Edging Obsession

33

I t took some coaxing on Jules’ part to convince her parents to stay on the property. As long as they don’t have to talk to me or see me, they’ll remain for convenience’s sake to meet Anja when school permits. Jules sees Elisabeth often. They go for walks in the park, heavily protected, along with me interpreting, stop for afternoon cakes and coffees, and she comes for dinner several nights a week. She doesn’t like leaving Anja home alone, so she’ll come when Anja goes over to Elise and Elliott’s. Jules has wanted to invite Anja for dinner, too, but neither one of them know about my crime life or Jules’ abduction. She felt it was best to keep them in the dark.

Elisabeth and Jules suffer from mental illness, except Elisabeth’s isn’t as extreme as Jules’. Jules’ body relaxes every time she meets Elisabeth, because she says it’s nice to talk to someone who can relate to her mental issues. Through interpretation, I learn about Anja and Elisabeth’s sacrifices. She’s a better mother than mine ever was. She talks about Anja and what a handful she was growing up. Very inquisitive and active. While juggling a couple of jobs, she’d leave Anja with an older neighbor who had a habit of falling asleep in the afternoons. As Anja got older, she’d sneak out of the wohnung to run around outside and play with the other kids in the area. Elisabeth couldn’t say much about it, because she had no one else to care for Anja.

They’ve been financially struggling. Jules is thinking about getting a job so she can give the money to Elisabeth. I told her I’ll set up an account for her. It’s the least I can do for the mother of the woman I’m in love with. Plus, I love having Jules at home. Aside from Elisabeth, I don’t like to share my Schatzi.

It’s a new year, new weather, so the women bundle up for another walk in Dortmund Park. An overcast sky, which is a trend in Germany, and the biting wind cuts it short. The women decide to sit in one of the cafeterias in the park. My men search the inside and subtly surround the outside area. Elisabeth hasn’t mentioned the men who follow us. I’m guessing she’s so caught up in Jules, she doesn’t even notice them.

Inside the cafeteria, they sit at a table near the back, glassed in so they can gaze at the outdoor scenery. They order Gulaschsuppe and waters. Aside from interpreting, I stay out of the conversation, even though they both try to include me. This is their time. The more Jules connects with Elizabeth, the more the possibility she’ll consider spending time in Germany. Elisabeth tests out her English, only to become self-conscious.

There’s arguing outside the cafeteria. Hendrick texts me to let me know Yusuf and his men are here. I curse, and Elisabeth and Jules look at me in shock. This asshole kidnapped my Jules, and in the process, his slimy men almost raped her. I tell Hendrick to send someone in to watch over the women so I can beat the fuck out of Yusuf. Tomas comes in and I explain to the women I’ll be right back.

Several meters away, Yusuf and his men are in my guys’ faces. When Yusuf sees me, I take a run for him, barreling into his torso, knocking him over a small hedge. We roll to the side, but I’m up before him, fists connecting with his face, chest, and stomach. Hendrick and another guy pull me off. People have distanced themselves from us, gasping at the blood leaking down Yusuf’s face and my arm. I must have cut it on the hedge.

Hendrick whispers, “Matthias, stop. We don’t need any more cop interventions.”

I jab a finger toward Yusuf while talking to Hendrick. “That piece of shit hurt Jules. Luckily, I got there in time before more damage was done.”

Yusuf spits on the ground and smiles. “I told you not to let your guard down. You threatened me, so I threatened you. Fortunately for me, I was able to get a hold of your precious little lamb, at a small cost of some of my men.”

The guys physically hold me back from tearing him to pieces. “If you’d stay out of our fucking territory, we wouldn’t have issues. But now…”

Yusuf waggles his finger at me. “Uh, uh. Careful what you say or next time your lamb won’t be so lucky.”

Hendrick’s grip is tight across my chest, which is probably good since I want to kill Yusuf. “We’ll take you and your little sick skin trade empire down.”

He barks out a laugh. “You’re calling me sick? What about all the guns and drugs you supply to innocent people?”

“Drug dealers aren’t innocent. What they do with the drugs is up to them. But trading people for sex and money is fucking vile.”

He’s about to talk, but I hear Jules’ voice. “What’s going on Miles?”

I snap at Tomas. “Did you not understand the instructions for you to keep them inside?”

“Sorry, boss. They wouldn’t listen.”

There’s a gasp and Jules asks Elisabeth what’s wrong.

She’s visibly shaking, staring at Yusuf, and whispers, “Dein Vater.”

Father? My head whips toward Yusuf, narrowing my eyes, yet his eyes are locked on Elisabeth. Past conversations begin to unfurl in my head. “I fell in love with your father. Our backgrounds and beliefs were different…we parted ways…I found out I was pregnant…I didn’t tell him. I thought it best.

Fuck me! It can’t be.

Yusuf is Jules’ father? I take a closer look at him. Jules’ hair is brown with loose curls and his wavy hair is the same color. Elisabeth has gray eyes, but Jules’ are the same hazel as his.

Jules doesn’t know what Dein Vater means. She goes into protective mode, draping an arm over Elisabeth’s shoulders and holding her close. It’s as if she’s afraid her mother will vanish into thin air. Elisabeth turns to Jules, eyes roaming her face while Jules is skimming everyone to figure out what’s going on. She’s unaware Yusuf was the one who kidnapped her.

