Read Wicked Obsessions for Free Online

her with concern and questions.
    "Please!" Teri cried to stop their conjectures. "I have no idea what he was talking about, and until my husband gets home, there isn't much sense in speculating. Now let's get back to work."
    Selena kept one eye on Teri as the morning progressed. She could see that fear still had a grip on her throat and humiliation kept her on the verge of tears, but Teri was doing her best to conceal it. This woman was the best friend she had. She loved Teri as much as she'd loved her own mother. And Teri was hurting because of a man.
    Just as her mother had been hurting.
    Selena despised Rico for putting Teri into such a precarious position. She had to find a way to get Rico out of Teri's life. Thoughts of vengeance gave Selena the only impetus she needed to commence Plan B.

 
     
     
    Chapter 3

     
    "I don't want to hear any more of your apologies, Rico! That animal was in my studio! He as much as threatened that he'd burn the place down if you didn't pay up." So livid she couldn't choke out another word, she slapped his face with all her pent-up fury. A split second later the back of Rico's hand lashed her cheek.
    The moment he'd done it, he knew all hope was gone. He reached for her, but she jerked away. "Oh my God, Teri—I didn't mean to do that. This whole thing's got me nuts, I don't know what I'm doing anymore." He collapsed on the sofa and buried his face in his hands.
    Teri glared at him, her chest heaving with anger. "And I don't care anymore. It's over, Rico. Today was the final straw. We're through. I want you out of my life."
    A sob escaped his throat—one he didn't have to fake for her benefit. When he looked up at her, real tears ran down his cheeks. "They're going to kill me. I didn't know who I was involved with until it was too late. These guys don't believe in payment plans. And they don't just nail your knees to the floor when you don't come through. If you don't pay these guys, you disappear... in pieces. Ya gotta help me, babe, one more time, and then I'll get out of your life... if that's really what you want."
    She saw the naked desperation in his eyes, smelled his fear, and felt absolutely nothing. Even the anger had left her. Where there was once so much love, now there was only numbness. Her voice sounded as hollow as she felt. "How much? How much will it cost me to be rid of you permanently?"
    Rico pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes. He could hardly believe his ears. The life raft she was holding out had a hole in it, but it was the only one in sight. Keeping his eyes downcast, he mumbled, "Seven grand... in cash."
    Teri gritted her teeth. Seven thousand dollars was nearly twice what she'd received from the gallery for the recent sale. She could refuse... and risk having her studio burned to the ground. Or she could bail Rico out one more time and trust him not to contest the divorce when the time came. Forced to choose the lesser of two evils, she said, "All right, Rico. I'll have the money for you by the time you get home tomorrow. And I'll have a settlement agreement drawn up for your signature at the same time."
    She touched her cheek and felt the beginnings of swelling. "But I want you out of my sight. Now. Unless you want me to call the police, you will pack a bag and be out of here in one hour. And after tomorrow, I don't ever want to see you again."
    * * *
    When Teri told Selena she would be completely tied up painting for the next week and would not need her to model, Selena decided not to waste a minute of those days. By Saturday morning, Selena had the details of Plan B all worked out and ready to launch.
    She laughed at the image in her bedroom mirror. It had taken almost two hours after she left Teri's, but she had done it. No two pieces of the costume had been purchased in the same place. The ugly black wig, thick moustache, wraparound glasses, and silver skull earring looked like duplicates of the originals. Only the hoodlum's clothes had to be revised