Vicious Obsession

Chapter Eleven

"Isn't that a good thing?" Cynthia continued, staring at Elias with a deliberate, probing smile.

I could feel his dark, heavy gaze practically burning a hole through the side of my face.

"And when is the blind date?" Elias asked, his tone deceptively calm, though the air around him had turned sharp enough to slice through glass.

"Well, we would have to fix a date since she agreed," Mom said, reaching for her phone on the polished table. Within moments, Gregory stepped into the dining room from the adjacent hallway, bowing his head respectfully.

"Deliver a message to the mayor of the West," Mom instructed him smoothly. "Tell him we should fix the date."

"I want it to happen today," I cut in, my voice ringing clear across the silent room.

My mother looked up at me with a genuinely surprised expression. I knew everyone else at the table had their own reactions, but I cared far more about the sheer shock written across Mom's face.

"Today? Are you okay with that?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Well, shouldn't I just get it over with?" I countered, resting my hands on the edge of the table.

"Why should it be today? We have a lot to do at work," Elias interjected sharply. I turned my head to face him, "Have you forgotten? We have a... uh... an outside field trip to the new site of the Hart company."

What the hell was he talking about?

"Can't you shift that?" Mom asked, waving a dismissive hand. "This date is far more important to this family, if you ask me, Elias."

"The site inspection has already been scheduled," Elias insisted.

"Then reschedule it."

Elias went quiet for a beat. He looked around the table, his brown eyes moving from one face to another before he cleared his throat, relaxing his posture just a fraction.

"Okay... fine. She can take today off. That would be better."

I raised one of my eyebrows, my chest tightening with an unexpected spike of bitterness. Oh, really? So he really didn't care if I went on a date with another man? Is that what this was about?

For a brief, stupid moment, I thought he actually cared. But he clearly didn't. He picked up his fork and simply went back to eating like nothing had happened.

"That's better," Cynthia said, her smile widening as she looked over at him. "Thank you for always being supportive, Elias."

"Because he's supportive, that's why you're bringing in a new husband," I attacked, firing the words directly at her.

She shot a laser-sharp glare back at me, but I couldn't care less.

"Do you have any idea that Gideon isn't half as supportive, just in case you decide to replace him sometime in the future?" I added, turning my glare toward the mafia prince.

"And how do you know that I'm not supportive?" Gideon asked, leaning forward with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Are you?" I challenged. "I've never perceived mafias to be the supportive type."

"Well, I could be," Gideon murmured smoothly, sliding his hand over my sister's fingers on the tablecloth. "Love changes people."

"That's what Elias thought when he married my sister. I guess my sister was the only one who changed or maybe... whatever." I pushed my chair back, the wooden legs scraping loudly against the marble floor. "I'd better go start preparing for my date."

I turned on my heel to leave, and Persie immediately stood up, following closely behind me.

"Can you imagine? He didn't even bat an eye hearing that I'm going on a date with someone else," I whined as soon as my bedroom door closed behind us.

I sank into the mattress, groaning into a pillow. "I hate him so much."

"I think he actually reacted," Persie said smoothly.

"He did?" I asked, sitting up straight.

She nodded, adjusting her jacket as she prepared to leave for work. "The way he looked at you throughout breakfast... it tells me he didn't expect anything about a blind date being discussed. He was thrown off."

I ruminated on that for a second, a slow smile spreading across my cheeks before I stood up. "Then I should definitely go quick shopping for my date, don't you think?"

"You think so? Should we go together?"

"No, you need to get that gig you've been planning for a long time. I can go alone," I said, giving her a quick spank on her butt and a wink as I strolled into the walk-in closet to select something to wear to the mall.

Soon, I was fully dressed and stepping out of my room. But as I walked down the hallway toward the grand staircase, a firm hand suddenly yanked me by the arm, hauling me sideways into a dark nook.

A broad palm slammed over my mouth before I even had the time to process what was happening.

The heavy scent of him wrapped around me. I frowned the instant I recognized him.

I immediately shoved against his chest to break free, but he grabbed my wrist, dragging me down the corridor until he shoved open a guest room, pulling me inside before the door banged shut behind us.

I crossed my arms tightly, spinning around to face him. "Really? Gideon? What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"And what do *you* think I'm doing?" he countered coolly.

"Well, locking me up in your room... or... what kind of game are you trying to pull?"

Gideon let out a quiet sigh, strolling past me. I didn't flinch, nor did I take a single step back. I just stood my ground, there was no way in hell I was going to let him faze me for even a second.

He diverted his attention to the leather couch near the window, sinking into it. He fished a sleek vape out from inside his coat, crossed one long leg over the other, and took a drag, watching me through the thin haze of smoke.

"Care to explain why you brought me here?" I demanded.

He ignored the question at first, taking another slow pull from his vape while staring at me as if I were a program running on a television screen.

"You're actually going on that date?" he suddenly asked, his voice low and raspy.

I snorted, tilting my head. "Why? You think I won't?"

"With Valerius?" Gideon asked, his dark eyes narrowing. "Do you even know what he's like? How he behaves?"

"I don't think that's supposed to be any of your business. Or is it now?"

"Well, as your soon-to-be brother-in-law, am I not supposed to show my concern?"

"Show your concern... in a guest room with a locked door?" I scoffed, taking a step toward him.

"The door isn't locked, and if you wanted to leave, you could've. But I guess you enjoy my company, so..."

That bastard. Should I crack his head open? I rolled my eyes at him and headed straight toward the door.

"Why don't you admit it already?" I heard him say as I grabbed the doorknob and twisted.

"Why don't you admit that you still want me? That I still matter?"

I turned back to face him, incredulous. "Are you insane, or are you about to go insane? Don't tell me you're even considering marrying my sister because of me!"

Could it be... "Gideon!"

"What?"

"Don't tell me you want marry my sister because of me!"

"You still think the world revolves around you," he sneered softly.

"Then what other motive do you have for approaching my sister?"

"You keep calling her your sister, and it just gets more fun," he said, standing up from his seat. He towered over me as he closed the distance, but I still didn't flinch. I didn't look away from his face, not even for a second.

"What motive is there between two people choosing each other? I mean, a recessive like your sister and me... don't you think we make a..."

"Don't kid me with that, Gideon. You want something, and I'm warning you: stay away from my family. Especially my sister. Stay away from her, and don't you dare put your claws on her."

"Claws?" He snorted, leaning down toward my face. "But I don't have claws. I'm not a beast like you, so why would I have claws?" he whispered, his gaze falling straight to my lips.

"How about we get back together and I leave your sister alone?" he slurred out, his breath hot against my cheek while his eyes remained glued to my mouth.

He leaned in even further, one of his hands hovering just off the side of my face, his lips parting. "We could be the best wild couple like before. You know... I still think about that last time we were together."

I felt his hands settling firmly over my waist. "We had that drive, Sandra. Do you remember?"