Page 36 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

Tucking my phone into my pants, I looked at her. “He gets the same thing every time. Are you gonna be able to do this with Ezra here?”

My lips twisted and I sighed. “Yeah. He’s not my man. Just because he thinks I’m his doesn’t mean I am.”

“I beg to differ, Bumblebee.” I jumped when Ezra’s warm breath brushed over my ear.

I spun around and he caged me in against the bar. His dark eyes raked over me, stopping at my visible chest. I swear I saw a storm brewing in his irises but it faded quickly.

“What are you doing here?” I asked tightly. My body was too aware of his presence. He hadn’t touched me, yet my nerves were already buzzing like I had been electrocuted.

“Wise is a friend, and because of that I’ll respect his place of business, but listen to me clearly, Bumblebee, because I’m only gonna say it once.

” He moved in so his mouth was close to my ear again.

“Do not think I won’t make you regret flirting with another man in front of me.

Unless you want his blood on your hands, do your job and keep it moving.

” My body locked in place. My breath caught when he leaned in and his lips pressed against my cheek.

When he pulled back he was smiling as if he didn’t just threaten to end a man’s life.

“Inaya, can I get a whiskey on the rocks please!” He turned his attention back to me. His jaw ticked, noticing my shirt again. “Fix your shirt or I will.”

With a wink, he turned and swaggered back to the table where the poker game was starting.

Fuck. Fuck.

I should have known Ezra wouldn’t play nice. I never had a man so possessive over me. The worst part was he believed I belonged to him.

“Good luck, babe!” Inaya snickered behind me.

I turned and glared at her just as she was placing the second glass on the bar.

Wise was going over the rules of the night, but I barely heard what he said. I couldn’t let Ezra deter me from what I needed to do. The guy was obviously not a good person anyway, so his blood spilling was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

“Fuck! This is why I never come to these damn things!” Ezra groaned, tossing his cards on the table.

“Good thing you’re a much better lawyer than you are poker player.

You might want to stick to the courtroom, man.

” One of the guys laughed, reaching out to collect the chips.

Since Ezra was now out, it was down to the last five in the tournament.

I wasn’t familiar with the amount on the chips, but it looked like a lot of money on the table.

I had managed to keep things together all night. Ezra’s eyes always found me when I walked toward the table, but I didn’t let that stop me from flirting with Titan who wasn’t subtle with his interest in me. It was a little after two in the morning and no one seemed ready to tap out yet.

“Haha, better hope you never need representation.” Ezra ran his hand down his face.

The guy’s smile grew larger.

“I’m out too.” Titan tossed his cards in. He downed the rest of the drink in his glass and shook his head. “I thought this was my lucky night too.” He pulled his phone out and tapped the screen.

“Now’s your chance. He doesn’t usually linger after a game,” Inaya said behind me as I leaned on the bar.

“Now or never, I guess.”

“What about loverboy over there? How you gonna get past him?”

“I was hoping you’d help me with that.” Her brow raised. “If you can get him to the bar and conversate with him, I can slip out before he notices.” I wouldn’t get the full two grand, but that didn’t bother me. It wasn’t like I needed or was here for the money. Titan was my main objective.

A devious grin appeared on her face. “I can do that. I want to pick his brain about that fine, broody brother of his anyway.”

Having a friend like Inaya was one thing that kept me going this long. She was just as stubborn and determined as I was.

“Heads up.” Inaya nodded toward me.

My attention went back to the floor and I noticed Titan walking toward me. My stomach contracted and my heart stuttered. I slowly pushed a deep breath out before placing a smile on my face.

“Looks like luck might be on my side tonight after all.” He smirked, stopping in front of me.

“Oh yeah?” I tilted my head to the side. “You just lost big, didn’t you?”

His shoulder lifted. “There’s more where that came from. You can’t win money if you don’t bet big, right?”

I snorted. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t take those kinds of risks.”

Titan licked his lips and scaled my body with his eyes. “Maybe you should. I want you to come home with me tonight.”

My insides were in a frenzy but I made sure it didn’t show on my face. “Oh? Do I seem like that kind of girl?”

