Page 120 of Shadowed Obsession

“Yeah, I did. My first shot was Cidro, and obviously I didn’t take him out. He turned out okay,” she reminisces with a sigh.

“César was my first shot,” I admit. “What is wrong with us?”

“We’re Klarkes, baby. It’s the generational trauma and the need to laugh instead of cry.”

“Woooow. You really do go to therapy,” I gasp dramatically. “If you don’t mind me asking, who was your first blood?” I inquire, hoping to keep my mind off the uncertainty about César.

She sighs. “Mine was a break in, too. Happened a few days after Ro didn’t come home. I hoped it was him, but I was wrong. I did what I had to do to protect my kids and I haven’t stopped because I will always choose my family.”

“I under?— ”

We’re interrupted when I hear threecoquíwhistles, and I freeze. I remain silent until I hear them again, closer this time.

“Doe? Where are you?”

It’s him. He came back for me.

“César? I’m upstairs. In my room,” I cry.

His heavy and familiar footsteps dash up the stairs, and he stands in the doorway assessing the scene before his eyes land on me.

Bloody, sweaty, disheveled, on the phone with Regina talking about murder from my fucking iPad. Not the reunion for the books, but I’m just thankful he’s safe. Thankful thatwe’resafe.

50/

no more secrets

César

11:42 p.m. | 43 minutes after ‘the last, last incident’

“Well, looks like you’ve got company. Cleanup is in the neighborhood. Let them in through the garage. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Gi. Thanks for having my back,” Deirdre says.

“Always. Can your boy hear me?

“Yes, I can. Hello, Mrs. Delvec–-“

“Regina is fine. Listen, kid, you’re about to be unemployed because your boss is about to turn up dead. You hear me?” she states.

“Yes, I hear you,” I confirm, not sure what’s going on, my brows pinched in confusion.

“You any good at skip tracing?” she asks.

“Yes. Good enough to find out what happened to your husband,” I say. Deirdre winces, and the silence is deafening. I said the wrong thing.Fuck. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“You didn’t. I was just rolling a joint. When can you start? Say, two weeks from now?”

“Yes, absolutely,” I answer eagerly, nodding when I notice Doe’s weak smile.

“Bet. And whatever the fuckass Hales were paying you, I’ll double it. Anything I should know?”

“Um, Dara Hale warned me about Dax. He sent this guy here to hurt Dee. I was on a flight to get to her. Dara is a bit timid, but she’s not like him.”

She sighs. “Alright. She can live, but she better stay the fuck out of our way. You got the job, kid. Dee will bring you to meet me.”

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Yes. I’ll be there. Thank you for the opportunity.”

---