Page 15 of Distorted Obsession (The Distorted Trilogy #1)

mason

I’m studying my team’s playbook when I hear the distinct sound of a key unlocking the front door, and I turn in time to see Liam enter the apartment.

“Hey,” he greets, striding into the living room.

Waving, I ask, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in days. How have classes been going?

He grimaces, dropping his bag on one of the kitchen chairs before he snatches a bottle of water from the fridge.

“That bad?” I question, arching my brow.

Liam rubs his beard as he sighs. “It was fan-fucking-tastic until the last ten to fifteen minutes of Human Sexuality.”

I wait for him to continue, but he doesn’t. Instead, he walks toward the window and stares into space as if searching for answers.

“Care to explain why you appear to be perplexed?”

“She’s her ,” he huffs.

My eyes narrow. “Her?”

“Yes. She’s her .”

Leaning forward, I pinch the bridge of my nose and mentally count to ten. Since everything transpired with our family’s business, I’ve become less patient, and Liam pretty much lives to test the extent of my patience daily.

“Who is she, and why are you upset that she’s her ?” I mutter, glaring at his back before he spins to face me.

Plopping down in the brown leather recliner, he growls, “The girl from the party. She’s?—”

I cut him off. “ Her . Got it. You’ve made your riddle abundantly clear,” I state, flicking my gaze to meet his coffee-brown eyes. “Why don’t you use your words?”

“Fuck off, Mase,” he snaps, pausing to collect himself. “The woman of my dreams is a fucking Pierce.”

That stops the retort already sitting on my lips.

“Close your mouth. I know. It surprised me, too.”

Rubbing the back of my neck, my brain tries to process this new revelation, remembering the girl from the advisor’s office. “What do you mean the girl of your dreams?”

“Now, who’s the one being obtuse?” Liam deadpans, and I throw the empty sports drink bottle at him.

He dodges it easily as he side-eyes me. “When the hell did you even have time to meet Eva Pierce?” I lob back.

Angling his head, Liam inquires, “How do you know who she is and that she’s even here?”

“Because, while you were off partying, I was researching the Pierce family.”

“Even after Dad warned us to let this go?”

I grit my teeth at the reminder of our father’s warning. “This can’t be ignored.

“Mase, I’m not sure that’s such a great idea. I already fucked up and accosted the poor girl as she exited class.” Worry knits his features. “I don’t think she even knows who I am, and I attacked her.

“I’m sorry, come again. I don’t believe I heard you correctly.”

He groans before uncapping his water and lifting the bottle to his mouth. “I may or may not have pushed her against a wall.”

Shooting up from the couch, I shout, “What the fuck do you mean you may or may not have ? You either did or you didn’t. And one of these answers will earn you a smack to the back of your dome.”

We don’t hit women—not ever. Especially if unprovoked. Our family would line him up and take turns reminding him why that is.

“I know?—”

“Obviously, you don’t,” I snap, cutting off whatever bullshit excuse he’ll offer. “I want the Pierce family to pay, and I don’t mind doing that through their beloved princess, Eva. But not with physical violence.”

Liam hangs his head, “I know. I plan on apologizing the next time I see her.”

“You better,” I demand, sitting back down. “I’m working out a plan that doesn’t involve our hands touching her, unless she asks us to.”

Scrunching his face in confusion, he asks, “And why would she do that?”

“I’m still ironing out the details. For now, you need to make it right,” I command, and he nods.

Liam is momentarily quiet—remorse written all over his face, then replies, “I will.” He dips his head. “I promise.”

“Good,” I state, satisfied he knows he fucked up. “Now, what else have you been up to?”

He stiffens, and for the second time, he appears apprehensive.

“What?” I probe, hoping he’s not going to reveal something more dire.

Blowing out the breath he’s holding, Liam confesses, “I spoke to Nana today, and we need to go home for Lilly’s party.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I mumble, knowing where this is going.

Closing my playbook, I sit back, preparing for the worst.

After spending hours upon hours familiarizing myself with all aspects of Eva’s life, I fought the urge to come here, but I needed to know more. As angry as I am at her entire existence, I have to admit she’s alluring.

I watch as Eva dives for the ball, reaching it just in time to pop it back into the air for Camiel to get low enough to pass it to the setter.

Eva’s up off the ground, running before she leaps into the air for what seems like minutes, and then her arm raises, swinging back before striking it forward like a snake attacks its prey.

The ball lands with a pop between Jade and another teammate.

Fuck, she’s beauty, power, and grace. It’s enough to nearly make me forget what she is–who she is. The enemy.

“That’s what I want to see every time, Pierce. Great job,” their coach praises. “Jade, I need to see you low and ready.”

Jade’s lips thin, and her fist momentarily clenches at her side. I think she’s going to talk back, but instead, she nods her head. “Got it, Coach Landrey.”

“Now, let’s go again.” Everyone moves at the coach’s command.

Hiding behind the row of bleachers, I watch Eva move on the court in awe. She’s an athlete through and through.

I almost feel bad for what we have planned.

But you can’t be a lamb amid vipers. There’s no way I believe Eva is innocent.

She may not be involved with what her father’s company did to mine, but she’s no angel, of that I am sure.

She may appear clean on paper, but no one walks through fire without getting scorched .

Eva Pierce has skeletons in her closet, and I’ll expose them one at a time.

A whistle blows, pulling me from my thoughts.

“That’s not how we block,” the coach screams. “Now, rerun it. And if you don’t move those feet, you’ll all be doing suicides until it’s your thirteenth reason.”

Oof, she’s brutal .

“Mine,” one of the girls calls out, making everyone back away and get into position. She overshoots the pass, and Jade slides right, bumping the ball to an outside hitter who nails just inside the line.

Our volleyball team is lethal. I feel bad for whoever they face.

I’m observing drills, but mostly watching Eva when my phone buzzes—my alarm alerting me that I’m late to practice.

“Shit,” I mutter, taking one last look at the girl I plan to ruin before exiting the gym and jogging to the soccer field.

“Bradley, you’re late—four laps,” Coach Wheatley orders.

Groaning, I head for the edge of the field and begin to run, inwardly kicking myself for allowing Eva to distract me.

My mind wanders to my business class earlier today. The professor used Pierce Holdings as an example of a company that owns other companies. I had to fight my urge to call his bullshit.

Pierce Holdings is a predator—a giant monopoly that employs sketchy tactics to get ahead, at best. At least, this is what I’ve discerned from my initial search.

I spent much of the last few weeks researching Rhion Pierce. He’s the only son of Carwyn and Catrin Pierce. He runs the company with his sister and four cousins—each in charge of a branch in different parts of the world, with Callum in London.

Needing more information on how Pierce Holding operates, I put out feelers to some contacts. I didn’t have to wait too long before I received a file from an unknown source detailing their latest acquisition.

I’m on lap three when an idea hits so hard that I stop. It’s perfect. Eva Rose will never see me coming. If everything works out, not only will I stay far off my father’s radar, but I’ll also be in the perfect position to earn a management-level internship.

“Move your ass, Bradley, or I’m adding laps,” the assistant coach shouts.

Shaking my head clear, I focus on my last lap, doubling my speed. I’ll postpone my planning until after practice. Then, I’ll figure out how to accidentally meet Eva—because what parent doesn’t want their kid to meet an all-around gentleman to date?