Chapter 33 #2
“He specializes in grief counselling and PTSD. Helped Elsie through her father’s passing and the grief she was holding onto after her mother’s murder. That’s all he would tell us,” Bodhi says, rejoining us.
“And that was after Bodhi used his persuasion techniques. Before that, he was locked up tight,” I agree.
K runs a hand over his jaw as he watches Dove at the bar with his sister. She throws back some bright green cocktail then taps the bar for another one. He cracks his neck. He’s on edge tonight, ready for a fight. “If he was just her therapist, why would the fucker be calling her on repeat?”
I raise a brow, more intrigued. This is the first I’m hearing about it. “Is that who she’s screening tonight?”
“He’s been calling her for days. Upped the intensity today and has been calling or texting every half-hour,” Kasen growls, shoving his phone in our direction.
“The last one,” he mutters, showing us his phone screen.
He must have installed custom spyware on her phone before they gave it back to her so he can see exactly what she’s doing on it at all times. Smart.
TALON: You have one day to get back here or I’m coming to get you.
“Well, fuck, that doesn’t sound like he’s her therapist,” I mutter, thinking back to when we visited his office just a couple of days ago. He came across as professional.
“He sounds more like a clingy ex if he’s calling her that often,” Bodhi agrees. “Knew I should have taken care of the fucker when we had the chance. There was something slimy about him and the way he talked about her. It was like there was some secret he was keeping.”
K runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. “She told me she never had a relationship before, but she’s clearly fucked someone, someone with experience is my guess.”
I try to shake off the crawling feeling that gives me. “The dude was nearly old enough to be her father. You sure she wasn’t lying to you about the relationship thing? We know she’s still hiding stuff from her past from us, and I’m pretty sure a girl like that has had a few boyfriends in her time.”
“She wasn’t lying, I could tell. Maybe the age gap was the appeal.
We all know she has daddy issues. The fucker lures her in and makes her feel comfortable with him, helps her through her grief, then takes advantage of the poor girl.
Now she’s taken off, he’s pissed and wants his plaything back,” Kasen seethes.
A shiver slithers down my spine at that horrifying thought. “You think he’s the one leaving her these messages? That he somehow knows what was happening to her mum and is copying it to scare her away from Deadwater Bay? Thinking maybe so she will go back to him?”
“I did a little snooping into his past. He’s ex-military.
Was a special operations medic, and when he retired, he opened a practice in Breakers Point.
From what I could find, his methods aren’t always conventional.
I think our little birdie might have found herself in his trap, this creep’s plaything, and she had more reasons than the Southern Breakers to skip town over,” Kasen replies, a murderous look in his eyes.
“I’ll send someone to bring him in,” Bodhi snips, pulling out his phone.
“I did. He hasn’t been seen for a couple of days,” Kasen snaps.
Sickness lingers in the pit of my stomach. The shit from her past just keeps getting worse. “Yeah, that’s not ideal,” I agree.
Bodhi’s eyes narrow in on Kasen. “Why is this the first I’m hearing about this shit when it’s a security issue?”
“I had it handled,” Kasen growls back.
Bodhi takes a step closer to him, the tension intensifying. “Until he disappeared.”
I step in between them, shoving them apart. Now is not the time for us to fall apart. “Put an alert in the system. If the fucker turns up in our town, we will have him brought in.”
“Dick-measuring contest?” Dove chuckles as she approaches us, clearly on the tipsy side already since her hate for us has simmered down. I fake a smile for her. It’s nice to see her happy, even if it’s because she’s had too much to drink already.
Kasen takes a step back from us and turns his attention on her, slipping the fresh cocktail from her hand with a filthy look on his face. “Can you try and not get yourself in trouble tonight?” he chastises her.
She looks over at Bodhi then back to Kasen, her smirk turning bitchy as she snatches her drink back. “Could say the same for you.”
“Hello, boys,” comes Gloria’s shrill voice from behind us. We all turn to find her sauntering toward us in a skintight little black dress that shows off her massive tits with the low neckline.
