Page 32 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

EZRA

“ H ijo. What do I owe this pleasure?” Dad greeted me, looking up from the newspaper he was reading. “You just missed your mother. She went to run some errands.”

After dropping Ziora off at home I made my way to my parents’ house. I believed we hit a milestone in our relationship last night. Her mind was on what she had learned that morning and instead of sticking around to watch her do her thing, I made my way to my parents’ house.

“Can’t a guy come and see his parents without having an agenda?”

Dad chuckled. “For most. Yes. But I know my kids. Lucas is the only one to randomly pop up because he’s a mama’s boy at heart. You other three, no chance.” His eyes narrowed and he lifted a brow.

Smirking, I shook my head. We were never able to get anything past my dad. He was too aware.

“A’right. You got me. I actually wanted to pick your brain on something concerning a case.” Dad closed the newspaper, resting it on his lap. He removed his reading glasses and set them on the arm of the couch then gave me his full attention.

A high profile official had reached out to me wanting counsel.

They had recently fired their current attorney and were switching over.

Thankfully the case hadn’t seen the inside of a courtroom yet outside of a bail hearing because switching counsel in the middle of a trial was tricky.

My dad might not have the photographic memory Emmet had, but he was very knowledgeable when it came to law.

His dad made sure of it. Before taking the measures to become a judge, my dad was one hell of a lawyer.

I often got compared to him in the courtroom.

A lot of DAs hated going up against him because of how cutthroat and direct he was.

Dad listened without interrupting. When I got to the end, he spoke, asking a couple questions.

“A governor seeking you out is a big deal, son. You get that in your pocket, that opens the field for what you can use later. It’s early enough in the case that I don’t think any harm will take place.”

I had to agree.

Even though I wasn’t accepting new clients right now, the governor reached out and needed representation for his son.

He was facing murder allegations. His ex-girlfriend was found dead in her apartment and all signs pointed to him being the culprit.

There were rumors that he was abusive toward her and stalking her, and not in a good way.

“You think you can win?” Dad raised a brow.

I snorted. “I wouldn’t be your prodigy if I couldn’t.”

Dad laughed. “That’s what I like to hear. You got my wits in you and your grandfather’s sharp tongue. That’s why you’re the best.”

“But if his son is guilty, then what? His crime is one we normally punish for.”

“Then you get him off and do what the family does best. Having the governor on your side will be a win in the long run. Those are the kinds of connections that make what we do last.”

I stroked my chin, bobbing my head slowly.

Most of the time I didn’t care how people saw me. Yes, it was necessary to keep a good image in the public eye, but even then it was all a facade. My dad, however, was someone I respected. He left his mark in the courtroom, causing me to have big shoes to fill. Shoes I was determined to bypass.

“I have another question.” Mirth found its way onto Dad’s face.

“Before we get to that, I have a question of my own.” His face turned serious. He folded his hands in his lap. “I spoke with River.”

I kept my face blank. When I said nothing, Dad continued. “He tells me there’s a girl.” Blinking slowly, I kept his stare. Dad scratched his cheek. “Ezra, I don’t have to remind you of last time.”

“This isn’t the same as that.”

“I heard you killed an innocent man too.”

Still giving nothing away, I schooled my face to stay calm. “That was a misjudgment I can admit. It won’t be traced back to me though so no need to worry.”

“The last time you had your eye on a girl, you became unfocused and started fucking up.”

“I was young then. I’m older now and know better.”

“This girl, the blogger girl, what if she’s not trustworthy? You need to be careful who you bring around the family. Not everyone is built for what we do. She’s known for exposing, correct?”

“Only those who deserve it. We’re off her radar now and she’s working with us. Like I said, this isn’t like the other time. Ziora’s a sure thing and she’s mine. No one’s going to take her from me.”

Dad sighed. “Ezra, she’s not an object. You are aware of that, correct?”

“She’s my toy but also my future wife. We have an understanding with one another.”

“Your toy,” he muttered and dropped his head with a slight shake.

“I’m not putting any of us in danger. I’ve already assured Nazai. River can stand down too. He won’t have to play damage control this time either.”