The confusion on Jules’ face breaks my heart. She’s been handed a shitty deal. First, her mental illness, and now finding out she was switched at birth. The only great thing to come of it is Jules’ parents. They’ve taken care of her. I’d do anything to protect her from finding out about Yusuf. He’s scum. The man traffics humans. He kidnapped my Schatzi. I’m sure her attempted assault didn’t bother him. I just hope when he finds out about his daughter and pieces everything together, he’ll show some humanity. Apologize to Jules. Quit that part of his illegal business. And if she wants a relationship with him, God help me, I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen.

Finally, Jules glances down at Elisabeth, the skin between her eyebrows crinkling to understand. Yusuf hesitantly stands in front of Elisabeth, and I join them, not wanting him close to Jules. They gaze at one another. I’m dumbfounded how a sweet woman like Elisabeth could have fallen for a ruthless guy like Yusuf. Love is definitely blind. And dumb. And deaf.

In a soft whisper, Yusuf says, “Elisabeth.”

She smiles. “Hallo, Yusuf.”

Jules clears her throat, glances at me, and says, “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

Elisabeth breaks contact with Yusuf and gives me a pleading look for me to tell Jules in her language. My eyes drift to Yusuf, who’s taken aback I’m right next to him. He must not have noticed me moving to his side. Too caught up in seeing Elisabeth.

My eyes lock on Jules’. “Vater means father.”

“Okay, so?”

I flick my gaze to Yusuf and back to Jules, which prompts them to exchange a glance. The wheels churn in her beautiful mind, until it clicks. She gasps, drops her arm, and takes a step back. Elisabeth tries to grab Jules’ hand, but she’s backing up, shaking her head. When Jules is upset, she needs space or my cock. In this situation, my cock will have to remain in my pants.

It takes Yusuf longer to connect the dots. All he does is shake his head. He doesn’t believe it since he’s never known he had a child. Elisabeth explains to him in German about her pregnancy. His eyes widen after every word.

“I had a daughter and you never told me? And she’s lived closed to me?”

Elisabeth chokes on her tears, so I cut in, “Your daughter’s name is Jules, and she grew up in the U.S. Elisabeth had the baby there, and the hospital accidentally switched her at birth.”

He jabs his finger toward Jules, but asks me, “You’ve known about it?”

“I’ve recently met Elisabeth. As for you being Jules’ father…well, I found out just now.” Yusuf runs his hands through his wavy hair, eyes flicking to Jules. “Let’s not forget, she’s the one you kidnapped.”

Jules steps forward and shouts, “What?”

Yusuf’s eyes narrow on me. “So, you’re telling me your lamb, your girlfriend, is my daughter?” I nod and he dismisses it. “This can’t be. I would have heard about it.”

“How? Obviously, you haven’t run into Elisabeth all this time.”

He swallows hard. The anguish he feels is evident by the way he slumps his shoulders.

Good. Maybe he’ll learn from this hard lesson.

Jules says to him, “Why did you kidnap me?” Her voice rises. “I did nothing to you.” Louder. “They almost raped me!”

He cringes from her comment, and then becomes angry. “Because he’s my rival.” His body squares off in Jules’ direction. “Your boyfriend is my enemy.”

By now, the polizei have shown up, assessing the situation. They know exactly who we are. Since there’s no physical acts, they remain quiet.

Jules hands open and close into fists when Yusuf adds, “Your father’s enemy.”

“The hell you’re my father. My father wouldn’t do such a thing. I have a wonderful, loving, caring dad who has supported me through everything in life.” Her body is trembling from anger. I let her speak her mind. “You’re a thug. A criminal.”

He exaggerates his laughter, stops, and says, “And what do you think your boyfriend is? An angel in disguise?”

Tears break through and she quickly wipes them away, considering me. “No, I know what Miles is.” She pauses, shifting her gaze back to him, and when she has Yusuf’s full attention, continues, “He’s darkness. Lightness. A criminal and a lifesaver. Miles saved me from the harsh realities of life, along with saving me from myself.” Jules approaches Yusuf, causing me to step closer. “My boyfriend, your enemy, is a better man than you’ll ever be.”

The muscles in Yusuf’s jaw tightens. “Is that so? Do you know about all the things he’s done?”

I press between them, my face an inch from Yusuf’s and whisper, “Hey, asshole. We have an audience. Would you like to air out your dirty laundry in front of the cops?”

He eyes me up and down, lip curling in disgust, and walks over to his men. “We’re done.”

From behind me, I hear Elisabeth sob and apologize to Yusuf, who points at her. “There was a reason we didn’t work out. I didn’t want marriage or kids.” His gaze shifts to Jules. “Especially a girl.” His clan walks away.

I’m about to pound his face in, except Jules catches my arm. “Forget it, Miles. His comment doesn’t upset me. I can’t miss someone I don’t know.” She wraps her arms around my torso. “Besides, I already have a wonderful father. Yusuf would never be the father my dad is.”

Elliott has been great, which makes me realize I must make amends with them. They’re important to my Schatzi, so it’s important I talk to them.

Elisabeth comes up, placing her hand on Jules, unsure whether she’s mad or not.

Jules gives her a side hug and says, “No worries, Mom. I don’t need him. I have an awesome dad, and now, two mothers.”

I interpret, and Elisabeth cries onto Jules’ shoulder. We break things up, and head to our houses with Jules inviting Elisabeth over for dinner tomorrow. It will give me time to talk to her parents.