Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“What do you think of this whole case?” I ask, my voice quieter now, more serious.
Dean hesitates for just a second, which is unusual for him. Normally, he’s quick to respond, but this time, it’s like he’s choosing his words carefully.
“Honestly?” he asks, the weight of the question lingering in the air.
I chuckle softly, trying to lighten the mood. “No, lie to me,” I tease. “Yes, honestly.”
He lets out a short laugh, but it’s tinged with something heavier. “All right, then. Honestly? This guy Jason... he’s trouble. But not the kind of trouble that’s gonna throw hands or storm the place guns blazing. He’s more... insidious. I’ve seen guys like him before, Orion. They’re not physical right away—they wear you down, push just enough to get under your skin.”
I frown, staring at the ceiling. “So, you think he’s dangerous in a psychological way?”
“Exactly,” Dean confirms. “He’s manipulative. The kind of guy who’ll make Briar second-guess her own sanity. That’s the real danger here. He’s already done it, hasn’t he? Gotten inside her head.”
I think about Briar, about the way her nightmares started once Jason entered the picture. She tries to play it off, but I can see the toll it’s taking on her. And yeah, I’ve seen this before. Dean’s right—Jason isn’t just some typical jerk ex-boyfriend. He’s playing a long game.
“He’s already there,” I admit, sighing heavily. “She’s had nightmares. Ones where she’s running from him. It’s like he’s still haunting her, even though he’s physically not around.”
Dean’s voice softens, but there’s an edge of steel in it. “That’s what makes him dangerous. Guys like Jason? They don’t need to be in the room to mess with your head. That’s why we have to handle this carefully. I’ll keep digging, but you need to watch her closely, Orion. She’s vulnerable.”
“I know,” I say, running a hand through my hair, frustration building. “But how do we fight something like this? It’s not like I can just knock the guy out and call it a day.”
Dean chuckles, but there’s no real humor in it. “No, this is gonna take finesse. Restraining orders, evidence, paper trails... It’s all about building a case to pin him down legally. In the meantime, you keep doing what you’re doing. Protect her, make sure she feels safe. That’s half the battle.”
“I think there’s more.”
Dean pauses, before asking, “Like what? The gambling?”
“Her parents are loaded. He gambles. It doesn’t take a genius to know he’s probably got a hefty gambling debt.”
“I’m looking into that now,” Dean says, tapping more keys on his keyboard in the background. “Just keep an eye on her until we can sort this all out.”
I nod, staring at the phone, the weight of Dean’s words sinking in. “Okay. Obviously I’ll keep an eye on her. Thanks for the insight.”
“No problem,” he says, his voice firm. “We’ll take this one step at a time. Keep me updated.”
“Will do,” I say before hanging up.
I hate that this is happening to her. I hate that this dumb fuck is trying to weasel his way back into her good graces. I wish I could just knock the fucker out and call it a day. It’d be better to get her back to her place, and for me to get off this job as quickly as possible because I haven’t even known Briar for a full twenty-four hours and already I want to sink my fat cock deep inside her.
What the hell, Orion?
Absently, I grab the deck of cards lying on my desk, the smooth surface cool against my fingers. I begin shuffling them, the soft rustle of the cards offering a small comfort as I practice a few sleight-of-hand maneuvers. The repetitive motions are soothing, almost meditative, as I wait for Dean to send over the file. I focus on the cards, blocking out the nagging worry about Briar and the uncertainty of Jason’s influence on her.
Just as I’m about to try a more complex trick, there’s a soft knock at my office door.
“Come in,” I call out, not bothering to look up from my cards.
The door creaks open, and Briar steps over the threshold, her presence lighting up the dim room. “I put Jeb to bed and cleaned up the kitchen. Are you hungry?” Her voice is soft, but it carries a genuine concern that warms something inside me.
I keep shuffling the cards, trying to maintain a casual demeanor. “I’m fine,” I reply.
“What are you doing with the cards?” she asks, her curiosity piqued as she leans against the doorframe, arms crossed.
I give her a half-smile. “Magic,” I say, letting the word hang in the air like an invitation.
Briar raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Magic, huh? Like, actual magic? Or just card tricks?”
“Both, depending on how you look at it,” I respond, leaning back in my chair and fanning the cards out in front of me. “Want to see a trick?”