Page 37 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

EZRA

I t took everything in me to keep my cool as I followed Titan’s car. On the way I called Nazai, letting him know I would be using The Barn tonight. I didn’t want any interruptions like the last time I brought someone there. I also texted Emmet and told him to send me whatever he had on the guy.

I wondered how someone like this could slip under my family’s radar. He was the head of the Crimson Crew. I knew of Crimson Crew; they were a high level group of robbers who hit risky licks and practiced fraud.

I finished reading what Emmet sent me. One good thing about my baby brother was he hardly slept and was typically up at all hours of the night. If he didn’t enjoy being such a freelancer and working on his own, I would have been put him on payroll for my firm, but Emmet didn’t want that.

There was no way I was going to let Ziora go into that house so it was time to act now.

I reached over and went into the duffle bag I usually kept in my trunk for unseen circumstances and grabbed my black leather gloves, sliding them on.

Next I went into one of the pockets and pulled out the small, black pouch.

I grabbed one of the syringes filled with Propofol and placed it on my lap.

Following that I grabbed a couple zip ties and slid them into my pocket.

Lastly, I grabbed my mask, the same one I used when I first started following Ziora, then the black cap and slid it on my head after placing the mask on.

Giving my attention back to the house, I watched the pair climb out of the car and head for the front door.

Tossing my phone into the cup holder, I reached for the door handle and pushed the door open.

Uncapping the syringe on the way, I slid the cap into my pocket and quickly but quietly walked across the street.

This was sloppy. I didn’t know if Titan had outdoor cameras, but with Ziora or Emmet they could be wiped if need be.

Still, areas like this usually had cameras too, so that was something to be aware of and get handled.

Titan’s back was to me when I approached. He was a guy who liked to hear the sound of his own voice. He was going on about something while working on unlocking his front door. Ziora’s eyes found me, I brought my finger to my lips.

“After you, sexy.” He pushed the door open.

I stepped on the porch behind Titan. Swiftly, I wrapped my arm around his neck. He yelled out and tried to fight me off.

“The fuck!”

Ziora stood there frozen with wide eyes, watching as I plunged the syringe into his neck and pushed the liquid into his body. It didn’t take long before his body went slack against me.

“There you go,” I whispered.

Turning him, I bent my knees and lifted him. He was heavier than he looked but I managed. Tossing him over my shoulder, I glanced over at Ziora who was still watching me.

“Grab his keys and shut the door, Bumblebee, then follow me.”

She snapped into action, doing as I said.

“Now what?” she asked as we headed back to my car.

“Now we get answers.” When we got to my car, I had Ziora pop the trunk so I could toss Titan inside. Using the zip ties, I bound his wrist together. The sedation would last until we got to The Barn but I wasn’t taking any chances.

Once I made sure Titan was secure I looked around for any unwanted eyes. Seeing the coast was clear I climbed in the car and texted River. I need his team to come check the house and also wipe the car so nothing led back to Ziora.

“I going to have Emmet check the area for any cameras and?—”

“What about my prints? I was in his car.”

I grinned at her and reached over to grip her chin. “I would never let anything happen to you. I got this, baby.” I leaned over and pecked her lips softly at first before kissing her harder. It had been four days too long since I last felt them.

“Trust me. This isn’t my first rodeo.” I bounced my eyes around her face.

Sleepiness rested in the pockets of her lids.

Pulling away, I flashed a reassuring grin her way then sat back in my seat.

I removed my gloves and reached for the duffle bag now on her lap and tossed them inside.

Next I recapped the syringe and did the same.

“So you just walk around with sedatives?” Her brows furrowed.

“Never know when they might come in handy. It’s always best to be prepared than to be caught slipping.” Words my dad always told us growing up.

“Wow,” she mumbled.

Too much time was spent here, it was time to get the answers we needed. I was in the mood for some fun. Hopefully Titan would play hard ass and bring me some entertainment for the night.

____

“How many times do I have to say you don’t decide to go off on your own without letting me know!” Nazai complained, pacing back and forth in front of me.

He, River, and Cashlynn were waiting at The Barn when we arrived. River helped get Titan out of the car and restrained him while Nazai bitched at me. Titan was still unconscious, his head sagging forward.

“I’m not a newbie; this isn’t anything I couldn’t handle,” I told him.

