Page 144 of My Sweetest Obsession

My eyes landed on a knife beside a birthday cake. Grabbing it, I flicked off the lights and crawled into the cabinets under the sink. I struggled to calm my breathing, praying they wouldn't hear me.

The door creaked.

Shit. I held my breath.

Just stay still. Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.

I could hear footsteps on the tile floor, each soft thud sending shivers down my spine.

The footsteps grew closer, and I braced myself, waiting for the door to swing open. But just as suddenly as the footsteps approached, they began to fade away. I exhaled a sigh of relief, thinking I was safe… until the cupboard doors flew open with a dramatic clash, revealing Stone, beaming that infuriating smile.

“Did you really think you could hide from me?” he teased, yanking me out by my hair and tossing me onto the floor.

I crawled to get away from him, but he grabbed my ankle, pulling me back. Despite my grip on the table leg, he overpowered me. He forced me on my back and hovered over me.

“You know, if your asshole boyfriend just stayed out of our business, none of this would be happening. But he had to kill the mayor, didn’t he?”

What? The mayor?

“I see the wheels turning in your head. I worked for Walsh,” Stone continued, his voice bitter.

“I don’t understand. You’re a police officer and it’s your job to protect the public,” I said in a shaky voice.

“A cop’s salary isn’t shit!” he snapped, but I stayed still.

“All he had to do was stop looking for Walsh. But no, he had to kill him, and I lost my share of the profits! So this is what’s going to happen.” He straddled me, pinning me down. I tried to buck him off, but the bastard wouldn’t budge.

“I got a call from the Puppet Master, and he offered me a deal I couldn’t refuse. He’ll pay me enough to retire early and be set for life. As long as I bring you to him.”

His hands tightened around my neck and he slammed my head against the floor, my vision blurring. Darkness crept in, my life flashing before my eyes. As I was about to pass out, he was suddenly off me.

Then a vicious roar filled the room.

Nico. He came for me.

This motherfucker.

When I pushed through the door, I saw Stone with his hands wrapped around Gigi’s neck, and my heart stopped. She looked like she was about to pass out.

Without a second thought, I lunged at Stone. I wrapped my forearm around his neck and yanked him off my girl.

Stone struggled in my grasp and tried to claw at my arms and reach for my face, but I was taller and stronger. I tightened my arms around his neck.

“I knew you were fucking dirty the moment I saw you,” I growled, my voice filled with the promise of death.

He pulled a knife from his pocket and sliced at my arm. I recoiled in pain.

Before he could compose himself, I gave him a brutal kick in the chest, sending him sprawling against the wooden table. He failed to break his fall and let out a painful grunt.

“You made a big mistake putting your hands on my girl,” I snarled, advancing on him.

Stone scrambled to his feet, but I was a storm, relentless and furious. I delivered a vicious uppercut that snapped his head back, the sickening crunch filled the room. Blood spilled from his mouth.

Stone attempted to put some distance between us, but I was upon him like a predator closing in on its prey. Grabbing him by the collar, I pulled him close, my grip like a vice around his neck.

“You forget who you’re fucking with,” I seethed.

The bravado in Stone’s eyes was replaced with fear.