Loan Shark's Obsession Read online

  The black SUV that rammed Scott’s car comes to a stop. I’m still half a mile away, my car eating up the pavement as my blood boils.

  I take a breath when I see her climb from the passenger side. But then she stumbles, and a man grabs her.

  My knuckles go white on the steering wheel, and I grit my teeth.

  They are going to die. Every last one of them. I count five on this dry stretch of lonely highway. Five graves I won’t bother to dig.

  The asshole throws her into a trunk. Motherfuckers.

  I reach the smoking car and throw my parking brake as I wrench the wheel to the left. My car goes into a screeching drift, and I take out two Russians easily, each of their thumps against my fender like musical notes.

  Righting the car, I slam on the brakes and reach for my gun. It’s already in hand as I throw the door open and start firing. They weren’t expecting me. I can tell from the surprised looks on their faces as I cut them down under the bright sun, their blood soaking into the cracked roadway.

  “Xavier!” Gregori calls and throws his hands up.

  His other men drop. They didn’t even fire a shot. One writhes on the ground just ahead of me. I stomp on the wound in his stomach, and when he yowls in pain, I shoot him between the eyes.

  Gregori shakes his head. “Xavier, let’s talk about this.”

  “Talk?” I advance on him. “You steal my most precious asset from me, and now you want to talk?”

  The blazing sun is nothing compared to the molten anger that blasts inside me when I see Laura, her eyes closed, her face pale, and blood on her forehead.

  “The accident was an …” He swallows. “Accident. We only intended to clip them.” He shrugs. “We can talk this out. If you kill me, you’ll be starting something big. You know this. My family will come for you. The five families, all of them will band together to take Vegas if you—”

  “Let them come.” I point my gun at his forehead.

  His gaze flicks to my left.

  Fuck. I turn but not fast enough to stop his dying goon from firing. The shot hits me in the thigh.

  I put a bullet into the asshole’s heart, but when I swing back to Gregori, he’s pulled Laura from the trunk and holds her to him. Her body is limp, and he holds a knife to her side.

  “I am getting in my car with the girl, and we’re leaving.” Spittle coats his lips at the terror in his words. “You aren’t going to move, understand? Put the gun down.”

  “This gun?” I waggle it.

  “Xavier!” He grimaces. “Put it down.”

  “Too chickenshit to kill me?” I can feel warm blood trickling down my calf.

  “You know what happens if I kill you.” He shakes his head. “I can’t risk it. But I will if I have to.”

  “I will go to war for her, Gregori. I will kill as many members of the five families as I can, and I’ll start with yours. Give her to me now, or I will hunt you like a fucking animal and slaughter you like one, too.”

  “Drop it or I’ll gut her!” he bellows, the fear invading his voice and making it quake.

  I hold the gun up high, pointing it to the blue above. He follows the movement with his gaze.

  “The fuck you doing?” he steps back, dragging my Laura with him.

  I pull the trigger.

  He takes another step back. “What the fuck?”

  “You want to know what I’m doing?” I drop the gun and toss it to the side. I shrug. “I’m distracting you, you piece of shit.”

  Scott grabs Gregori’s arm and wrenches the knife away from Laura. I rush forward and catch her before she falls, then gently lay her on the ground.

  Gregori and a bloody Scott are fighting for the knife.

  I rush over and, with a hard kick, blow out Gregori’s knee. He drops to the pavement with a howl of pain.

  I jump on him and wrench the knife from his hand as Scott stumbles backward, his face dazed.

  “Xavier!” Gregori cries, but the sound is cut off as I slice through his voice box and even deeper. Then I finish with the knife in his heart. “No one takes my precious Laura from me. Rot in hell, and if your family comes for me or my Laura, I will kill them out here in the desert just like I did you.” I wrench the knife to the right, twisting it deep as the life vanishes from Gregori’s eyes.

