Page 82 of Merciless Obsession

“C’mon.” I opened my car door and climbed in.

Inaya walked around to the passenger side and got in. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your whole mood just changed out of nowhere.”

“Yeah I just haven’t been getting a lot of sleep and you know how I am when I’m tired.” She let it go and reached for her seat belt.

I took one more look at Ezra before starting my car and putting it into drive, quickly skirting out of the large, open driveway.

____

After finishing everything I needed, I went back into my deep dive concerning Winston. When I got to his bank account, I saw he’d dished out ten grand every couple months. I wasn’t sure where the payments were going or to who but I had a hunch it was for the girls. So far I’d counted four payments, and from what Titan said, he was preparing to do another one soon.

Glancing at my phone, I noted the time. It was a little after twelve. When I got home I was wired. I shut myself down and dove into my work. A habit I’d developed since I was a teenager. My app membership had gone up twenty percent, meaning my profit margin had grown.Shadows of Silver Stonealso had a spike in traffic. I held off on warning about the community center until I got more answers, but I did make a post about the mayor and the lack of resources given to keep our youth safe. Election year was next year and I knew it would catch his attention now more than ever. It was time to apply more pressure to officials. The Veil needed to be smoked out, and having more officials take this matter seriously and actually take action might do that. I also did a true crime post about the governor’s son. Reporters were eating his story up. I had seen posts and mentions about him since he was accused, yet the missing girls barely got put on the police scanner. It was sickening.

I shifted my eyes to the picture of my sister on the crime board along with notes I received. I pinned them up to remind myself why I didn’t have time for fun or games. Why I was fighting so hard to get these sickos off the street. Fear wasn’t gonna stop me.

After finishing all of that, I worked on some client work. Now I was waiting on final payment so I could send the information I came up with.

I should be getting ready for bed. I was working on fumes. Although I was tired, I wasn’t ready to call it a night. Pushing away from my desk, I grabbed my phone and left my office. While out today I purchased a Kindle. I was usually a paperback girl because I preferred to feel the pages. It also helped bring me back to reality in a way, but a Kindle was easier for when I was on the go, so I finally caved. I planned on curling up in my bed and finding something to read until I finally fell asleep.

Once in my bedroom, I stripped out of my clothes and my eyes landed on the window. I wasn’t sure if Ezra was close or not, but I stepped in front of the window and undid my bra, pushing it down my arms and tossing it to the side.

I waited for my phone to vibrate. Earlier I’d snapped on him because I was frustrated with myself. I didn’t like feeling like I was failing and that was all I felt today. The Xanax I took when I got home helped me out. I was running low and didn’t have any more refills. I knew ways to get more without a prescription, but I was fighting not to go that route.

I wiped my eyes and turned toward my bed where my phone laid. My body buzzed with anticipation, wondering if Ezra was around tonight. I couldn’t pinpoint why it turned me on knowing he was watching me from some secret location. He had been chasing me for weeks now and not knowing when or how he would pounce was thrilling. My life had become so structured, so predictable. I was starting to accept that the irregularity hebrought into my life might be what had been keeping me sane lately.

My shoulders sank forward when my phone screen stayed dark. The one time I anticipated his presence, he was nowhere to be found. I went to my dresser, opening the small box and pulling out all of the notes Ezra had left me over the past two months. There were a couple of pictures of me in the mix too. I paused, getting to the picture of the two of us. It was from our date night when we were in my living room. I studied the suggestive look in his eyes as he stared at me. The adoration brewing from them. The way he looked at me you would think I could turn straw into gold. It was hard to keep my guard up when he gazed at me like that.

Pushing a deep breath out, I went to the next picture behind it. This one was just of me, still from that night, looking off to the side. I didn’t even know when he took it but somehow Ezra always managed to capture me at my best.

I skipped to one of the notes and a smile ticked on my face.

Keep frowning and your face might stay like that. Don’t worry I’m here to bring a smile to that pretty face.

It was corny, but Ezra didn’t care about stuff like that. He said whatever was on his mind and never held back how he felt. I went to the next note.

Sometimes I want to keep you locked away from prying eyes so only I experience your beauty.

Ripples went through my stomach. My chest filled with heat.

The things he said sometimes were things no sane person would, but I learned Ezra Tavarez was anything but sane.

A yawn fell from my mouth and my eyes grew heavy. Eventually I put the notes and pictures back.

I was in for a long weekend. Inaya was excited for this Halloween party. I was dreading it, but if it would get my friend off my back, then I could sacrifice a few hours.

CHAPTER 19

EZRA

“Your movements have gotten faster since we first started working together,” I told Carson, Cashlynn’s younger brother.

“Soon I’m going to be able to beat you.”

I chuckled. “Not even Nazai can beat me one-on-one.”

“Don’t lie to the kid,” Nazai called out from the sidelines. He was sitting down with his eyes locked on his sketchbook. The charcoal pencil moving swiftly back and forth across it.

“C’mon, big bro, no need to be embarrassed.”