An Act of Obsession (Acts of Honor Book 3) (9 page)

“No problem. You just worry about Benny. If it’s easier, I could see someone else,” I suggest, not wanting him to feel obligated.

Something dangerous flashes in his eyes. “Nobody gets you but me.”

Those possessive words should terrify me and have me running in the other direction. I know how dangerous they can be but with Kolan, they carry a different meaning. They don’t scare me. Maybe because I’ve belonged to someone for so long that I’ve never wanted. If there were ever someone I could choose to belong to, it would be this man standing in front of me.

My eyes remain locked with his as I gaze up at him, a million words dangling in my throat. Being this close to him reminds me of the kiss we nearly shared earlier.

As if sensing my thoughts, he closes the small gap between us. A swift inhale moves into my lungs, my fingers curling into his shirt when he leans in to drag his nose across my cheek, bringing his mouth to my ear. “Go inside before I end up doing something we both won’t be able to walk away from.” His lips brush my skin ever so softly before he steps back.

I want to reel him back in, to soak in the warmth and safety he brings me, but know I can’t. It would be selfish of me because it will only be a matter of time until I’m gone again.

“Good night, Kolan,” I whisper before turning around to enter the house.

“Good night, Lia.”

Closing the door, I rest my forehead against it, releasing the breath that’s been trapped inside my chest. After clicking the lock in place, I head to my room and get ready for bed, skipping my usual evening tea.

As I take off my clothes and change into my pajamas, I make sure to avoid the mirror in my room, unable to stomach what I unveil when my scarf comes off. I crawl into bed and stare at the ceiling, listening to nothing but silence. My heart grows lonelier with each passing moment, and I begin thinking about my family.

Glancing at the clock, I see it’s late, but now more than ever I need to hear my mother’s voice. To know they’re all okay. It’s been two months since my last phone call to them, and even though each time rips through my wounded heart, it also brings me peace.

I reach for my prepaid cell phone and dial the landline before covering the bottom with my hand. My heart thunders with every ring until it stops altogether when my mom answers.

“Hello.” Her voice is soft but she doesn’t sound asleep.

“Hi, Mom,” I whisper, even though she can’t hear me.

“Hello?”

“I miss you guys,” I tell her, ensuring my hand is gripped tightly over the transmitter.

“Sophie, baby, is that you?” she asks like always, her voice thick with the same searing pain tearing through me. “Please, honey, say something.”

I bite my lip, tears rushing down my cheeks as I fight the urge to talk to her—to confirm that it’s me even if she already knows. “I love you. I’m doing okay and hope you all are, too.”

“Is it her?” I hear my dad ask, sounding close.

“Sophie, if you can hear me, please come back to us. Come home,” she pleads. “Everything will be okay. We’ll help you and get through this together. We’ll protect you.”

She doesn’t realize that no one can protect me and this is the only way to make sure they stay safe.

“Please, baby, we all miss you so much.”

My throat begins to burn, and I feel myself weaken. “I love you all so much,” I say again. “Give Dad and Tess a kiss for me.”

“Soph—”

I hang up, cutting off my dad’s gruff voice. My phone drops to my chest the same time a sob explodes from me. Turning on my side, I hug my pillow and cry out all my pain and frustration. I cry until exhaustion sweeps over me and I’m pulled under, knowing I will wake up and live out another lonely day.

Kolan

M
y thoughts are consumed with Lia as I drive home later that night. Even Benny’s incessant talking does nothing to distract me. When I walked out of the hospital room to see that asshole hitting on her, I was ready to rip him apart. I have no right to feel that way, no claim to her, and I know it. No matter how much I wish otherwise, it will never happen. It can’t. She’s definitely not the type to handle my kind of fucked-up.

But that’s the only way I come—the only way I know.

I need to remember that, especially for her sake. It’s clear she’s endured too much pain, and the last thing I want to do is add to it. But it’s getting hard. I’ve never wanted someone the way I want her and not just her body but
her.
Every time I’m not with her, I’m thinking about her—worrying about her.

“Why are we at the beach?” Benny asks when I turn down the street that leads to the public beach.