  A thump pulls my attention away, and I see Scott has passed out on the median. In the distance something glints. A car coming from Vegas, taking the desert highway.

  We have to get out of here.

  I leave the knife embedded--a warning to any who try to touch my territory--and rush to Laura. She’s still out. Worry sinks deep into my gut as I look at her pale cheeks. I gently scoop her into my arms and rush her to my car. After placing her gingerly in the backseat, I go back for Scott and place him in the passenger seat, even going so far as to fasten his seatbelt. It’s what Laura would want, so I do it.

  I gun the engine, and with a kick of sand and dust, we take off and leave the wreckage behind us. My eyes constantly glance to the rearview to check on Laura. She’s breathing, but I don’t like the cut on her head or the way she seems so still. Laura is never still. She’s electric. A bolt of life and love.

  “Hang on, Laura. Just hang on.” I dial my doctor and order him to my house.

  He’ll be there when I arrive.

  I’ve worried before. About winning battles with other kingpins. About growing my own empire. But that was nothing compared to the worry that eats me up inside when I look at Laura.

  “I love you, precious. I love you so much,” I whisper under my breath and floor it, hoping like hell that she’ll be okay and that I’ll have a chance to make all this up to her.

  23

  Laura

  “Precious. Open your eyes for me,” I hear someone say. No, not someone, it’s my Xavier. I try to open them, but I can’t. My head pounds as I try to remember what happened. Am I dreaming? “You can’t leave me.” I feel his mouth brush against mine.

  “Leave her alone.” I swear I hear Scott’s voice, but how could that be?

  “Don’t make me throw you out.”

  I hear the familiar laugh of my brother Scott. It is him. I try to open my eyes to see for myself, but I can’t. I remain in the blackness, my confusion growing by the second.

  “You need me here, and you know it. You’re not going to do shit to me.” A warm hand takes mine. “Rest. You’re safe. I won’t let him take you again.”

  Let who take me? Xavier? I try to open my mouth to speak as Xavier and Scott start to argue. Their voices get farther and farther away until finally sleep takes me.

  The next time I wake, the room is quiet except for a beeping sound. I feel a hand holding mine once again. It’s familiar and comforting. I manage to get my eyes open a little bit to see Xavier with his hand in mine. His head is down, staring at the floor as his thumb drifts back and forth against my skin. He looks defeated. Before he can see that I’m awake, my eyes fall closed again. I try with everything I have to open them when I hear my brother.

  “You look like shit. Eat something and shower.”

  “No.”

  “You do know that sitting next to her won’t help her wake up, right? She’ll come to when she wants. When she’s ready.”

  “No,” he says again. “I’m not leaving her.”

  “I’ll get you food, and you’ll fucking eat it only because I know my sister cares about you for some fucked up reason.” I can hear Scott’s retreating steps as he leaves the room. It’s not long before Xavier starts to read to me once again. Something that he’s been doing. His voice has been one of the only things that has been soothing me and keeping me calm.

  “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

  "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”’

  Sleep takes me.

  I blink my eyes open, my head no longer pounding. It takes them a moment to adjust to the light. I look over to se
e Xavier once again sitting next to the bed. His hand holds mine. Scott is here too. He’s sleeping on a sofa across the room. We’re in one of the guest rooms at Xavier’s. Everything starts flooding back to me. Scott’s words about what Xavier had done, the car crash, Scott’s lifeless body, and the men who had tried to take me.

  I try to pull my hand from Xavier’s to touch my head, but his hold only tightens. His head lifts, his dark eyes meeting mine. He looks tired, and worry etches the corners of his eyes.

  “Laura.” He’s on his feet. “How do you feel?” He cups my face in his giant hands.

  “Sleepy?”

  He leans down and presses his mouth to mine gently. I should push him away, but I’m weak when it comes to him. It might be our last kiss for all I know. When he releases my mouth from his, he rests his forehead against mine. The anguish on his face has a knot forming in my throat.

