Page 22 of Dangerous Obsession

“You are a fool for believing that a woman could threaten this family's existence. And I am a fool for remaining in your employ for so long. This family means nothing to me.” I spit on the ground by his bed and turned my back on him charging back out of the room.

I sense Rome following me out of the room and I turn around to face him. “Tell me where they took her.”

The door clicks shut behind him and he shakes his head. “I can't do that, Leo. You know it.”

I grab him by the shirt collar and shove him against the wall hard. He gasps and grabs both of my wrists as I put pressure on his throat. “Tell me where the fuck they took her, now.”

“I can't,” he gasps. He pushes on my wrists and glares at me. “Let go of me. Don't make me have to hurt you.”

“You hurt me? That's hilarious. I'm going to make your face look like a cheeseburger that's been chewed up and spit out. Now fucking tell me where they took her.” I shake him hard. I know my rage is getting out of control.

“Leo, let me go.” Rome drives his knee upward; I assume hoping to connect with my balls, but I turn my hip and he misses. The act of aggression unleashes my fury, and the beast inside of me leaps out through my fist as I connect with his jaw hard.

Rome has no idea what lengths I will go to in order to protect Willow. I draw back and punch him again, this one he takes to the temple. He pushes me hard and I ran backward into the banister. When I get my footing I charge back at him driving my shoulder into his gut and slamming him against the wall again.

“Tell me where she is or I'm gonna fuck you up.” I give him a right hook to the gut and he doubles over. Then I drive my knee upward into his chest knocking him back against the wall.

“Leo, stop,” he grunts, but I have no intention of stopping until I get the information I want. I bring my elbow down on his back hard, and he drops to the ground. I'm ready to kick him in the balls when he holds his hand up. “Stop!”

“Where?”

“They took her to Sven's place.” Rome holds his face tenderly, his chest heaving.

“Why did they take her there?”

“They're giving her a new identity. We bought a ticket for a flight to Paris that leaves tonight, and we're getting her away from us. The Italians are on our doorstep. You brought her here and dad is defenseless.”

I back away running a hand through my hair. My knuckles burn, but I’m sure it's nothing compared to what his face feels like. “They did what?” I pace the landing for a few moments before I realize what this means. They're shipping her away from me, and it's not just because of the Italians. They're trying to get her away from me because they think that she is making me weak. Or maybe it's because my loyalty has now been divided.

“I can't believe you.” I leave him with those final thoughts as I jog down the steps and out the front door. The engine is still warm when I climb in the car and drive off. I'm no more than three blocks away when Dominic tries to call me. His caller ID shows up on my phone screen. I have no intention of answering this call.

He calls me again at least five more times before I'm so angry I can't ignore him anymore. I swipe right on the call and press the speakerphone button. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Back off, Leo. We're only following orders.” Dominic's warning does not deter me.

“Strange how the new leader of this family has to follow orders from the old leader of this family.”

“He's our father, Leo. It's about respect. He told you to stay away from her a long time ago and you didn't listen. You're lucky he didn't order us to put a bullet in her. This mess with the Italians has to stop. You know Sven’s guy Tucker? Well, he just got murdered in a drive-by last night. Courtesy of your friends, the Italians.”

I'm not surprised to hear that the Italians have taken it up a notch by attacking other members of my family and those employed by us. I'm also not surprised to hear that it was someone very close to one of my brothers. But while the news is slightly jarring, and it's disappointing to hear that one of the people close to our family is dead, this has nothing to do with Willow.

“Willow didn't do this, Dominic. She has nothing to do with why the Italians are mad at me. I killed that man. This is on me. Don't punish her.” And make a hard right toward my brother's house and slam the gas pedal.

“Orders are orders, brother. And you should be following them.”

“Or what?” Dominic is going to threaten me now too? This thing keeps getting better and better.

“I'm trying to protect her and help you. Don't go to his house.”

“Watch me,” I tell him; then I hang up.

I pull up to Sven’s house more angry than I’ve been in years. I don't even bother turning off the engine or shutting the car door. These assholes have taken something that belongs to me and I’m not here for a cordial visit. I want her back and then we’re leaving. I charge up the stairs to the front door of the sprawling estate, not quite as large as Dominic’s place, but in the city it’s difficult to find real estate.

The front door is locked so I ball up a fist and bang on it hard. “Sven, let me in now!” I will not stop banging on this door until he opens it. Instead of Sven, though, it’s Matty, and he looks pissed that I’m here. I push the door open and rush past him, but he grabs my arm and holds me back.

“Leo, don’t do this. We’re trying to fix a situation.” Matty doesn’t know fucking thing one about this situation. I yank my hand away.

“Where is she?” I glare at him with fists at my side, ready to pounce on him the way I did Rome.

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