Page 164 of Merciless Obsession

“On it.” River came down.

“Where’s Handly?”

“Tied up, upstairs. He’s not going anywhere.”

River approached us and used the keys in his hand to unlock Ziora. As soon as she was free, I wasted no time snatching her up and cradling her close. She didn’t protest. I stormed past my brothers up the stairs.

River had Handly handcuffed to one of the cabinets. Approaching him I lifted my foot and sent it flying into his face then walked out the kitchen.

“Ziora!” Inaya was waiting for us outside the house but Ziora didn’t respond. I shot her a look and continued toward the car. No one was going to take her away from me again. Pulling the back door of the truck open, I climbed inside. Ziora clung tighter to me.

“I’m not letting you go again.” I nuzzled my face into her hair. The roaring inside me was still loud and clawing to get free. Ziora was in my arms but I wasn’t satisfied. The thirst for blood slammed into me.

“I knew you would come for me,” Ziora whispered, lifting her head and staring at me. She had stopped crying, her face and eyes red and swollen.

I leaned down and kissed her forehead then her nose and lips. “Even being kidnapped won’t keep you away from me. I’ll always find you.”

A shaky smile formed on her bloody lips. My eyes bounced around her face. I bit down on my back molars seeing theforming bruise on her cheek. She reached up and swiped my chin. I looked and saw blood. Blinking, I didn’t realize I had it on my face.

“I’ll make them pay, baby. Don’t worry.”

She sniffled and nodded before tucking her head back into my chest. My hold on her tightened. My nerves buzzed with adrenaline. The only thing on my mind was murder and how I was going to make those two pay for touchingmy masterpiece.

____

“Detective Handly’s real name is Tommy Brown. He was put on administrative leave a month ago for getting his second DUI. He’s stationed in The Sticks and was ordered to do mandatory AA along with his suspension,” Emmet reported, reading off what he found on Handly.

“And the other guy?” Nazai asked.

“His previous partner. Been on the force for about six months.”

I tapped the steel head of Wilma against my palm while a sharp ache shot through my clenched jaw.

Ziora hissing caused my eyes to narrow on where Lucas was stitching her up. The stitches from her spleen removal were busted open and above her lip needed stitches as well from being hit with a gun, according to her.

“Watch it,” I gritted.

Lucas never took his eyes off where he had just stuck a needle into her side to numb the area.

“Unless you want to do it, I advise you to let me work.”

Ziora reached out to touch my arm. Shifting my eyes up, I gripped Wilma’s handle tighter upon seeing the new bruises and wounds against her light skin.

“Soon as you heal we’re going somewhere with a beach, sun, clear blue water, and a lot of mixed drinks,” Inaya mentioned from where she sat at Emmet’s side.

“She’s not going anywhere without me ever again,” I told her. The thought of Ziora leaving my sight made my chest grow taut and my lungs struggle to function properly.

“Ooooh, put your foot down then, protective daddy.”

“Inaya!” Ziora winced.

“Can we focus!” Nazai snapped. “We need to handle those two out there ASAP so I can get home to my pregnant wife before she realizes I’m gone.”

“Scared of your wife, Nazai? I never thought I’d see the day,” River joked.

He flicked River off and turned back to where Emmet was typing on his laptop.

We were at the farmhouse and Handly and his partner were detained back in The Barn. It was a little after one in the morning. I was running on anger and adrenaline with no hint of sleepiness in sight.