novelxo Unhinged Desires: Chapter 9
I’m watching Hope teach the self-defence class Lucy is taking. My cousin’s really good. Hope’s been known to put both me and Ash on our asses a time or two. She was attacked when she was sixteen, and ever since, she’s been hell-bent on making sure she can protect herself. She’s also passionate about teaching other women the skills they all should have. It’s not lost on me that she’s paying extra attention to Lucy, helping her perfect her form a little too fucking much.
I’m torn as I watch Lucy learn how to defend herself. I want her to be able to fight back against a potential predator. Except when that predator’s me. On the other hand, my cock hardens at the thought of her fighting back, of her trying to outrun me, escaping only to be captured again.
It’s fucked up. I’m sane enough to recognize that. I just don’t fucking care.
My eyes are glued to the monitors in my Uncle Bray’s office, while my fingers itch to be the ones teaching her. Touching her. I have an irrational jealousy of my fucking cousin. She’s too fucking close to my Little Bee.
“You look like your cat just died.”
I turn my head to the door and roll my eyes when Axe walks in. “Is the whole fucking family in town this weekend? Was there a reunion and I just didn’t get the invite?” I ask him.
Axe, AKA Axel, is my youngest cousin and belongs to my Uncle Zac and Aunt Lyssa. He’s also Ash’s little brother.
“Nope, Uncle Bray asked if I could come and help out with some of the classes for a few weeks.”
“No. You’re not teaching the self-defence classes,” I tell him with a hard stare.
“Ah, last I checked, this was Williamson territory, not McKinley. Your word holds no weight around here, coz,” he says with a grin.
“Wanna put money on that? Better yet, step into the ring and we can put words to action,” I warn him.
“Who is she?”
“Who?”
“The girl everyone says you’re obsessing over.”
“No one. I’m not obsessing over anyone,” I lie.
“Okay, I’m gonna go check in with Hope. You should probably go back to bed or take some fucking meds. You’re acting crazier than usual, and that’s saying something.” He slams the door on his way out. It doesn’t immediately click with me how his “checking in with Hope” also puts him in the same room with Lucy. I’m standing and making my way in that direction when I’m stopped by Uncle Zac, Uncle Bray… and my father.
Fucking hell, this is either their piss-poor attempt at some sort of intervention, or they really are having a family reunion without me. Which I’m okay with.
“Turn around and get back in the office,” my father says, pointing behind me.
“I’m a little busy right now, Dad. Can this wait?” I ask.
“No, it fucking can’t. Turn around, Dominic. Now,” he says, his tone firmer.
I groan but do as I’m told. The sooner I let them think they’ve fixed me, cured my proclivities, or whatever shit they’re attempting to do right now, the sooner I can get back to checking on my Little Bee.
I sit on the chair that gives me a view of the workout area. I can see Axe talking to Hope on the other side of the room. Opposite Lucy. If he keeps his distance, I won’t have to kill my own cousin.
“What are you doing with the Christianson girl?” my dad asks me as soon as the door clicks shut, while three pairs of eyes continue to scrutinise me.
“I’m not doing anything with her,” I tell them. “I’ve never even met the girl, so all this bullshit you all have cocked up in your heads is just that. Bullshit.”
“Bullshit, huh? Is that why you can’t take your eyes off the screen?” Dad asks, pointing to the monitor in question. “You’re jittery as fuck, Dominic. So What’s going on?” His voice softens slightly before he sits down on the edge of the desk.
“I’m fine. I have it under control,” I assure him.
“You know, the last time I saw someone as unhinged as you look right now was when your Uncle Josh was in high school with your Aunt Emmy. He spent three fucking years keeping her at arm’s length. For what? They ended up together anyway. Happily, mind you.”
“It’s different,” I say.
“How so?” This comes from my Uncle Zac.
“Because I said so.” It’s simple as that.
“You know you’re not too big for me to take in the ring and beat some sense into,” Uncle Bray adds.
I laugh. Don’t get me wrong, he’d be able to put up one hell of a fight even at his age. But I have something on my side that he doesn’t. My mum. He’d never give his all in the ring with me, because my mother would have his head.
“Is mum in town?” I ask Dad.
He nods. “She’s shopping with your Aunt Lyssa and Aunt Reilly.”
