Page 98 of An Eye For Illusion

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, Jax. I didn’t think Jade would stoop so low as to entertain the likes of you, but don’t worry. In a few short days, that pussy of hers will be locked up tight.” His words are full of venom, and at the mention of Jade’s name—not to mention her pussy—my stomach drops.

His laugh is menacing as he squares up to me. “I’ll let her have her fun until the wedding, but make no mistake, she’s fucking mine. Keep your filthy fucking hands off her.” He spits at my feet before turning and walking away.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. He knows.

My only fucking hope is that he doesn’t know who I really am.

If he does, we’re all fucked. Including Jade.

Chapter 33

Jade

“Excuse me, sir! You can’t just barge in there like that!” Heather’s raised voice hits my ears just as my office door swings open and bangs against the wall. I startle at the intrusion and jump to my feet. Ever since Elliott paid me a surprise visit, I’ve been jumpier than normal. It takes a metric shit ton of makeup every morning to cover up that little encounter.

“Who the hell are you?” I ask when a man I don’t recognize waltzes right into my now open office door with Heather hot on his tail.

“Ms. Foster, I’m sorry to just show up like this, but I’m worried about Colin,” he replies.

My heart pounds in my chest at the mention of Colin’s name. I swallow, trying to push down the nausea threatening to make an appearance.

“What’s going on? And I need you to tell me who you are before I call security.” At this point, I don’t trust anyone. To say that I’ve been a basket case would be underestimating the level of crazy I feel right now. My insecurities flare their ugly heads, and I’m not in the mood for bullshit.

I raise one eyebrow, waiting for him to respond before I reach for my phone on my desk.

He chuckles. “Now I see what he was talking about.” His response is cryptic and only serves to aggravate me more.

“And what the hell does that mean?” I don’t know who the hell this guy is. For all I know, he could be working for Vinny. Hell, he could be Vinny!

The worry I see on his face catches me off guard. He seems sincere, which means he probably isn’t an associate of Vinny’s. That, or he’s a really, really good actor.

“I apologize, Ms. Foster. I’m Donovan Blake, and I work at Dunn Security with Colin. I’m sure you’ve overheard some of our conversations. I’m helping with your case.” He extends his hand.

Donovan? D? I do recognize the name, and I have overheard them on the phone. I’m shocked by his question, and the worry I held at bay when he first barged in flares back to life.

“You don’t know where he is?” I ask.

His eyes slam shut as he slowly shakes his head no. “I was hoping you would know.”

My fear of trusting anyone honestly made me think he was avoiding me after he didn’t return my call the day after we spent the night together. Then I pushed that aside and was worried something might’ve happened. I’d decided that if I hadn’t heard from him by this morning, I’d call Liam.

Unfortunately, my earlier fears that had consumed my thoughts became reality when I received a text from him early this morning. “I can’t do this with you. I made a mistake,” it said. I was absolutely devastated, and frankly, I still am. His words gutted me like nothing ever has before.

If Donovan is here… Does that mean something did happen? So, what does that text mean?

“He texted me this morning over something personal, but besides that, I haven’t heard from him,” I say in a solemn tone.

His eyes narrow. “If you don’t mind me asking, what did the text say?” Donovan asks with a bit of hope in his voice. His inflection confuses me.

He definitely seems worried about Colin. He’d have to be to just barge in my office, but that text this morning… This is confusing me more by the second, and now I want answers as much as he does.

I grab my cell phone and pull up the text thread between Colin and me. I can’t bear to read those words aloud, so I hand Donovan my phone, and he takes a moment to read Colin’s text before handing the device back to me. I place it face down on my desk.

“Does that clear up any worries? Seems to me he was fine and dandy this morning.”

Donovan turns and paces the small space between my desk and the two chairs I have sitting in front of them. “Actually, that only brings more questions.” His eyes bore into mine. “Jade, I would bet my life that Colin didn’t write that. He’s obsessed with you. So, the question is, who did?”

“What do you mean Colin is missing?” Bridge asks in a loud whisper.

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