Page 4 of No Control
“What’s the payout on her?” Jude repeats his question. “She’s not the normal target…And I didn’t think you took on women?”
“I don’t,” I say flatly, turning onto the entrance ramp of the interstate.
“Okay...”
“She’s not a target.”
Well, not that kind, anyway.
“So then what are you doing with this poor writer?”
Making her mine.
“I don’t know yet,” I lie, taking the exit behind her. I have no idea where she’s going, but it’s not home. I click my tongue, not having intended to follow her like this. I’ve waited months to meet her in person, carefully planning how this was going to go, and now, it’s been ruined by the presence of a fiancé that I stupidly didn’t know existed.
It’s a major fuck up.
And the consequence of stalking from a distance. And putting my trust in Jude.
“This is the one your sister likes?” Jude’s tone is that of caution. “She gave you the books, right? I saw them on your shelf. Lydia writes those creepy thrillers with the twisted romance. Kind of like a starry-eyed Romeo and Juliet, only they survive.”
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“Just like all the other dark romances out there. It’s amazing what these women are into.”
I don’t say anything to that. Yeah, I mean, Lydia is one of many when it comes to writing books. But unlike the others—at least to me—there is something different about her. Maybe it’s the mystery that surrounds her true identity, hidden away from the world. She never puts herself out there, even though she most definitely could. And I have to admit, Lydia is the first woman that’s ever caught my attention.
With those stunning, yet troubled, jade eyes.
“You should be careful.” Jude’s warning comes as a surprise. “I don’t know what you’re doing with this woman, but she’s not from our world, Henry. She might write dark, but even in the writing, you can tell she’s not like us. She’s just—”
“That’s enough,” I snap, cutting him off as I watch Lydia turn into an Italian restaurant. I drive past the lot, and then whip into an office supply store a quarter mile further south. I want to be as close as possible, but if she’s truly beside herself with worry, she’s going to be watching for familiar vehicles.
And I can’t risk that.
I need her to go over that contract. And agree to it.
Because even if I can’t have her body…
I’ll be damned if I don’t take her fucking soul.
Putting the vehicle in park, I’m two lots over now, the SUV hidden by a row of bushes. They hinder my view, but not so much that I can’t make out what’s going on—and in the pit of my stomach, I already have a good idea of what’s about to happen.
And sure enough, a white pickup truck pulls in beside her. My jaw tenses as I watch a tall, slender man slide out of the driver’s side of the truck. He’s got blond hair and a clean- shaven face, exposing his jutted chin. He’s an office dweller based on his slacks and button down. With a scrutinizing gaze, I find myself critiquing him in ways that I don’t usually, but with that comes my imagination, comforting me with violent images of tearing the man to shreds.
That would be one way to have Lydia to myself.
But that would leave her mourning a lost love. And while I, myself, can’t seem to figure out how to fall in love, if this is going to work between us, Lydia, at least, will not love another man.
A cramp skyrockets up my wrist as I watch the dreaded scene play out in front of me. The man greets Lydia, and she looks up at him like a puppy, her eyes shimmering beneath the setting sun. My jaw aches from how tightly wound it is, and I brace for what I believe is coming… But it doesn’t happen.
He doesn’t even bother to lean in and kiss those full lips of hers. He simply side-hugs her like a friend and then drops his arm, leading the way into the restaurant. Lydia is left to follow him, her shoulders slumped, and her expression giving away her moment of disappointment.
Interesting.
I pull my phone back out from where I sat it on the console, scrolling to the updated file.
“You know I’m still here, right?” Jude’s voice comes over the speaker.