Kasen moves in behind Dove, one hand on her waist and the other pulling her hip into his body protectively, making it obvious she’s with him.
Dove squirms uncomfortably, trying to get him to release her, but that only makes his grip tighten. His face lowers to her ear, and he growls something in it.
I smirk at her. She has to know when she behaves like a kid, he’s going to treat her like one. And sculling cocktails like there is no tomorrow is number one on that list. Especially at a family dinner.
Gloria kisses all of us on the cheek as she greets us, her fruity perfume wafting in the air all around like a cloud it’s so strong.
Dove’s eyes narrow in on her, and I know she’s trying to work her out.
Worrying about Gloria isn’t worth her time.
Can’t she see that’s why K pulled her into his grip as soon as the woman walked in the room?
He’s obsessed with her and only her. And it appears she might not hate him as much as she says, or why would she care that another woman wants him?
I give Kasen a look, knowing how badly he didn’t want to come to this dinner tonight. Only a few more days till the will reading and we won’t have to tolerate Gloria anymore.
“Did you have to bring the bimbo?” Gloria snips in Kasen’s direction, completely ignoring Dove. I knew she wasn’t smart, but I didn’t think she had a death wish.
Bodhi’s fingers wrap around Gloria’s wrist, and he tugs her toward him. “You make tonight difficult for Dove in any way, we will personally see to it you don’t get a thing of the inheritance you know is coming your way.”
She blinks up at him I think in shock. “I… You…”
“You know I have the power to do it as well, Gloria,” Kasen growls, backing up Bodhi.
Dove’s lips twist up at the sides as she bats her lashes in Gloria’s direction. She might hate us, but she loves the way we all rally around to protect her.
Gloria’s frightened eyes flick to me then to Bodhi, looking for someone to save her I think.
“K, you’re becoming arrogant with your newfound power.
” She forces out an awkward laugh. “You need to understand this. I can fuck you over just as much as you can me.” Her long fingernail presses into his chest.
“Try it,” he growls with a cruel smirk.
She takes a shaky step back, fresh fear registering in her eyes. “Let’s not fight, we have so much to gain from working together,” she purrs all seductively, but the shakiness of her voice is obvious. She knows she’s walking a fine line, and with the mood K’s in tonight, anything could be possible.
I almost feel sorry for her. She has no idea what she’s up against with this family, no idea what we are really hiding from her.
K has let her get away with a lot because he felt sorry for her knowing she was being used so terribly by Keller.
But his patience is wearing thin, and she’s about to find out how powerful he really is.
It would only take the press of a button and her whole life would be in ruins.
Dove manages to escape his grip on her and holds out a hand in Gloria’s direction. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Dove Dawson.” Her smile is fake, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Gloria blinks a few times then places her hand in Dove’s. “Gloria Throne.”
Dove’s fingernails dig into Gloria’s flesh as she pulls her in closer to her. “Most people underestimate me. If I were you, I wouldn’t,” Dove snarls in her ear before releasing her, her grin widening to psychotic. Shit. Maybe the girl is one of us after all.
Gloria stares back at her, her mouth gaping open to say something, but then she shuts it up tight. Dove just shocked the shit out of her.
I huff out a laugh. Good for Dove, my girl knows how to look after herself and even silence Gloria. Not something many can do.
“Why don’t you go have a drink, Gloria,” Kasen suggests when their glaring competition hasn’t ended. But what is she going to say to that?
From her pocket I can make out Dove’s phone ringing again, and my skin starts to crawl knowing who it is this time. Her guilty eyes find mine as she flicks the call to decline without even taking a look at it.
A few servers enter the mezzanine carrying platters of crispy pork belly bites and fire-roasted prawns. The delicious scent wafts past us. “Dinner.” Kasen takes her hand and leads her toward the table.
Dove sits between the two of us, with Bodhi on the opposite side of the table. Gloria is up at the other end, pouting. My hand dusts up her thigh, and I lean into her. “See, this family isn’t all that bad. And what did I tell you about the cocktails.”
She gives me a lopsided grin. “Cocktails are decent.”