“Bring her over.”

“What?”

“The girl, Ziora. Bring her over. I want to meet her. Get a read on her myself.”

“Padre.”

“No exceptions, Ezra.” By his tone I knew he wouldn’t budge. Even if Ziora wasn’t after our family anymore. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about coming face to face with my dad.

“A’right I’ll bring her over.” I nodded.

“Good. Good. I want you to keep a level head with this one, Ezra. Do not go off the deep end like last time. I love you, son, but we both know how you can get. When you set your sights on someone you can be irrational. Especially when things don’t go your way.”

“I got it under control.” My voice came out tighter than before.

Dad let it go. My muscles were tight now. Hearing anyone trying to downplay what me and Ziora were building didn’t sit right with me. It wasn’t something for anyone but us to understand anyway.

“Now what else did you want to talk about?”

“Oh right.” I licked my lips and shook the stormy clouds forming in my mind away.

“It was nothing.”

“You sure?”

I bobbed my head. “Yeah. Just some trivial stuff.”

He kept his eye on me before sighing. “Yeah, okay.” He reached for his glasses, setting them back on his face.

“I know Mama cooked recently.” I stood.

“You boys always thinking with your stomach. You used to eat us out a house and home.”

“I’m a grown man with a healthy appetite.” I started for the back of the house in the direction of the kitchen.

“Oh, by the way, the police commissioner… he’s still useful right?” I asked.

Dad was silent for a second before responding. “He is. Do you need me to set something up?”

“I just need his number; I can handle the rest.” I continued out of the living room.

I would show both my dad and River I had control now. Whatever doubt they had in me would be a thing in the past once they realized Ziora was meant for me.

____

“I have a meeting with Ryan later this evening,” I said into my wireless headphones as I moved the photo from the liquid to hang it up to dry.

“Good. I’ll stop by the farmhouse and get the payment and bring it by.” When we had jobs that required payoffs or favors that needed cashed in we used funds from a vault hidden at the meeting farmhouse. Since Nazai was now in charge, it was his job to make sure it was handled properly.

“Once you leave the meeting with him, come by the club so we can talk in person. If The Veil is involved, I want to be on top of everything we do so we’re not caught off guard later.”

I chuckled. “You sound nervous, big bro.” I moved to the next photo to develop.

“No one alive puts fear in my heart, but this group isn’t one we should take lightly. The fact that they’ve operated as ghosts for all these years with no proof of being real is why we shouldn’t go into this lightly.”

“Neither should we,” I reminded him.

While The Bloodline operated in secret, we weren’t some urban myth that terrorized the city.

Some people mentioned The Bloodline, but they weren’t aware it was the Tavarez family behind the name.

Most people sang our praises for getting justice for loved ones who were wrong and fixing the law’s fuck ups.

The Bloodline name wasn’t a secret, but the names behind it always would be in the shadows.

“That’s true, but still, these guys have no morals.

If rumors are true, they have a shit ton of people to keep their hands clean.

Us looking into them puts a target on our back.

They’re people with everything to lose and have made it clear they will take out whoever to stay a secret.

We all need to keep our eyes open and be on guard.

I refuse to lose any of my brothers to this shit.

” His voice hardened with the last sentence.

While I waited for the picture to develop, I turned and leaned my hip against my working table. Days had passed since Nazai revealed The Veil was real and could be involved in these kidnappings.

The playfulness left my body. “No one is going to take any of us out. We’re not amateurs. If anyone comes for one of us they come for all of us. We’re gonna take these fuckers down together.”

The thought of losing any of my brothers made me want to cause havoc to the whole city. We grew up close and loyalty was a code we all stood by. While we seemed like a prestigious family we made it clear that you never went against just one of us. We were a unit and moved as one against any enemy.

I spoke with Nazai a little longer before hanging up.

I hung the last of my photos on the drying line and eyed the photos of Ziora from last night.

They were absolutely stunning in every sense.

I was gonna use my digital camera on her at first but then switched at the last minute when she went to the bathroom.

I knew this way would capture her better and I was right.