Page 78 of Merciless Obsession

We were in my office. I was working on getting more information on Winston when she called and told me she was on her way. I was working off a few hours of sleep. I was too anxious to fully rest when I got home. Not even my tea blend helped.

“You were right. Titan’s boss is into underage girls. He was buying them.”

“The fuck!” She hissed. “That’s sick as hell! Is that who you’re looking into?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes trained on my monitors. Winston was just as flashy as Titan. It was like he craved the spotlight on him.

“Yeah.”

“Are you going to go after him? Well, are the Tavarez brothers?”

I paused. Honestly, I didn’t know how much I could tell Inaya. I trusted her and knew she wouldn’t run her mouth about anything. She had been here with me from day one. It didn’t feel right keeping her out of the loop.

“In a way…” I started. While I didn’t tell her everything, I did let her know that they had helped me get information from Titan and would be helping me with Winston.

“Good. Those guys seem like they mean business. One of the girls I work with texted me about Titan this morning. Apparently the hot gossip was about you leaving with him. They know you’re my friend too. She told me to warn you that Titan was into some sick shit and didn’t like to be told no.”

“How does she know that?”

“I guess she left with him once. He promised her a big payday, which she received, but said she felt violated afterwards. I told her I would check in on you. The only reason I wasn’t worried was because I knew Ezra was following you.”

I went into my top drawer and pulled out a sucker. “So he was a rapist?”

Inaya shrugged. “That’s what it seemed like she was hinting at. I never saw him outside the casino or The Den. The night of the party was the first time I was around more than just him, and the guys he hung around looked shifty, so I’m not shocked.”

I shoved the sucker in my mouth once I unwrapped it and went back to working. “Well there’s nothing to worry about anymore. Titan was taken care of.”

“Taken care of? Meaning?”

“Meaning you won’t be seeing him come in The Den or casino anymore.”

Inaya wasn’t stupid, she knew what that meant. “Okay,” she said calmly. “We trust them and they’re coming through on their promise to help. What do I need to do?”

“What do you mean?” My head began to throb. I reached for my reading glasses and slid them on my face.

“I mean you’re not cutting me out of this. It’s been me and you from the beginning and I’m still in this. So how can I help? Whatever you got going on with this family, count me in too.”

This was why I loved Inaya. She was always on my side. Always ready for anything if I needed her.

“Right now I need to focus on this, but there’s a meeting tonight and?—”

“Count me in.”

It was risky agreeing to bring Inaya in without speaking to Nazai first. He had made it clear that what they did needed to be kept under wraps, but Inaya was my partner in crime. If he had an issue with me bringing her in, then so be it.

“Now how much longer are you gonna be? We need to head to the costume store. We only have two days until Saturday; so we need to get your costume now!”

“Inaya!” I groaned.

“Nope, you’re not backing out either. You need to have balance, babe. If all you do is sit in front of this computer and look up sickos all day, you’ll go mad. You need a distraction and some fun. You’re going.We’re going.”

I knew there was no changing her mind. I was an introvert, that was no secret. My sister used to ask how me and Inaya were even friends because our personalities were so different, but this was why. Inaya helped me stay balanced and I did the same with her. She was too headstrong sometimes and I had no problem reeling her back to reality, just like she forced me out of my shell at times. The funny thing was I had no issues rushing into things others might find dangerous or crazy, but when it came to parties and such, I drew the line.

Still, after the week I had, maybe she wasn’t too far off about me needing a distraction. First this Winston business needed to be handled then I’d take her advice and allow myself to have one night of fun.

____

“What is she doing here?” Nazai questioned when me and Inaya stepped inside the farmhouse. After shopping for my costume, we came directly here. Of course Inaya already had her costume. Holidays like Halloween excited her.