Page 2 of Vow of Obsession

His real name is Warren, but everyone calls him War. He’s an impossible man to miss. He easily towers over most people with a broad, thick frame. I know he has at least a foot on me. That’s not saying much. I’m barely five foot five. But what stands out to me the most about him is his striking blue eyes.

They are such a contrast to his inky black hair, olive skin, and all-black suits that fit like they were tailored specifically for him, which I’m sure they are. Then there are the tattoos. I can’t even get started on those and how they peek out the top of his buttoned-up shirt, wrap around his neck, and show when he rolls his sleeves up. There have been many nights I've dreamed about seeing the rest of them. What it would be like to trace my fingers along them.

"He's fine," my dad says, but his tone is off. Does he not want him to be okay?

I'm guessing my crush on War was easy for my parents to spot. I'd still been a teen, so I must have been easy to read. My dad had told me to stay away from War, that he wasn't someone I should try to befriend or get close to. Plus, there was his age. He was at least ten years older than me.

It wasn't difficult to do as my dad told me. War didn't linger when I was in the main house. If I even said hi to him, I'd only get a grunt of a response. Every now and then, he'd cut me with a glare, but there had been a couple of times I thought he waswatching me. I swear I felt his eyes on me, but he always kept his distance. There’s a high likelihood I imagined him paying attention to me because of the crazy crush I had on him.

"We owe the Marino family," my mom says.

"Like money?" A pit forms in my stomach. I ball my hands into fists in my lap. There have been a few times I saw some bloody men being dragged from the main house. I ducked my head and never spoke of it.

"No," my dad responds, my mom shaking her head.

“I’m truly sorry, sweetheart.” That warm smile my mom gave me when I entered the room has faded away. I wish they would get to the point already. Waiting for them to spring whatever news they have on me is like torture.

“I didn’t know this is what would have been asked of me.” Dad closes his eyes as if in pain. I have never seen him this way. My dad is a big guy that can handle himself. I recall when I was younger, he’d work late nights as security at bars.

“Dad,” I press. “Tell me. You’re freaking me out.”

“This isn’t how I thought this would go.” Mom's shoulders drop.

“The Marinos have come to collect the debt I owe them,” my dad finally says. “They have requested your hand in marriage to War.” I stare at my dad, not sure I heard him correctly. Did he just say I’m expected to marry War?

“Requested. Really?” My mom pops up from her chair. “I doubt that was a request, Corbin.” She starts to pace back and forth.

“You want me to marry War?” I ask out loud, more to myself and also in confusion. I reach down to pinch my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming. Nope. I’m wide awake.

“Do I want that? No,” my dad responds. Right, I was supposed to stay away from him.

“Can’t it be one of the other brothers?” Mom turns back to face Dad. “Z or Ronan.” I don’t want to marry Z or Ronan. Both my parents glance over at me for a second. If I had to pick between the two of them, though, I'd choose Ronan.

“I asked.” My dad's tone is defeated. I unclench my hands, fighting a smile that wants to take over. They are miserable over this, and I want to jump up and do one of those victory dances Marks does on the corpses of the people she kills in-game. My parents are acting like this is a nightmare situation for me, but to me it’s my very own fairy tale come true.

"When?" I ask, hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

This is insane. I've found myself transported to a realm where arranged marriages exist, yet it doesn't seem that far-fetched. I remember War's sister once discussing the possibility of having an arranged marriage in the future, similar to how her parents were married.

That wasn't the world I knew, but then again, my whole world has changed since I came to live here. I guess I'm a part of this world too… now, so it seems, more than ever.

Chapter Two

WARREN

“What are you doing here?” I don’t bother glancing up from my computer as my brother enters my office with not even a knock. This is why I often go into one of my offices outside of our family home. That way I can’t be bothered with every small thing.

Except things have been changing, and everyone is always away now, especially our parents. I have been slowly slipping into the role of taking over the family business from my father. The more I take over, the more my father and I bump up against each other, not seeing eye to eye on everything. It’s been rocky, to say the least.

“Dad told me to be here.” I pause, pulling my attention away from the screen and the last numbers or the hit we’re going to take, but some hits are worth the price in the end.

“Did he now?” Interesting. What is the old man up to? There’s never a dull day when it comes to my father. Always has something up his sleeve. Sometimes good and others not so good. It’s a flip of a coin on what today will bring.

"Something about a meeting." Yes, I do have a meeting set with my father, but I'm starting to think it's not going to be a call."Do you know what it's about? He said I needed to be here and change is happening." My brother Ronan shrugs.

"I suppose we'll be finding out together." I assumed it was a typical check-in. You know what they say about assuming.

Lately, my father has been giving me room to stretch and get a solid footing without him having a remark about everything. We agree on many things but not everything. Especially with the new direction I want to take our family business. It’s time. Things have changed, and my father hasn't been the best at adapting to those changes.

---