Page 170 of Merciless Obsession

“Wait, what?”

“I know. I thought it was weird that there was record of her being married, but I couldn’t find out to whom, so I dug deeper. I looked up her kids’ birth certificates and saw Bolden was listed as the father. To say I was shocked was an understatement. That also showed me there was something to find. She kept hermaiden name and they had their marriage hidden so no one would make the connection.”

Inaya spoke up. “So you’re saying?”

“That the community center being the hunting ground for the girls and the police not making the connection or investigating it makes sense now.”

“You think they’re involved, both Bolden and this Rubin lady?” Nazai asked.

“I do. We know the two who took me were getting instructions from somewhere. Every time I went to Bolden about my sister, he brushed me off, insisting the guy who ODed was the guy and she wasn’t connected to the other girls. The police butchered my sister’s case, Watz kept things out of the police report, the community center was never made as a connection, and the police never took these kidnappings seriously after years of them happening. Bolden has been chief for the past ten years. He moved up the ranks quickly, making detective, sergeant, and lieutenant all within five years before being appointed to chief. Now I’m no expert but even for the greatest cop that seems quick. So someone had to make that happen. The Veil would have those kinds of connections and pull.”

“Fuck, that was sexy as fuck,” Ezra growled, leaning over and nipping my chin.

“Ezra, please.” My cheeks flushed and I went to push his head away. He grabbed my hand and kissed my neck with a crooked grin.

“No need to be shy, Bumblebee.”

PDA was still hard for me. Learning to accept affection was one thing but having it shown in front of everyone still made me feel weird.

Nazai cleared his throat. “If what you’re saying is all true, then we need to have proof and find out just how far up the chainthis goes.” He looked at Ezra. “Do you think that Ryan guy is in on this?”

Ezra twined his hand through mine and faced his brother. “I doubt it. He only became commissioner three years ago, and if Dad suspected anything, he wouldn’t have dealings with him.”

“So we need information about the old commissioner then. This just keeps getting better and better.” Nazai ran his hand over his face.

Before anything else could be said, the door to the basement was busted open. Everyone turned in alert and guns were drawn faster than I could blink.

“Lucas, what the fuck!” Nazai bellowed.

“I saw her!” he rushed out with a frazzled expression.

The guns were tucked away. “You saw her? Saw who?”

Lucas rushed to the table and slammed his palms down.

“Adrian. I saw Adrian.” Lucas had a wild look in his eyes, one I’d never seen before. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Luke,” Nazai sighed.

“Have you finally cracked, big bro?” Ezra joked.

Lucas scowled in Ezra’s direction. “I’m not delusional. I saw her.”

“It’s been eleven years, Lucas, how can you be so sure?” River asked.

Lucas dug into his coat pocket and tossed something on the table.

“That’s how!”

All eyes went to the folded piece of paper.

“I don’t get it,” Cashlynn expressed. “How does folded paper prove anything?”

“Adrian used to make these all the time. It was left in the same spot I saw her in.”

I bit into my bottom lip and bounced my eyes around the table. Ezra looked slightly amused. Nazai looked concerned.Emmet was messing with his Rubik’s cube, completely zoned out. River had a look of indifference.

“Lucas…” Nazai started.