Page 78 of Mutual Obsession (Rivals of Blackthorn #2)

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asks me, as we wait for Jenny to arrive.

We’re sitting in Marcus’ office at Caged, and it feels so weird to be sitting in his chair, waiting for someone to take the seat I’m usually in.

My nerves are on edge, and I’ve bitten the skin around my fingernails so much, they’re bleeding.

But I’m trying to stay strong, knowing this is what I need to do to put an end to things.

“I can do this.” I’m not sure if I say it more to myself or Chloe.

“You can. You’re stronger than you realise.”

I look up at her then, recognising the haunted expression in her eyes. It’s the same one I saw reflected in the mirror for several years before I came back to Blackthorn.

“You have trauma in your past too, don’t you?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

With an almost imperceptible nod, Chloe’s lips tilt into a frown. “Yeah, I do.”

“Is your monster still…free?” I ask, not really sure how else to word it. We both know what I’m asking her.

Although Chloe’s lips lift into a smile, there’s no happiness there that I’m used to seeing, just contentment. “The boys took care of my monster, just like they’ll take care of yours.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. I should have known the answer already. Marcus is too protective to allow someone who hurt Chloe to breathe even once more.

“Did it make you feel better, knowing he was gone?” As soon as the words are out there, I realise how desperate I am for the answer.

I really want to be able to live a normal life, free from watching over my shoulders constantly while always running. I want to settle down with my men, to have a future with them, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that.

I keep telling myself that when my demons are gone, I’ll finally be free to move on and live a normal life. But in the darkest recesses of my brain, when I’m alone with my thoughts, I worry that even when they’re gone, I still won’t be able to have a normal life.

I worry they’ve tainted me too much for that. There are too many black clouds hanging over me for me to ever be able to live in the light.

“It wasn’t this momentous moment like I was hoping it would be. The revenge helped me start to heal, but if I’m being honest, it was only a small part.

“Knowing he was gone gave me the freedom to heal, but it was Marcus who truly gave me the life I didn’t think I’d ever have. He helped me to live, and showed me how much I deserved love.

“His love means more than the death of a man who means nothing to me. His death was just the first step into the future, without any obstacles.”

I let out a sigh, closing my eyes in the hope it will hold back the tears that are threatening to fall. “I’m worried that even once they’re dead, I won’t ever be happy.”

Chloe wraps her arms around my shoulder, pulling me into her side as she presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“That’s bollocks. You’ve already found your happily ever after with Miles and Jake.

Getting rid of your demons will just give you the freedom you need to really embrace happiness, knowing they’ll never be able to take it from you.

Trust me, when they’re gone, you’ll feel safer, and that changes everything. ”

I let Chloe pull me into a tight hug, and we only separate when there’s a knock on the door. I wipe away the rogue tears that have fallen, and Chloe waits until I’ve gathered my composure before she tells them to come in.

Marcus’ driver, Leo, who has just been promoted to one of his Chief Bodyguards, opens the door, a young girl around my age trailing in behind him.

The first thing I notice about Jenny is her rainbow coloured hair, as it’s hard to miss.

“Miss Santoro, I have Jenny for you,” Leo says to Chloe, pointing at the woman beside him, who rolls her eyes.

“She can see that,” Jenny retorts sarcastically, which only seems to wind Leo up even more, his face twisting with displeasure.

“Be on your best behaviour,” he snaps, pointing for her to take the chair opposite us.

Jenny has a bag in her hand, which she dumps on the desk with a bang as she sits down, scowling at Leo.

“You’re not my father, you don’t get to tell me what to do,” she sneers as she rummages around in her bag, pulling out a sketchbook and a pencil case.

Both myself and Chloe watch on in amusement as Leo and Jenny continue to bicker with each other over the stupidest things. Leo calls Jenny immature and childish, while she calls him uptight and prude-like.

They don’t even notice when Chloe leans over and whispers into my ear, “Do you think this is their version of flirting?”

I have to bite my lip to hold back a laugh as I turn to whisper my reply to her. “I don’t know, but he’s a bit older than her.”

Chloe waves me off. “I think he might want to discipline her, if you know what I mean.” She wags her eyebrows suggestively, and I can’t help the loud laugh that bubbles out.

It’s loud enough to grab the attention of the two people opposite, and they stop their bickering long enough to look over at us, no doubt wondering what’s so funny. Before either of them can ask, and I have to think of a lie, Chloe cuts in. “Should we get started?”

“I think we should,” Leo states, his head held high like it was his suggestion.

Jenny rolls her eyes at him, as she shakes her head, mumbling something under her breath that only he can hear.