“Because I live here.”

“You live on the beach?”

“Yeah,” I reply nonchalantly. I don’t think it’s a big deal, but I guess to a kid it would be.

“Sahweet! Guess it’s a good thing I brought my swim trunks. I was hoping for a pool but the ocean will do just fine.”

“I’m sure it will,” I say blandly. “But for the record, I have a pool, too.”

“Yes!” He fist-pumps. “Ocean or pool? Decisions, decisions. It’s gonna be a hard couple of days with you.”

I grunt. “Don’t get too excited, kid. You have school then we have the gym,
then
you can decide from there whether it will be the pool or ocean.”

“I say we skip school. I feel a tummy ache comin’ on anyway.”

My eyes shift to his. “Nice try, but I don’t think so.”

He shrugs. “It was worth a shot.”

Shaking my head, I drive down the long stretch, passing by the few condos before we arrive at my place that’s situated all on its own, far enough away from everyone else.

“You have your own beach?” Benny asks in awe as I hit the garage door opener.

“I like my privacy.” It was a good chunk of change but worth every penny. It’s private property, which means it keeps the fucking reporters away. It’s also a great stretch for my morning runs.

After pulling into the garage, I cut the engine and look over to see Benny staring at me. “You got a butler who’s going to come get my suitcase, maybe even greet me with something to drink?”

Jesus, the kid’s a smart-ass.

“No. But even if I did, you’re old enough to carry your own damn suitcase.”

His chuckle fills the space as we both climb out of the vehicle. He follows me inside the house, dragging his Spiderman suitcase behind him.

“Holy shit!” he says, walking around with his mouth open as he takes in the place. “So where’s the bat cave?”

“Downstairs, where I lock away all the mouthy little kids.”

“Cool.” He flashes me a grin that probably gets him out of shit on a daily basis then continues exploring. He bypasses the living room and moves into the kitchen to look out the patio door. “Found the pool! How about a late night swim, Champ?”

“Tomorrow,” I say, hating to be a downer, especially after the night he’s had. “You want something to eat before bed?” I’m praying he says no since I’m not sure what I have that’s appropriate for a kid.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“All right, come on then. I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.” I lead him into the spare bedroom that’s cluttered with boxes.

Shit, I forgot about these.

“Not planning on staying long?” he asks.

“I just moved in a few months ago,” I explain, but know it’s a weak excuse. No one is ever here except my sister and she doesn’t need to stay the night so I haven’t made it a priority. I point to the bathroom at the other end of the room. “Go brush your teeth and wash up while I move them out of the way.”

He grabs his toothbrush from his suitcase and heads into the bathroom. “Holy crap! This bathroom is bigger than my whole apartment. Maybe I’ll just sleep in this here tub.”

Shaking my head at his commentary, I begin stacking the boxes in the corner of the room.

Benny walks out a few minutes later in nothing but his boxer briefs. “I sleep better without clothes on,” he explains before flexing his skinny little arms. “Don’t be jel of all this, Champ.”

I chuckle, unable to help myself. Okay, maybe the kid is funny sometimes. “Get your ass in bed.”

He hops up on the mattress, doing a few jumps before falling to his back. “Dang, even this bed is amazing. I figured you were rich but not Bruce Wayne rich.”

“I’m not that rich, and I’ve worked my ass off for all of it. You could have this one day too if you work hard enough.”

“Yeah right, not where I come from,” he grumbles, crawling under the covers.

“Don’t be so sure. I came from nothing. I didn’t even have a cool mom like you. If you want it bad enough, you can have it. Doesn’t matter where you start from.”

“Maybe,” he says, but there’s no conviction in his tone. “So, what’s the deal with Lia?”

“What about her?”

His mouth splits into a grin. “She’s hot.”

I grunt. “Yeah well, don’t get your hopes up. She’s not into mouthy little ten year olds.”

“Does that mean you guys aren’t dating?”

“No, we’re friends.” Just saying it puts me in a bad mood.

“But you like her?”

My eyes narrow with annoyance. “You always this nosey?”

“Pretty much. I’m a rare gem,” he says, flashing me his dimples.