Nazai stopped and glared at me. “That’s not the point, Ezra.

When you do shit like this on a whim, mistakes are made.

You don’t know if there was someone waiting at his house, if he had cameras, did you check and make sure no one saw you?

It was all too hasty. That’s why we usually scope out our targets first.” He stepped closer and slapped my shoulder.

“Come on Ez, you’re smarter than this. You’ve always been impulsive, but this is dicey, even for you.

” His eyes left me and shifted to where Ziora was.

I could see the words forming in his head before he spoke them.

“Don’t,” I warned him. “It’s not on her. I made my choice on my own.”

Slowly, Nazai slid his gaze back to me. “You’ve got too much to lose, Ez. We all do. One mistake and all this shit, everything padre and abuelo built, will crumble. You get that, don’t you?”

“I know that. The opportunity was there though, so I took it.” Nazai still didn’t look happy.

Had this been Dad he would be ripping me a new one until he was red in the face.

That wasn’t how Nazai operated. He said what he had to say, but hardly yelled or argued.

He always said it took too much energy. Even when he was pissed off, he kept a level head.

“All I need is a computer and I can get into the cameras to make sure we’re covered,” Ziora cut in.

“I already have Emmet on it,” Nazai said. He kept his eyes trained on me a second longer before facing her. “Tell me why this guy is so important.”

“Nazai,” I started.

“No, Ez. If she’s gonna be in this then I need to make sure she’s up for everything. We can’t act on emotions; that’s how people get killed. There’s no reason for any of us to target this guy so the reason leads back to her. Tell me why?”

A lot of time Nazai fought authority. He often bumped heads with my dad because the two were so headstrong.

Nazai wanted to be his own person and not the guy my dad wanted him to be.

That’s why he started a club instead of studying law.

It was always his birthright to take over the business, but in his own way.

With all that, I saw nothing but my dad right now as he spoke.

He might try to rebel but he was more like our father than he thought.

Ziora kept her eyes trained on Nazai. If she was nervous, she didn’t let it show.

She began repeating the same story she told me at The Den, her tone steady and confident.

Nazai never budged as she spoke. He listened to her without interrupting, again, looking like our dad.

My big brother was a natural born leader.

As much as I wanted to be like my dad and bypass his legacy, I knew Nazai was really the one most like him.

“And you’re sure the girl was underage?” he questioned once she was finished. “Your friend is reliable.”

Ziora nodded. “I trust Inaya. She has a good eye and this isn’t the first time she’s brought me back information that turned out to be true.”

Nazai’s mouth hardened as he turned his attention to Titan. River stood next to him awaiting orders. Nazai nodded and River acted. He stepped in front of Titan, cocked his fist back, and sent it across his face, causing him to grunt.

“Wakey, wakey, asshole.” Nazai stepped forward.

Titan was still groggy. I didn’t give him the whole sedative because I wanted it to only last long enough to get him here. He blinked sluggishly a couple times as he came to.

“What. What?” He struggled to get out.

Cashlynn stepped forward and slapped his face a couple times. “Hey, wake up. We don’t have all damn night,” she spat.

“Wildfire!” Nazai hissed.

“Well, he’s taking too long and I’m not trying to be here all night.”

“I told you to stay at home anyway.”

She waved him off. “I’m tired of you trying to keep me out of the action. I’m pregnant, not handicapped or dead. Stop trying to handle me with baby gloves!”

It was written all over my brother’s face. He was fighting hard to keep his cool. Cashlynn was the only one who could push his buttons like this.

“Cashlynn.”

“Oh shit, sis. He sounds serious,” I joked. If he was using her real name, he was serious.

“Shut up!” She cut her eyes at me.

I tittered. Never a dull moment with these two.

Titan finally started to become more conscious. He looked confused and his eyes were bleary.

“What the hell is this?” His words came out sluggish and slurred. He attempted to lift his arms.

I decided to take the lead. Walking toward him, I grabbed the chair not too far from him and placed it in front of him. I took a seat and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“Titan, my man. We got some questions for you involving your boss.”

Confusion still rested on his face. He bunched his brows together and attempted to swallow. His eyes moved around the room and stopped when he got to Ziora.

“You bitch! You set me up!” he bellowed and struggled in the chair.