It was obviously something that pissed Leo off, as his face turns a dangerous shade of purple, as he looks seconds away from retaliating, and I decide to say something before we devolve back into chaos.

“How does this work?” I hate how small and unsure my voice sounds, particularly as I was really trying to come across as confident, with my shit together.

Thankfully, my pitiful voice is enough for both of them to cut the tension and quit arguing, as they looked over at me with sadness and pity written on their faces. I think I preferred them bickering.

Jenny gives me a sad smile as she leans over the desk, pulling her chair closer, so she can make herself comfortable. “I know this is never an easy process, but we will take our time until we get it right. If at any point it gets too much, we can take a break or stop entirely.”

I nod, pulling in a breath as I say, “Thank you. I want to do this.”

In reality, I need to do this. Without this sketch, we may never locate The Count.

Leo clears his throat, pulling my attention to him. “Are you okay with me staying here? Miles and Jacob made it quite clear I’m to be here, but I can guard you just as safely from the hallway, if that would make you more comfortable.”

I don’t know Leo too well. I only have the kind words Chloe and Miles have said about him to go on, but I couldn’t be more grateful for the kindness he shows me in this moment. “Thank you. That means a lot, but I’m happy for you to stay.”

As I draw in a deep breath, listening to Jenny’s instructions on how this works, Chloe takes hold of my hand, lacing our fingers together.

She gives it a squeeze, letting me know she’s here with me every step of the way, and I pull some of her courage, reminding myself just how much I need to do this.

It takes almost two hours until we have a sketch that I’m confident accurately reflects The Count on the night I last saw him. In fact, looking into the eyes of the sketch sends a shiver down my spine, and that’s how I know we’ve got the likeness correct.

I have no idea what Kellan plans to do with it, or how he will age the sketch and make it reflect how they think The Count looks now, but that’s for them to worry about. I’ve fulfilled my part of the deal, and now we just have to wait.

As I climb into bed that night, I hold the two men I love close, hoping it will be enough to keep the nightmares at bay. After opening the box to the past, I’m worried I’ll struggle to close it again, but my men keep reminding me they’ll be there to take care of me, no matter what.

Luckily, the nightmares only came for three days, and Miles and Jacob were there through each. Well, when I say Jake was there, he was in the same bed, even if he didn’t wake until Miles literally shook him. How he slept through my screams, I’ll never know.

Each night got a little easier. The nightmares were less intense, and I could fall back into a dreamless sleep much quicker than the last. Miles and Jake held me, letting me know how safe I was, until finally I slept through the night.

I was worried it would be a one off, but the next night was the same. A week after my day with Jenny, I was back to sleeping through the night, my exhaustion and fear a distant memory. In its place was anticipation as we waited for news from the Doughtys about what would happen next.

As I walk into work that evening, after a particularly pleasurable afternoon with Jake, whilst Miles was in a meeting, I find myself smiling uncontrollably.

I can’t help but wonder when my life became so amazing.

I have two men that I love—even if they don’t know that yet—and I’m pretty sure they feel the same way. They make me feel cared for and protected in a way I never have before, giving me the family I’ve always craved.

But more than anything, I feel safe, which is the best feeling in the world to someone who has spent nearly their whole life running from danger.

Jake lets go of my hand to take his usual booth over in the corner, while I head to the changing room to get ready for the start of my shift. Before I can walk away, Jake grabs my arm and pulls me towards him.

I slam into his chest as he wraps his arms around me, pressing his lips to mine in a searing kiss that makes my toes curl.

When he pulls back, there’s a big smile on his face that lights up his chocolate eyes. “What was that for?” I ask, sounding breathless.

“Does a guy need an excuse to kiss his girlfriend?” Jake replies, pressing another quick kiss to my lips.

I shake my head, not able to stop the smile from growing. “No, and I’m definitely not complaining, but I have to get to work,” I say reluctantly.

“Go then,” Jake says, slapping my arse when I turn to leave.

I glare at him over my shoulder, but he only winks at me in a way that makes my stomach flutter. “Have a good shift, Baby. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

He slides into the booth as I walk into the changing room. I can’t keep the smile off my face as thoughts rush through my brain.

How did I get so lucky? I think to myself.

Then, the dark part of my brain that’s always pissing on my parade chirps up, reminding me that my happiness probably won’t last. It’s too good to be true .

I push those thoughts away, focusing instead on Jake’s kiss, and the way he makes me feel.

Unfortunately, the dark part of my brain was very fucking correct. Happiness never lasts. Those are the last thoughts I have when someone grabs hold of me, placing something over my mouth. Before I can even register what’s happening, or fight back, everything turns black.