  He’s in love with me. I’m not sure what to do with that information, but I know in my heart he is. If I was merely a plaything, I don’t think he’d be this torn up about me being hurt. Right now, he looks like he’d follow me into death.

  “Are you both okay?” I ask. “How did you get me out of the trunk?” The last thing I remember before being in this bed was that trunk. As scared as I’d been, I knew Xavier was going to come for me. He’ll never stop coming for me.

  “Yeah, your boyfriend lost his shit and took a bullet to his thigh.” Scott says, making me gasp. I try to sit up, but Xavier doesn't let me.

  “You were shot?”

  “Precious. Don’t get up until the doctor clears you.” He doesn't answer my question.

  “Answer me,” I snip. I shouldn't care if he’s been shot. He had it coming. But I care all the same.

  “I’m fine. It was a graze. I only needed a few stitches.” Xavier shoots my brother a glare. Scott looks unfazed by it. “You worried about me?” He drops his gaze back down to mine.

  “I don’t know what I am when it comes to you.” I shake my head. “Scott.” I hold my hand out to my brother. He comes over and takes it. “Are you okay? You scared the crap out of me. I couldn't get you to wake up.” My eyes once again burn with tears.

  “A few bumps is all.” Scott looks over at Xavier. “I want a minute with my sister.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “Xavier. I want to talk to my brother alone.”

  His jaw flexes, but he steps back.

  “You’ve got five minutes.” He stalks from the room. He almost looks as if he’s pouting.

  It’s kind of cute.

  “He’s intense.” Scott lets out a long breath.

  “You don’t seem scared of him.” I drop my head back, already feeling tired. I have no idea how long I’ve been out.

  “You were right. He’s not going to hurt me because of you.” He shakes his head and comes around to the chair Xavier had been sitting in. “Can’t kill me either because that would upset you.” He lets out a low chuckle. “I still can’t believe my little sister is one of the most powerful people in Vegas.”

  “What?”

  “You’ve got that man wrapped around your finger. I don’t think there’s a thing he wouldn't do for you if you asked.”

  “Except set me free.” I lick my dry lips.

  Scott nods. I don’t tell him that whenever Xavier says he’ll never let me go, I get this thrill. He did everything he could to have me, and I’m still not sure what to do with that.

  My head starts to throb again. I’m in love with him and fighting an inner battle of what is right and wrong.

  “I don’t think you want to be set free.” Scott stands. My eyes start to feel heavy again.

  “Time’s up.” Xavier comes back into the room.

  “That was two minutes.” Scott fights a smile. Are these two friends now or something? “I’m going to go clean myself up before Xavier throws me out of here.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.” He heads out of the room, leaving us alone.

  “Precious—”

  “I don’t want to do this right now.”

  “Okay.” He starts to sit back down.

  “Don’t let this go to your head, but will you come up here?” I scoot over in the bed, inviting him to join me. He stands and kicks off his shoes before slipping into the bed with me. I rest my head on his chest. His whole body relaxes under me.

  I know he thinks he wants me more than anything. As much as I get a thrill from that, I’m not sure Xavier really knows me. The parts I try to keep hidden from everyone. The need I have to wrap myself around him and never let go. He’s not the only one who knows about obsession.

  What would happen when he grew tired of me? I think losing my heart to him is scarier than that night in that room with Fat Tommy.

  “Relax and stop thinking so much.” He rubs my back. “Rest. I promise everything will be okay.”

  I nod my head, closing my eyes, believing him, and trying to believe in us.

  24

  Xavier

  She shifts next to me, then her eyes slowly open, focusing on me.

  “Laura,” I say softly and stroke her hair.

  “Why did you do those things?”

  I’ve done a great many things, plenty of them bad, but I suspect I know what she’s referring to. All the same, I need clarification.

  “Which things?”

  Her brows draw together. I reach up and smooth my thumb along the crease on her forehead. She sighs and closes her eyes.