“So this is a family affair then,” I mumble more to myself than to any of these fuckers.
“When everyone is concerned about you, expect them to show up in hordes. And be fucking grateful you have a family who cares. A lot of people don’t,” Uncle Zac grunts at me.
My gaze flicks back to the screen and my whole body goes rigid. Ice-cold. While a red haze settles over my vision. “I’m going to fucking kill him,” I say, pushing to my feet and making a beeline for the door.
“Fucking hell. Keep him here. I’ll deal with that,” Uncle Zac says, and the next thing I know, my dad and my uncle are blocking the only exit.
“You can’t kill your cousin, Dominic. Let it go,” Dad says.
“Fine, I won’t kill him. I’ll just cut his fucking hands off,” I grit out. “Move.”
My dad pulls his phone from his pocket, and I know what he’s doing before the ringtone starts blaring. “Dean? Everything okay?” My mum’s voice fills the room.
“Princess, you need to talk some sense into this child you bred. He’s about to go apeshit on Axel.”
“Why?” my mum asks, though she doesn’t sound as alarmed as you’d expect.
“Axel touched a girl Dom’s gone and got a crush on.” Dad laughs.
“It’s not a fucking crush and I’m fine. Mum, you don’t need to worry.” I glare at my father. He’s fighting dirty bringing her into this. He knows she’s a weakness of mine, that I’ll do anything for her. Then again, so would he. The nickname “Princess” really is fitting for my mother. She’s the younger sister of my Uncle Bray and Uncle Zac. And even though they’re in their forties, they still dote on her like she’s a kid.
“Dominic, what’s her name? Is she pretty?” Mum questions, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Would it matter if I liked someone who wasn’t?” I counter.
“No, of course not. It was just a question. Tell me about her.”
“Where are you?” I ask instead.
“Chapel Street.”
“Want to meet for lunch?” I’ll try anything to get myself out of this office.
“Always,” Mum says, and I can hear her grin. I am her baby boy, after all.
“Great, I’ll text you a place. Be there in thirty.”
“Okay, see you soon, baby.” She hangs up.
“Are you two really going to block the door and prevent me from meeting my mother for lunch?” I raise a brow in question.
“Sometimes I wish you were born stupid. It would have been a lot more convenient if you took after Bray,” Dad grunts and shakes his head. “You’re way too fucking smart for your own good, Dominic.”
“Hey, I’m right fucking here.” My uncle throws a fist at my dad’s shoulder.
“Guess I get it from Mum,” I deadpan. Don’t get me wrong, my dad is fucking smart as fuck, and I look up to him a lot. I just like to give him shit.
“Thank fuck for that,” Dad says. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.” It’s not a question or offer. It’s a command. I follow him out of the office, glancing over my shoulder as Axel is being led out of the workout room by Uncle Zac. He can wait. I know where that fucker sleeps anyway. As soon as we’re at my car, Dad turns on me. “Are you sure you have everything under control, Dom? It’s okay if you don’t. But I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”
“I swear I’m fine. I’m not about to do anything stupid. I promise,” I tell him.
“Rein in that possessiveness a little. You haven’t even spoken to the girl yet.”
“I’ve spoken to her.” I grin.
“You just said that you haven’t met her…”
“I haven’t. We had… a phone conversation,” I tell him.
“And how’d that come about?” he questions.
“I may have sent her a few messages, here and there.” I shrug, then add, “Anonymously.”
“Jesus-fucking-Christ, Dom. She has no idea the person she’s talking to is you, does she?”
“Nope.”
“Who the fuck does she think she’s talking to then?”
“She doesn’t think anything. It’s fine. I’m not going to hurt her,” I tell him, and for once, I believe it. If I were really going to hurt her, I’ve had ample opportunity to do so.
“Okay. Just know that whatever you need, whenever, I’m here for you. Always, Dominic. There is nothing you could ever do to change that,” he says.
“I know. Thanks, Dad.” I pull him in for a quick hug before opening the door to my Bentley.
“This car’s too fucking showy,” he grumbles.
“As opposed to what? The golden chariot you drive?”
“Go and see your mother. She misses you too fucking much,” is all he says before he steps away from the car and waves me off.