Page 53 of Merciless Obsession

“Do you still speak to your parents?” She looked caught off guard by my question, making me smile.

“What kind of question is that? I thought you were gonna tell me what you learned about my sister.”

“In due time, Bumblebee. Haven’t you ever heard good things come to those who wait.” Her lips pursed and she reached for the sangria glass, bringing it to her mouth and taking a long sip.

“No, I don’t. The day my sister was found they were dead to me. Physically my mom was there most days but mentally she was gone. It was like living with a zombie. Dad, well he hardly batted an eye. Basically said it was one less mouth to feed. As soon as I turned eighteen I left home and never looked back.”

“Where did you go? How did you make money?”

She snorted. “From hacking, of course. I had been saving up to get me and my sister away from our toxic ass parents, but I was too late. Now?”

“I know you like reading, what else do you enjoy?”

Her eyes narrowed. “What is this?”

“Can’t I get to know my future wife? I don’t think that’s too much to ask.” My eyes dropped to her left hand.

“Future wife?” Her eyes widened. “Even if I did believe in commitment and all that, it wouldn’t be to you.”

I faked offense. “And what’s wrong with me?”

“Besides the fact that you’re a psycho? I don’t take well to men who drug me for their own personal gain.”

“I didn’t hurt you though, did I? I told you, my plan isn’t to hurt you…unless you’re into that kinda thing?” This time I licked my lips and leaned forward.

She shook her head. “See! You just got crazy eyes when you said that.”

I tossed my head back and released a chuckle. “Oh, Ziora.” I grew serious. “Call it what you want but I have no plans of us not being together. It’s fate that Emmet was able to find your real identity.”

She blinked slowly and scrunched her nose. She raked her hands through her hair and exhaled deeply. “How many people have you killed?”

I smirked. “Don’t know.” My shoulders lifted. “I was able to join the family when I turned eighteen. Dad wanted me to wait until I was done with law school, but I had no desire for that. Why should my older brothers have all the fun?”

She finished off her glass. “Have you ever been in love?”

That question made my chest burn, but I kept a cool face. I thought back to the one and only girl before Ziora to snatch my attention in such an intense way. “Once…maybe. I was young, so maybe it wasn’t love, but it was something I suppose.”

Her brows furrowed. “What does that even mean? Were you obsessed over her too?”

“Obsessed isn’t the word I would use. Infatuated? Yes. She introduced me to a new version of myself I didn’t know existed.One that I haven’t been able to share in a long time.” My voice was deadpan, fitting with how my face looked now.

Finishing my whiskey, I set the glass on the table and folded my hands.

“What about you? Has any man attempted to steal the heart you’ve been saving for me?”

For a moment she didn’t reply before snorting and giving me a stifled, toothless half grin. “No. The longest relationship I had was an experiment I attempted and failed at.”

My curiosity peaked. “And what experiment was that?”

She wet her lips and pushed her now empty dish away. “Inaya told me I’ve closed myself off from allowing people to get close to me since my sister died. I wanted to prove that wasn’t true. We dated for six months and I ended it before he announced he was moving across the country.”

Although I hated to hear about her with another man, I was relieved to hear it meant nothing.

“Now if that’s all—” Before she could finish the server returned.

“Are we doing dessert tonight?” she asked, bouncing her eyes between us.

I looked at Ziora for the answer. She shook her head.