Lucky for me I got my claws in Titan early so he only wanted me to serve him drinks. Each time he would slip a hundred in my pocket. I made three hundred from him tonight.

“We’re both grown, right? That’s all that matters.”

My eyes shifted behind him to where Ezra’s eyes were locked on us. Even from here I could see the raging storm forming. I needed to hurry up.

“I’ll be missing out on half my pay if I leave now.”

He released a cocky laugh. His hand went to my hip and it took everything in me not to cringe.

“Baby, I can pay what you’re missing and then some. Come with me tonight and I’ll make it worth your while.”

It was hard to keep the forced smile on my face. Titan was too arrogant. He was brash, loud, and nothing like the type of guy I would ever look twice at.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Taking my eyes off Titan for a second I reached in my back pocket to check the screen. When I saw it was a message from Emmet I knew I needed to take this.

“Just let me use the bathroom and we can go.”

He nodded. “I’ll wait here for you.”

My smile shook. “Okay.”

Turning, I walked in the direction that led to the bathrooms. Once I was in the lightly lit hallway, I leaned on the wall and pushed out an exasperated breath.

I closed my eyes and gave myself a small pep talk before lifting my phone.

During the night I had sent Emmet a picture of Titan and his name.

I didn’t know much about him, but I knew Emmet would be able to get something with what I sent.

Before I left with him I needed to know exactly who I was dealing with.

Emmet

Titan Anderson. DOB: 5/6/89. Grew up in foster care.

Highest education is tenth grade. Dropped out and started running with the Crimson Crew and worked his way up to second-in-command.

One assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping charge when he was twenty one, served six years and got three years’ probation. I’ll keep looking into him.

I quickly replied.

Me

I need information on his boss.

Copy.

“You know, Bumblebee, I promised my brother I wouldn’t do anything irrational anytime soon and here you are about to make me go back on my word.” I jumped and dropped my phone when Ezra’s voice sounded.

I turned to face him. His irises were dark with emotion. My stomach plummeted, but I steeled myself not to falter. The picture I received before coming here played in my mind, reminding me of why I was doing this. No one was going to stop me. Not even the walking red flag in front of me.

“I don’t know what you mean, Ezra. What I have going on has nothing to do with you.” I went to get my phone, but Ezra was quicker. He bent down, picking up my phone and checking the screen.

“You asked my brother to look into that dude.” His tone came out coolly disapproving.

“Again, none of your business.” I went to grab my phone from him but he snatched it out of my reach and backed me into the wall behind me.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Ziora.” His volume dropped with a cold edge to it.

His eyes were low but told nothing. “Everything you do is my business . You thought I was playing when I told you I would shed blood over you? I’ll go out there right now and shoot that man where he stands before I allow you to leave with him, then pay Wise for the damages later.

No one in there would bat an eye either.

Is that what you want? Do you want another man’s blood on your hands? ”

I swallowed hard. A knot formed in the pit of my belly and continued to grow like a snowball. Ezra’s words were chilling and cruel, yet he spoke them like he was telling me the color of the sun. His face showed no murderous intent either. The mask he could put on so easily was scary.

“I thought you guys didn’t hurt innocent people?”

His head slightly cocked to the side. “Sometimes drastic measures need to be taken.”

I didn’t reply right away. My words were trapped in my throat. Normally I was quick on my feet, but Ezra always caused me to become off balance. My words and thoughts didn’t always match up or make sense to me.

“A’right.” Ezra nodded and turned to leave.

Panic shot through me. I knew Ezra’s words were more than just a threat. Quickly, I reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Wait! It’s not what you think,” I rushed out. No way was I gonna let Ezra ruin this for me. Not before I got to question Titan.

Ezra twisted his neck, giving me his attention.

I knew I had to tell him before he did something rash.

Wetting my lips, I quickly summarized what I was doing here and why I needed to leave with Titan. Ezra’s eyes cut into slits. His stare penetrated me with intensity.

I wasn’t sure if he believed me or if he would stand down.

Ezra scraped his bottom lip with his teeth and shifted his eyes to the opening of the hallway.

“A’right. Let’s do this then.”

