Page 17 of Ignite

“I would like to think I’m smart, but I’m really not,” he replies softly. “Got myself into serious trouble.”

I shake my head, frustrated by my lack of control over my emotions right now. “I have someone looking into you. I’ll find out what you’re all about, Ezra. And if there’s anything questionable, anything at all, your life is forfeit.”

He turns his gaze back up at the ceiling, and his body sags. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it?” I huff, ripping my tie loose. Why couldn’t I leave this guy alone?

I watch his tongue slip over his full bottom lip, flicking his lip ring back and forth. It shouldn’t captivate me. Shouldn’t make my mouth water or my cock throb hard enough to have my hands twitching with the need to grip it.

“Cut me up all you want. Just… please don’t restrain me again. I don’t like that.”

My brain short-circuits. “What?”

“I mean, I get that I’m at your mercy. Just thought I’d ask nicely.”

A jab of concern hits me, and I shut it the fuck down. Seal it away with every other troubling thing ricocheting in my chest. Today’s been a whirlwind. I shouldn’t have come in here thinking I’d gain anything of value.

But I couldn’t stay away.

Ezra leans up on his elbows, his tousled, decadent locks and mesmerizing eyes alerting my body to just how much I like the way he looks. I’m both enraged by his careless behavior and slightly impressed. I can’t stop my eyes from circuiting his features.

“Cain.” His voice is so soft, so vulnerable, my hands curl into fists. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

I force a low laugh, though I can’t help but watch him spin that lip ring around and around. What would it feel like against my mouth? Running over the shaft of my cock?

Fuck. No.

“You’re being held captive, and you’re asking me for a favor? You know I could kill you, right?” My words hold no edge, my tone dipping into something deep and raspy.

“No doubt.” Sadness bleeds into his expression. “I have a friend in West Bank at the Hartman Shelter. If I’m missing for too long, I worry what might happen to Jakey.”

It takes me a few breaths to process what he just shared with me. He’s concerned about someone in a homeless shelter? What is this Jakey to him? A family member? A friend? What would Ezra be doing in a shelter?

All these questions only serve to further erode my sanity.

“Jakey?” I scoff. “What kind of name is that?”

Timid hazel eyes meet mine. Where was the sassy boy from earlier? The one who seemed to take pleasure in driving me crazy?

“It’s the nickname I gave him when he found me.”

My chest tightens. Suddenly, the office feels too small. Too warm. Why is the fucking heat cranked so high on this floor today?

“Jakey,” I repeat, the name tasting sour on my tongue. “He a thief, too? Someone close to you?”

Why didn’t Rev include more in the summary report?

I hold back a growl. Because I would have criticized him for diving into personal details. That shit doesn’t matter.

Ezra blinks at me like he can see the gears whirling in my head. “He’s just a harmless old man without a job or a place to live. I take care of him. Make sure no one takes advantage of him. Gabriel’s guys messed him up and threatened to kill him. That’s how I wound up in this mess.”

This guy must be an expert manipulator. My insides feel slithery. I can’t seem to get a wrangle around my emotions or regain control of the logical part of my brain.

Why the hell would he risk his life for some old guy on the streets?

I shift my gaze to the black and blue bruise peeking out from the hair along his temple. A shocking burst of anger makes me want to peel Gabriel’s flesh from bone for putting hands on him.

Next, I take in the scabbed cut along his cheek. Yeah, I feel wrong for doing that now, but in the grand scheme of harm I’ve inflicted on others, this is definitely mild.