Seriously, where does he come up with this shit?

“Yeah, I like her, okay?”

“I knew it! I’m surprised you didn’t kick that doctor’s ass tonight.”

“I didn’t need to use my fists. Remember, pick and choose your battles,” I remind him. “Now, lights out or you’re going to be dragging your ass tomorrow for school.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles, disappointed.

“Do you need anything before I go? Do you sleep with a light on or anything?”

He stiffens, offended by the question. “What do I look like to you? A sissy? No, I don’t need no damn light on.”

I chuckle. “Just checking, kid. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Shutting off the light, I begin to close the door when he calls out to me. “Hey, Kolan?”

I swing it back open, surprised he used my name. “Yeah?”

“Thanks…for everything. Especially for taking care of my mom,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

“No problem.”

I leave the door open a crack before heading into my room. Stripping my clothes off, I climb in the shower, hoping the hot water will loosen the tightness in my muscles. Seeing how scared Benny was when he came running into the gym tonight reminded me so much of myself, even if my circumstances were different. His fear and helplessness is something I used to know well, especially when it came to worrying about my sister. Which is why I’ll make sure to do whatever I need to for him, because no ten-year-old should have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Sophie

I
t’s been two days since I’ve seen or spoken to Kolan. Two days that feel like weeks. I’ve gotten so used to his company that being without him these past couple of days have been lonelier than usual. Actually, it’s been absolute torture.

I don’t know how this happened, especially in such a short amount of time. For the last fifteen months I’ve been doing okay on my own. Not great but okay. I had accepted that this was my life. But now…not so much. At least when it comes to Kolan. When I’m not around him, I miss him and am constantly thinking about him. Maybe being alone for so long has finally taken its toll. Whatever it is, it’s not good, especially for my wounded heart.

The thought of going another day without seeing him was too much to bear, so I decided to stop by the gym on my way home from work. Hopefully, if I check in to see how he and Benny are doing, I’ll feel better about going home and being alone tonight. It’s doubtful but worth a try.

The moment I arrive at the gym, my heart rate kicks up, both in excitement and nerves.

You got this, Sophie. Just play it cool. In and out.

Feeling a little more confident, I straighten my shoulders and reach for the door, only to have it swing open at the same time and nail me in the head. A painful gasp escapes me as I stumble back and cover my face.

“Oh shit, Lia, are you okay?” Kolan’s next to me in an instant. He pulls me against him, cradling my head to his chest. “Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

Seriously, did it have to be him?

Humiliation outweighs the pain, making me wish I could go back in time and change the last sixty seconds.

“Way to go, Einstein,” Benny cuts in. “You’re supposed to make women fall for you, not have them drop to the ground in agony.”

I laugh but it quickly turns into a groan when pain radiates through my head.

“Benny, now is not the time,” Kolan growls. “Lia, baby, look at me. Let me see.” Framing my face between his large hands, he forces my gaze to his.

The moment our eyes lock, my heart misses a beat.

“How do you always do that to me?” I whisper, speaking my thoughts without meaning to.

His eyes darken further with guilt. “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I was looking behind me when I pushed it open.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m okay,” I assure him.

He doesn’t believe me and begins probing at my forehead where it’s sore, asking me questions. I answer them all to appease him but even then he doesn’t seem convinced.

“Trust me. I’m fine. Well, maybe not my pride, but physically, I’m okay.”

“If I were you, I would kiss it better just to make sure,” Benny adds, putting in his two cents.

Kolan glares over at him only to receive a cheeky grin.

“Hi, Benny,” I greet him with a smile.

“Hey, Lia.”

Kolan brings my attention back to him, his hands still cradling my face. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” I answer softly, getting lost in his warm brown eyes. Eyes that I’ve missed so much and are more prominent today with his hair pushed out of his face by the red backwards hat he’s wearing.

“Were you coming here for something?” A scowl suddenly transforms his expression. “You aren’t here for lessons with anyone else, are you?” he asks, his tone hard.

“No. Not at all. I just…I thought I would stop by on my way home from work and see how you guys were doing. How Benny’s mom is doing,” I add, feeling awkward about it now.