Brutal Obsession (132)

She’s not as drunk as she probably expected to be either. I’ve been running interference on her drinks. Her eyes narrow, but she doesn’t object when I turn and bulldoze a path toward the door.

We go down the block, back to the hotel, and into the elevator.

She grips my hand tightly, confusion all over her face. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

I tilt my head. “No. You’ll see for yourself in a minute.”

Violet goes quiet, her mind clearly spinning. We get out on the top floor, and I lead her to the stairs that go up to the roof. She hesitates but nods slowly to herself. Steeling her nerves, perhaps. She trusts me.

When she pushes through the door, a cool spring wind tugs at her clothes.

Knox and Steele are there with a figure on the floor between them. He’s got a hood over his head and a walking boot on his leg. His wrists are bound behind him.

Violet stiffens.

I glance at her, then stride up to Jack and yank his hood off. He blinks up at me, first shock and then outrage crossing his expression.

“You fucking bastard—” His attention swings past me to Violet, and his outrage explodes into fury. He struggles, trying to get to his feet.

Knox and Steele grab him, forcing him back down.

“I’m going to kill you,” he seethes at her.

I punch him.

His head whips to the side, and pain flares through my knuckles and up my arm. I hit him again, and again, until blood pours down his face. His nose might be broken.

Knox and Steele remain passive, although their jaws are tense.

They like Violet. Jack threatening her threatens all of us.

My girl approaches carefully, stopping just shy of me. Not quite courageous enough to cross that line and put herself in danger.

“Did you sneak into my room, Jack?” she asks.

He spits at her. The glob of saliva and blood lands just shy of her shoes.

I circle around and kneel behind him, gripping his hair and forcing him to face Violet. I put my face close to his. “Look at her, Jackie boy. You didn’t break her. You don’t scare her. But you will answer her goddamn questions.”

Jack scowls, but he does answer her question. “I did,” he confirms. “Many times.”

Her brows draw together. “What?”

“Any fucking chance I got.” He laughs. “You caught me once. I made sure you knew I was there another time. But I loved slipping into your room and jacking off with your panties in my hand. I memorized every fucking picture on your wall, your scent, your makeup.”

“That’s creepy,” Knox mutters.

Violet shudders. “Why go through the trouble?”

Jack jerks, but my grip on his hair is solid. He’s let it grow in his off-season. Shame on him.

“Why?” he yells. “Because you’re fucking mine, Violet. We’re soulmates.”

I laugh. In a flash, my knife is out of my pocket and at his throat.

I could do it.

He goes silent and still, his eyes flashing with fear for the first time. Maybe he didn’t think we were serious. That I wouldn’t kill for her.

“You’re not her soulmate, asshole.”

His eyes roll, finding my face. “I swear to God—”

“You better hope God is on your side.” I lean in, making sure he can see just how fucking dark I’ll go. “Because the Devil’s on mine.”

He flinches.

He sees it.

“Here’s what’s going to happen, Jackie boy.” I look up at Violet. “We’re going to take that video of your confession and turn it in to the police. Along with you. I don’t fucking care what you tell them, but you will make sure you go to prison.”

His nostrils flare. “Why the fuck would I do that?”

I tap his walking boot, and he cringes again. He’s used to pain from me. Expects it.

Good.

“This was just a little taste of what I can do. And if you don’t put bars between us to keep you safe, well… maybe we’ll take you out on my father’s boat. Maybe there will be an accident, and you’ll fall overboard. Or maybe you’ll slip on your way to a new club tonight, fall into the subway tracks. Electrocute yourself.” I hum. “There are so many possibilities.”

“You should take prison, Jack,” Violet says. “Sounds like the lesser of two evils.” She dusts off her pants. Just to give herself something to do maybe. She doesn’t wait to see what he decides. She leaves us, the door to the stairwell swishing shut behind her.

I drop his head and step away. There’s a great view of the city from up here. And when I inhale, there isn’t much of that city smell. I do detect the ocean, though. A faint saltiness.

“Well?” I ask without turning around.

“Take me to the police station,” he says.

“Take yourself,” I snap.

Knox and Steele cut him loose. He stands between them, wary, and then leaves.

“Follow him,” I tell them. “I’ve got a girl to comfort.”

They nod.

It’s just me, then. I take a deep breath, then leave the roof. Mia and Jack were loose ends. My father has issued a temporary truce. Her mother is gone… for now maybe. Hopefully.

I unlock the door to the room Violet and I are sharing, and I’ve barely made it inside when she throws herself at me.