  “Don’t scrunch your face. It’ll pull at the bandage,” I keep my tone soft, safe. “My doctor checked you over and put in a few stitches. It will likely scar, despite his best efforts, but it’s above your hairline. Invisible.”

  “Oh.” She puts a hand up to her bandage.

  “I can call him in and have him check it if you—”

  “No. Mama hen,” she grumbles. “But you have to answer me. Why did you let Fat Tommy—” She starts to scrunch again.

  “I’ll explain everything. Just relax for me, all right?” I stroke that little wrinkle again until it disappears.

  “I’m relaxed.” She tries to cross her arms, but only manages to pin them sort of between us. But she seems satisfied, and there’s no scrunching, so I let it go.

  I go through the litany of reasons and explanations I’d mentally rehearsed, the carefully planned and plotted logic of it. But when it comes to Laura, I’m not logical. She’s the only one who’s ever made me have a gut reaction. Hell, I just started a war with the Russians over her, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. She’s my Helen of Troy—the woman I’d burn down the world for. How can I explain all that without sounding like a psycho? I can’t.

  “I’m waiting.” She tries to sound petulant but only manages to look even cuter.

  I ditch my reasoning and just go straight to the heart of it. “I did all those things—set up your brother, sicced Fat Tommy on him, and brought you into it. I did it because I wanted you.”

  Her eyes open. “I want a Birkin bag, but that doesn’t mean I go in there and strongarm the nice lady to give it to me.”

  “Well, I would do exactly that.” I shrug slightly. “I take what I want. And when I see something valuable, I keep thinking about it, ways to get it, what I have to do to keep it—I don’t stop until I have it.”

  “And I’m like that to you? Just a possession?” The hurt in her voice pierces me like a bullet.

  “No.” I stroke her soft hair. “At first, all I knew was that you were valuable, someone important to me. It’s like a sixth sense.”

  “Your scar was tingling?” she whispers.

  I can’t help my smile. “Yes, you could say that.”

  “Slytherin over here tingling for a kidnapping.” More grumbling, but she uncrosses her arms and scoots a little closer.

  “I kept asking you out. You kept denying me. I had to do something. Letting you slip away wasn’t an option. Now it’s my turn for a question. Why did you kee
p turning me down?”

  “Because you didn’t know me, and I didn’t know you. We still don’t know each other,” she huffs.

  “Don’t we?” I press my palm to her cheek and turn her face to me. “I know you always like the book better than the movie, you do a cute little snore on the exhale sometimes, you like a lot of cream with a little coffee, sometimes you get stuck on a thought or an idea and have to research it and look at it from every angle, and sometimes you have entire conversations with Sue when you think I’m not around. I also know I adore you, Della adores you, and Sue adores you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever had in my home that’s not Della or business. I made a mistake that first night. I can admit that. I should’ve never let Fat Tommy scare you the way he did. He took it too far.”

  “That’s right!” She smacks my arm. “You shouldn’t have.”

  Not hard. Not anything like what I deserve. I’ll take any punishment she wants, just so long as she stays with me.

  “I was scared to death.” She glares at me.

  “I know, and I’m sorry, precious. I swear on my life I never would’ve let them hurt you.”

  “The saw.” She shudders.

  “I know.” I press my forehead to hers. “I know, and I’m sorry. If you want me to drag Fat Tommy up here and watch as I use the saw on him, I’d be more than happy to—”

  “Eww, gross. No.” She wrinkles her nose but leaves the forehead alone this time. “You’d do that?”

  “I’d do a hell of a lot more than that to gain your trust. You’re precious to me. Can’t you see that?” I swallow hard. “I’m obsessed with you, Laura. I can’t stop thinking about you. I was afraid I’d hurt you, so I stayed away from you. But I can’t do it. There’s no way I won’t chase you to the ends of the earth. You’re the most precious thing in the world to me. Priceless. And I love you with everything I am.”