Page 64 of Their Stolen Obsession (Phantoms and Obsession Duet #2)

Their Universe

Liv

I stormed down the city street in my heels, creating a fiery path of determination and anger.

Pissed off didn’t describe the frustration I had toward Saint and Sin, who most certainly watched me.

I couldn’t go anywhere without eyes digging into my backside.

I felt him behind me, and I wanted to run, but these goddamn high heels made my feet hurt.

Fuck me.

I should’ve known better. I suppose I could’ve picked running shoes with two predators on the loose who hunted me and were prepared to strike.

What the hell was wrong with me?

My thought process was all fucked up. I needed a coffee to clear my head. Thank God my favorite café was up ahead.

I peeked over my shoulder. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

There was Saint in damn Mustang Sally. He was far enough behind me not to gain attention, but completely not inconspicuous either. He stood out like a sore thumb. Idiot phantom tried to scare me. I’d show him.

I beelined for the café. Cut off some lady to my right, and she cursed at me. I darted through the door and the edge of a rug caught on the tip of my heel. Shit! I was going down.

“I got ya.” A man caught me.

He eased me back onto my unbalanced feet and held me steady with the strength of his arms. Extremely muscular forearms with sun-kissed skin and thick veins. Jesus, I knew how to make a pretty fucking elegant entrance when I was in a damn hurry trying to escape a man who followed me.

“Shit. Sorry. I’m such a klutz.” A hand brushed the hair away from my face, and I giggled with a quick glance outside.

“It’s okay. Don’t apologize.” Lord, he had gorgeous green eyes. “I don’t mind a pretty girl falling for me.”

Oh, damn, handsome and charming with a side of humor.

I blushed .

Mustang Sally rolled up to the curb and Saint watched everything.

Time to make him jealous and maybe encourage him to screw off or drive away while he went insane.

Or it may make him go on a murderous rampage, and this poor guy didn’t know what he’d be in for, but I had to take a chance at proceeding on with my life.

I couldn’t let these fuckers screw with me anymore—if I wanted to move on, this was my chance.

I chose to seize the opportunity and put my hand on his chest. “Thank you for saving me. I appreciate it, but please call me Liv.”

“Liv?” He rubbed his chin, deep in thought, and his eyes twinkled down at me. “I like that. Short, sweet, and straight to the point.”

I giggled and twirled a strand of fallen hair between my fingers. “And your name is?”

“It’s Jake. Jake Wilson,” he answered with a wide grin. “I’m a doctor over at the hospital here in the city. A surgeon.”

Wow. Jake cut into people and kept them alive. A huge one-eighty from the men I had recently been with. My phantoms cut people up and killed them. But sweet surgeon Jake didn’t need to know that.

“Impressive. Maybe I sprained my ankle, and I need a doctor to take a peek?” I held up a heel and touched my ankle. “Do you think I’ll be okay? ”

Jake chuckled, “I think you’ll be all right.”

Suddenly, my cellphone dinged like fucking clockwork.

The conversation with Jake had turned flirtatious, which Sin and Saint wouldn’t appreciate, but I didn’t give a damn.

I already told them to give me some space, which they weren’t willing to accept, so I’d have to make them take a hint and get out of the fucking way.

I ignored the text message. My full attention was on Jake as I ran a hand up his forearm. A rather risky move with Saint surely seething in the car and ready to storm into the café to break his arm.

“Are you sure?” I questioned with a raised eyebrow. “It’s aching a little.”

A complete lie.

“Pretty positive, since you can apply pressure to the foot without limping,” Jake replied and rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, ah, can I get you a coffee? My treat.”

I laughed out loud, tossed my head back, and playfully slapped a hand against his chest. The invitation wasn’t even remotely funny, but I wanted to make Sin and Saint angry. I needed smoke to blow from their ears and their brains to catch fire.

Jake stared down at me nervously, like I had lost my mind. Shit. I couldn’t blow this chance with him .

“Yeah. I’d love a coffee please, with extra sweetener.” I smiled while batting my eyelashes. “Thank you, Doctor Wilson.”

Jake went to the front counter and flashed a dashingly handsome grin. He placed our orders while the server laughed at something he said, and I pondered if he was flirting with her. I honestly didn’t give a shit. After all, I’d used him for my agenda.

