Page 33 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

When you’re in the life I am, it’s imperative to know basics like tending to your wounds. Learning first aid is a means to an end. She’ll be just fine.

Dragging over the other chair, I sit down in front of her. The nearness unbalances me. For a moment, I forget everything. But my head clears, and I remember she’s the enemy.

Disinfecting the wound, I wipe until the area is clean, yet some blood still oozes.

She’s stiff next to me, most surely biting her tongue not to say anything that could affect her skin in the end.

“This will hurt,” I warn her.

“You want it to hurt,” she sighs.

That broken sound rattles me to my core. I can barely hold on to my composure and it takes all my will to stay seated. I apply some numbing spray, then I sew the small wound up, taking my sweet time.

She breaks out in a sweat. Her breaths come in shallow pants, but she hasn’t screamed once. Occasionally, she looks at my profile while I am focused on making a better suture than fucking surgeons.

“Why are you mad?” she asks me, her voice softer, or maybe it’s from all the pain.

“I am not mad,” I snap.

“That sounded defensive.”

I push the needle harder in her skin. That shuts her up, thankfully, but not for long.

She appraises my work, her attention so potent I feel it in my damn marrow.

“You’re doing quite a good job, but it will still leave a scar.”

“A faint one.”

“Yeah, can’t stand to look and not find me flawless?” Her voice breaks at the end, making me believe it’s an actual fear and not a jab.

“You’re riddled with flaws.”

Her eyes narrow on me, trying to lock gazes with me. I don’t give her that satisfaction.

“You didn’t seem to care,” she whispers.

I wave a dismissive hand through the air, wanting to sever this damn connection from the fucking roots. “That was then. Now I don’t care at all. Physical flaws matter the least.”

“Right, I forgot I am talking to Mister Morality. What is your business again?”

It takes everything in me not to crack a smile at her sass. Fuck, she’s ballsy.

“If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have gone through all the work of getting me here.”

“You’re just a pawn in a very elaborate plan. I will sacrifice you immediately when all pieces are in check,” I say low, forcing my voice to sound detached.

She purses her lips, finally quiet, but not for long.

“I am used to being that,” she murmurs, looking to the side.

A groan rumbles in my throat. You didn’t want to be my queen.

The reminder alone shoots lethal pain into my veins. Lucky for me, I am used to feeling dead.

With her eyes firmly set on something else, I can finally work in peace.

After I am done, I look at my handiwork, then I place some gauze on it and transparent tape to prevent infection. It will heal nicely.

I stand up, ready to leave. I can’t be in her vicinity for long, afraid I won’t control myself.

“Nothing for the pain?”

I don’t bother answering her as I close the door behind me.

Breathing in and out in a calming rhythm to gather myself, I throw my head back, curling my hands at my sides.

I can’t keep her in there forever.

I can’t bring her back to my bed.

I am fucked either way.

The moment I climb into the golf cart, I call Lorenzo and tell him to send the doctor in a few hours to check on her. I have stuff to do. One interaction with her for today is more than enough.

Reaching my house, I see my sister sitting on the porch and playing with Kill.

She casts a hard glare my way. “So, is she still alive or dead?” she snickers.

“Tone it down, Dahlia.”

She gives me attitude and plenty, but at least she does it in private.

Her reply is to kiss Kill on his head. No wonder he’s such a softie when my sister has cuddled him since the first moment I brought him home. Standing up, she turns her back to me and strides back toward the mansion.

I head to my car, mumbling under my breath, “Damn women,” and drive the ten minutes to my office in silence and unbothered.

I haven’t been inside my penthouse since my drunk stupor. I moved into the spare bedroom next to my office until the house was ready.

Mika still gives me a hard time that she had the power to chase me out of my home. But it definitely increased my focus and working hours.

I am planning on expanding our Reno base, buying the surrounding land. As I scan the development plan, Mika walks into my office.

I clench my jaw when I catch the glance of worry in his eyes.

Clearing his throat, he says, “Our men found the ones responsible for messing with our port—a biker gang. Up for a trip to the warehouse? It’s been a while.”

I smirk. “Let them stew a little longer.”

Nothing like spilling the blood of your enemies with your best friend. I need to channel this violence as apparently, I can’t kill her—yet.

“So, are we talking about it?” he asks once it’s decided.

“No.”

He groans. “Let me guess. She’s alive and well. I give you a few more days until she’s back under your skin, a place she never left. Then she’ll get in your bed again and you motherfucker will have learned nothing.”

“I said, I don’t want to talk about it.” I snap, slapping my palms on the desk, the contents rattling just like my insides.

Not even a full day back and she fucks with my control like nothing else.

Mika doesn’t seem impressed by my outburst as if he expected that. He looks me dead in the eyes. “Let me remind you, that if she escapes and harms someone…”

“That someone being my sister because Dahlia’s the only one you care about, but she’s my sister, not yours.”

I am an asshole for reminding him he lost his baby sister along with their mother. That’s why I basically share my sister with him. He’s taking that job even more seriously than I am.

His cold eyes turn to slits. “I wouldn’t have to if you’d thought with your brain and not your dick.”

“I’ve got it,” I say, pinning him with a hard stare.

“Good, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He leaves and shuts the door behind him, letting me know he’s pissed at me.

It will all be forgotten when we bond by slaughtering the idiots who thought they could encroach on one of our ports.

Our base might be in Reno, but the people under us always keep things running smoothly in the cities along the West Coast. Until then, I have meetings to attend to.

People know what I do in and out of the boardroom.

There’s always fear involved, tiptoeing around me not to say or do something wrong, never giving me their true opinion.

One exception is my assistant, Oliver. The fucker wants not only to climb the ladder, but rename it after him.

I pay him well enough to buy himself a new luxury car every month.

But he does a terrific job supporting me in taking care of my legitimate businesses.

He strides inside, bringing me the folders I requested.

I riffle through the documents and see the blackmail material I need.

Not everyone is afraid, which is as refreshing as it is stupid.

I love a fucking challenge. Occasionally, there are some who try to butt heads with me, thinking they’re powerful and influential enough to deal with me.

Once in a position of power, people think they’re untouchable. No one truly is though.

I’ve been waiting for this information for a while, and I am done waiting. I want the city to cross boundaries that have been in place for a long time, which apparently isn’t so easy to do.

I had them followed, their houses and cars wired. I waited until I gathered enough blackmail material to keep them in check and make things happen my way with a snap of my fingers.

“Great job. Now gather the mayor, governor, and senator and tell them to get things moving. If it’s not done when I summon them, this information getting released will be the least of their worries. I want the expansion to start immediately.”

“On it.”

Discretely, he leaves while I lean back, basking in my win.

While Reno is already on the map, I want this city to become a metropolis, the true foundation of my empire. I won’t rest until I’ll achieve that. Sure as fuck, it seems more like a comprehensive plan since I have no clue what to do with her .

She’s hijacking my thoughts without even trying.

I might be screwed, but she is fucked.