Page 71 of Deadly Obsession

She’s different, though.

I let the thought give me hope because if Sage wants no part of this life, my life, then that means having no part of Noah’s life too.

Would she abandon her best friend just to run away from me?

Maybe she’s tired of running.

I now know a big part of her fear is Chase.

I wipe my palm down my face.

“You might think I’m crazy, Ma, but I might just love this woman. I mean, we haven’t known each other very long. Well, that’s mostly because she kept running from me, but now that I have her... I don’t think I can let her go.”

I stand and palm the headstone one last time.

“I should get back to her. I’d love to bring her to meet you next time. I know this was a short visit, but I promise I’m working on that. I just want you to know that I think about you all the time.”

I turn to leave and wipe my damp eyes with the back of my hand.

When I get to the SUV parked on the small roadway that winds through the cemetery, I turn back to the corner where her grave sits.

A chill washes over me and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

I let my eyes scan the cemetery, but despite the feeling of being watched, I see no one.

Maybe it was Ma letting me know that she’s always watching over me.

After leaving the cemetery, I check in with my uncle.

We still have a couple of Chase’s men locked in the basement of Underground Park Slope. I’ve been torturing them for information, but they’re useless. Either Chase told them the bare minimum, or he’s been one step ahead. Every lead we follow has led to a dead end.

Lance knows I’ve been trying to destroy this asshole human trafficker, but I haven’t told him that it’s Sage’s ex. Though after Sage and Noah’s boozy brunch, I’m sure he’ll find out soon. If Sage told Noah, surely she’ll go blab it to my brother.

He’s texted me a few times this past week, asking where I disappeared to. He’s worried I’m going to back out of this plan to take down the Lords. I keep assuring him I’ll be there, but I understand his lack of trust when it comes to me.

I don’t fault him for that.

When I walk into the penthouse, the scent of cookies hits my nose. I follow it, drooling, all the way to the kitchenwhere I find Sage bent over at the oven. She’s shaking her ass, mumbling unintelligible words.

Her phone sits on the counter with her music app pulled up.

Oh. She can’t hear me. She has earbuds in.

I slowly walk up behind her, grab her by the hips, and grind my cock into her ass.

She yelps and jerks, then screams.

“Goddamn it, Elias Carter.”

Oh, she pulled out the firstandlast name.

Sage closes the oven and takes out her ear buds with one hand while cradling the other to her chest.

Panic rolls through me. “What happened?”

“I burned my hand, asshole.”

Okay, I deserve that.