Page 55 of Tainted Obsession 1

My gaze rakes over her body, assessing her for other injuries. Red marks mar her upper arms: violence imprinted on her creamy skin. The bastards dragged her away from me. She’d fought to get back to me. She’d screamed for me.

Summoning up all my willpower, I shove my rage deep in my chest. I’ll get the opportunity to take it out on the man who truly deserves my retribution: George Crawford. Soon, I’ll have him strung up and bleeding in Duarte’s basement.Hewill be the one struggling and screaming.

The thought helps me control the worst of my anger.

“Her arms,” I growl at the doctor, demanding that he check the marks for deeper injury.

“She’ll probably bruise, but nothing is broken,” the man replies smoothly. “Now, I need to get a look at your head.”

My phone rings.Duarte.

I wave the man off and answer the call. My host won’t like it if I ignore him, and I need an update on the situation with our enemies, the threat to Evelyn.

“You risked an assault on my home,” he drawls without greeting me. “Los Zetascould’ve pursued you.”

“No one followed me,” I reply as coolly as I can manage.

A beat of tense silence.

“We’re friends, Massimo. Of course, I will offer my protection while you’re in my territory.”

“Thank you.” Some of the tension eases from my jaw.

“We will delay our trip,” he informs me. “I need to ensure this situation is handled at home before we go out of the country. We’ll leave tomorrow. I assume you still want to go to Colombia with me to meet Adrián?”

“Yes,” I confirm. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“Adrián will be pleased to meet you too,” Duarte says, no pleasure evident in his cold voice. “I’m sure our business arrangement will be profitable for all of us.”

I hear the unspoken discontent in his genial words: he expects to get even richer off our deal, and failure will have serious consequences for my friends and me.

“It will be.” It’s a guarantee. “I always keep my promises, Stefano.”

“Yes, I remember. We’ll discuss our next moves on the jet tomorrow morning.”

He ends the call without waiting for me to confirm, so I allow the doctor to check my head. Evelyn’s eyes are tight with worry as he prods at my wound, and the sight of her tender concern soothes the twinge of pain.

She’s safe with me.

Chapter 22

Massimo

Iindulge myself in Evelyn for hours, lingering in the private haven of the suite with her in my arms. She drifted off to sleep a while ago, exhausted by the morning’s violent events.

Her hair is so soft beneath my fingers, and her sweet scent lulls me into relaxation. My eyelids grow heavy. I allow them to droop closed, just for a few minutes…

My mother’s elegant fingers handle the fruit with care, making sure not to bruise the precious product. She’s helping my father tidy the grocery store—something that the owner doesn’t mind as long as she doesn’t damage anything.

It’ll be another long shift for him, so she’s brought me to see him. I’m old enough now to understand that she misses him when he’s away, and she’s eager to help at the store so that she can spend time with him.

My fingers tighten around a peach as resentment coils my muscles. I can hear boys laughing outside.

Laughing at me?

My cheeks heat. Whatever amuses them, I’ll never know. I’m an outsider, a pathetic weakling.

I’m constantly under my parents’ watchful eyes, never allowed to interact with the other boys in the neighborhood. Mymother insists that it’s too dangerous, and I need to dedicate myself to my studies at home. She tells me that an education is my way out, and if I keep my record clean, I’ll be able to move away fromLe Veleone day.