The server made our coffee quickly; his was black.

A bitter way to drink a morning cup of java, but everyone had their own taste.

Simple orders and nothing too fancy. Jake brought my coffee cup over to me as steam rose out of the rim and he handed it to me.

The to-go cup was warm against my hand, and I gently blew on the hot liquid.

I got another text.

“Uh, do you need to get that?” Jake asked as he gestured toward my cell phone in my pocket. “Sounds important.”

“Oh, gosh, no. Whoever is texting can wait.” I leaned in close and whispered, “But you know what is important?”

“Spending time with you,” Jake responded flirtatiously.

Real smooth.

I giggled, “Exchanging numbers. ”

“I appreciate the way you think, Liv.” Jake nodded with a smile.

I punched Jake’s digits into my phone as he told me and sent him a message so he’d have my number. I couldn’t let him get away. Whether we simply went out on a date and had a random hook up or made out, I couldn’t complain. Mr. Wilson was good looking, but not as hot as my phantoms.

Speaking of Sin and Saint, I received a notification. A long series of text messages. Figures.

Unknown:

What are you doing, Liv?

Me:

I gave a guy my phone number. I told you I wanted space.

Unknown:

Don’t you fucking remember what happens to people that touch you? They die.

Me:

Well, he doesn’t count. I touched him .

Unknown:

You fell into his arms.

Me:

Wrong. I tripped after some assholes wouldn’t stop following me .

Unknown:

That’s why you shouldn’t fucking run, little obsession. We love the chase. Don’t you remember?

I recalled all too well. Sin and Saint were up to their old tricks, but I was too, and I threw in a new one. Jake Wilson.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked, interrupting the shadows who stalked me.

“I’m fine.” I flashed Jake a smile and took a sip of my cup. “Nothing a coffee can’t fix.”

“I hate to do this, but”—Jake glanced down at his wristwatch—“I better go. My shift starts in half an hour.”

“Right. Duty calls.” I held up my cell phone. “Text me later, Jake?”

“Absolutely.” Jake tapped his coffee cup against mine and playfully winked at me. “I’ll buy us a bottle of champagne next time.”

“I’m counting on it.”

Flirtatiously, I smiled at Jake as he walked out of the café, and I didn’t see the black Mustang anymore. Instantly, I got nervous as my grin turned into a frown. I wandered out onto the sidewalk and glanced up and down the street. Saint had disappeared.

Good .

Maybe I had made my point, and my phantoms had listened. Finally, they’d give me the space I wanted to figure out my life without them always around and somehow controlling my next step. This was my story, not theirs, and I had every right to hold all the power.

Crap. I got a damn text. But the message wasn’t from my phantoms.

Jake Wilson:

About that date. Can I pick you up after my shift? I’m done at eight.

I smiled.

Me:

I’d love that.

Jake Wilson:

Good. Send me your address.

The new guy in my life had taken the bait, and I had a first date. I screenshot the direct directions to the condo and a flutter rushed inside of me, but then the butterflies flew away. Another text from an unknown number.

Unknown:

If you ask that dick out on a date… There will be hell to pay.

Me:

I didn’t have to because Jake asked me.

There was no text message back. Silence. The entire stroll back through the city streets was peaceful. Except for horns honking, birds chirping, and people talking as they walked by. Nobody followed me, haunted me, or harassed me. I was all alone, but the tranquility scared me.

This world was too calm, quiet, and not the usual chaos I had become accustomed to. There was no havoc, nobody died, and the suspense of what transpired without my knowledge frightened me because there had to be something happening. My phantoms couldn’t leave me alone.

Right?

I had fought back against Sin and Saint, and I made my intentions known.

I hoped to move on and wanted space to do so.

Their lives were far too dangerous for me to be a part of, and I’d never fit into their world.

I didn’t want to be ruthless, a risk taker and rule breaker, even though they made me more alive than I ever had been.

Maybe I didn’t want Sin and Saint to go away.

Was I making the biggest mistake of my life?

Before I could answer, there was a ding and someone answered for me.

Unknown:

That is a major error. Jake Wilson will have to pay.