Page 102 of Merciless Obsession

I flashed a reassuring smile at her. “Okay. We’re going to take you to the hospital now.”

I turned toward the door. The knot in my stomach grew with each word that came out of Tiffany’s mouth.

Once outside I had to take a minute to gather myself. “You okay?” Ezra approached me.

Pressure built behind my eyes. I closed them, attempting to reel my emotions back. “Yeah, I just can’t believe her own dad would do something like that. It makes sense though.” I cleared my voice and opened my eyes. “Her dad was on drugs at one point. Got a few convictions in the past. I’m sure that’s why his wife, Tiffany’s mom, left him. From his social media it seemed like he was clean and Tiffany had just started being allowed to do solo visits with him. This was the first summer she was staying with him and he does this shit. Scum.” My face twisted with anger.

Ezra’s hand landed on my arm, causing a bolt of electricity to shoot up it. “Try not to think about it too much. It’s only going to do more harm if you do.”

“How can I not? That shit is sick! If her dad really gave her to this man and allowed her to be sold, then…”

“Then we’ll find them and take care of it.”

I stared into Ezra’s alluring gaze. It was warm and brought me a sense of comfort.

My eyes cut into slits and my heart pounded. “I hope you make them suffer too.” I planned on exposing Tiffany’s dad for the sicko he was and whoever he was working with too. If they could do this to Tiffany, then I doubted she was the only one. It made me wonder just how deep this kid trafficking ring went and how many people were wrapped up in it.

____

“You sure you don’t want me to come in with you two?” Ezra questioned from the driver’s seat. Nazai had gone home, but mentioned a meeting would be set so we could go over everything and come up with a plan of action.

“No, I got it.” I pushed the door open. “C’mon, Tiffany.”

She climbed out of the truck and rushed to my side. She was still wearing the large T-shirt from Winston’s house and I found out we wore the same size shoes so I gave her mine so she’d have something on her feet.

We walked into the entrance of the emergency room. A few people were in the waiting room already but hopefully, given the situation, they would take Tiffany right back. Her mom should be arriving any minute now, she was minutes from entering the city when we left Lucas’s clinic.

“I need a doctor!” I rushed out when we got to reception, making sure to put panic in my voice.

“What seems to be the pro—” The woman’s voice halted when she looked away from the computer and her eyes landed on Tiffany.

“I found her walking on the side of the road. She needs a doctor!” The woman, still in shock, blinked quickly. I snapped my fingers. “Hello! We need a doctor and someone to call the police!”

“Uh, right, right!” She snapped into action. I looked over to Tiffany who looked uneasy. Her eyes kept bouncing around the waiting room. Her body pressed against my side.

“What’s her name?”

“Tiffany?” A woman’s voice sounded from behind us.

Tiffany’s body whipped around. “Mom?”

“Tiffany. Oh my God!”

Tiffany broke away from me and rushed to her mom, colliding into her. Her mom hugged her tightly. “I missed you so much, baby.”

“Mom,” Tiffany cried.

“What happened to you?” Her mother pulled back and grabbed Tiffany’s face. Tears ran down her face. She pulled her daughter back into her.

Turning from the reception desk, I approached them. “I was in the middle of getting her checked in,” I mentioned.

Tiffany’s mom lifted her head and stared at me.

“You’re Ashley? You’re the one who found my daughter?”

I nodded.

Keeping her hand tightly on her daughter, she reached out and pulled me into a one-sided hug. It caught me off guard and my body tensed. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”