“What? No, I need?—”

This time he faced me completely and boxed me in again. “If you think I’m going to let you leave with that man without me then you really must not know who you’re dealing with. I’m going to follow you two and when we get to his house I’ll take over things from there.”

As much as I wanted to shut him down, I kept quiet. Truthfully Ezra would most likely be able to get answers easier than I could. Plus I didn’t know what Titan was capable of, I felt safer knowing Ezra wouldn’t be far away in case things went left.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “But do not fuck this up for me, Ezra. Keep your jealousy bottled in.”

A snarky, cheeky grin formed on his face. “Oh, Bumblebee, jealousy is the last thing I feel when it comes to you. What I feel can’t even be put into words. You think you know what I’m capable of but you have no idea.” Possession burned brightly in his eyes. He moved in and pecked my lips.

Blinking slowly, I glanced down when Ezra gently pushed my phone into my chest. “Go.” He stepped back and nodded toward the entrance.

It took a minute for my legs and feet to remember how to work.

Releasing a couple breaths, I placed my smile back on my face and stepped into the main room.

“Ready?” I stepped beside Titan.

He looked over his shoulder at me and lifted one side of his mouth. “I thought you slipped out the back on me.”

I giggled. “No, just got a phone call. My mom fussing about my dad not coming home when he says he will.”

“So we good? You ready?”

I nodded.

“Cool. Leave your car here. I’ll bring you back to grab it when we’re done.”

“I took a rideshare here so I’m good.”

He pushed off the bar and his smile grew.

“Then let’s go.” His arm went around my waist, and he pulled me into him.

Titan led me away, nodding at Wise who sat off to the side on his phone while the next game was in effect.

I looked over my shoulder. Ezra was now standing by the bar.

Inaya was speaking to him but his eyes never left me.

“I need to get my pay before we leave.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m good with Wise. I’ll have him hold it for you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

This is for you, Charlie. It was now or never.

We left the building and Titan led us to the side of the building where a small parking lot was. Once settled in the car, I checked the mirrors, noting Ezra’s headlights a few spots behind us.

“Good?” Titan reached over and gripped my thigh. I forced myself not to cringe.

Forcing a smile on my face, I nodded. “Yep.” I looked in the mirror again as he pulled off.

The whole time Titan drove I kept checking the side view mirror to ensure Ezra was behind us. My hands were sweaty and I kept rubbing them over my shorts.

“Relax, baby. Ain’t no reason to be nervous.” Titan flashed me a grin and placed his hand on top of mine.

A small snicker left my mouth. “Sorry. I don’t normally go home on the first night. I guess my nerves are kicking in.”

“No need. I’ma take good care of you.” His eyes went back to the road.

I thought he might be too drunk to drive. His words were slightly slurred, but he drove fine. I had my Xanax bottle in my purse and I itched to take one, but I needed to be alert right now so I refrained.

We drove for about twenty minutes before we pulled up to a large, two-story home. The area was full of other expensive, large homes. I had never been in this subdivision, but it looked quiet and homey. I was actually surprised Titan would live in an area like this.

“Your house is beautiful,” I confessed honestly.

“’Preciate it. Just wait until you see the inside.” He cut the engine off.

Titan pushed the door open and I noticed a gun tucked in the small of his back when he climbed out.

Swallowing thickly, I undid my seat belt and opened the car door.

Grabbing my clutch and purse, I looked toward the street.

Ezra was parked a couple feet down with his lights off.

A shiver shot through me when a breeze bypassed us.

My legs were now covered in goosebumps. I crossed my arms and tucked my hands into the pits of each arm.

“Follow me.” Titan started for his door.

Following him, I took the time to look around. The lights were off in both of his neighbors houses on the side of him which was good.

“You live here alone? No kids or anything?”

“Nah, just me. I got a son, but he lives up north with his mama.”

We walked onto the porch and I stood to the side as Titan fished inside his pocket for his keys.

My leg was bouncing and it took everything not to look behind me again.

I didn’t want Titan to think anything was off, but I’d never done anything like this before.

A million things could go wrong tonight, but I tried not to think about that as Titan finally pulled his key out.