to hate me.

It’s for the best.

I hop in the cab waiting out front of Elias’s luxurious building and give the driver my address.

As we’re pulling away, four security guards run out of the building. I turn in my seat and watch them stop at the curb, failing to catch me. The lead guy takes out his phone, I assume speaking to Elias.

Seconds later, my phone vibrates with a text message.

Boss

Stop running from me

I stare at the text message the entire ride back to my apartment building. He even added a crying emoji.

The big scary mafia boss sending emojis? It’s too cute.

My stomach spurs with regret. I should have woken him. At least made up a reason to leave. A doctor’s appointment… a lunch shift at the bar—which is somewhat true except I work tonight. But I know Elias would have demanded he drive me or sent bodyguards with me. And I have a feeling he’s pretty good at catching liars. He already suspects I’m hiding stuff from him.

Because I am.

I instruct the driver to drop me off on a different street, knowing Chase or one of his goons will be waiting for me out front. By the time I woke up this morning, I had dozens of missed calls and text messages.

Where are you?

It’s morning. Time to talk.

You better not be at Carter’s, you slut!

I stopped reading them after that. I responded that I’d be home around noon, and we could talk then. I desperately need sleep before dealing with him.

I make my way inside my building through the back trash area and take two flights of stairs to my apartment. The sun is starting to rise, filtering in through the windows in my kitchen and living room. It’s enough light to see as I toss my purse on the table next to the door and slip off my shoes.