Page 40 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

ZIORA

“ O kay, so fill me in. What happened last night?” Inaya questioned.

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.

“You have your brothers, I have Inaya. She’s trustworthy and resourceful.”

Nazai slid his eyes to Inaya, who had made her way to where Emmet sat at the circular table.

Ezra met us at the door when we got here and brought us to a door that led to stairs and the basement.

The basement was set up like a boardroom.

A large circular table sat in the middle of the room with chairs surrounding it.

A projector hung from the ceiling, pointed toward a large white screen on the wall in the front of the table.

Cashlynn was sitting at the table with a bottle of apple juice and a container of wings in front of her. Lucas was here too, looking through his phone. Emmet had his laptop open in front of him, but his attention was on his Rubik’s cube. River sat between him and Lucas.

“Hey, handsome,” Inaya said to Emmet, placing her elbow on the table and propping her chin on her open palm. She batted her lashes at him.

I snorted.

“Don’t let her playfulness fool you, Inaya is great at getting information when it counts. People trust her because of her personality.”

The hairs on the back of my neck rose when a hard body pressed against my back. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Ezra. It was like my body knew automatically and was hyperaware of him.

“That doesn’t excuse you bringing her here without getting permission. This isn’t a public domain, what we do here?—”

“Needs to be a secret. I know, I know. I told you Inaya is trustworthy. All the shit I’ve been through in my life Inaya’s been at my side. I wasn’t going to leave her out.”

“Nazai, I think we’re good,” Ezra spoke up.

Nazai looked behind me at his brother. The two seemed to be silently communicating.

Nazai turned and walked to the table. He approached Inaya from the side and slapped his hands down on the table. Inaya jumped and spun around to face him. Her eyes lifted and her brows furrowed.

“Listen to me and listen well,” he started.

“The only reason I’m going to let you stay is because Emmet’s already checked you out and if anything popped out he would have told me.

I am going to tell you the same thing I told your friend though.

The Bloodline is known to handle situations in unethical ways to most people.

What we do might be frowned upon to typical law abiding citizens but we make sure the bad guys are taken care of when the law fails.

I won’t allow anyone to come in and jeopardize that.

We work because we’re loyal and all trust each other.

Each of us works to make this business function properly and keep our image clean.

That won’t be compromised and anyone who threatens to do so will be handled accordingly. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Inaya’s mouth turned upside down. I bit down on my bottom lip. Inaya’s mouth could be unpredictable at times. The Nazai I’d seen behind closed doors was the complete opposite from the one I’d seen pictures and interviews of. Normally he was smiling and charming, but here he was all business.

“You don’t have to do all that. Ziora already let me know. Plus, I won’t do anything to put my future boo in danger.” She grinned and twisted her neck so she was facing Emmet again.

“Your friend is funny.” Ezra’s warm breath brushed across my ear.

“Emmet is a tough nut to crack.” His lips pressed into the shell of my ear before he stepped around me.

He grabbed my hand and led me to the round table.

Nazai was now in the seat next to his wife, leaning over and whispering something to her.

I took a seat next to Inaya and Ezra next to me.

Pulling my laptop bag off my shoulder, I placed it on the table and took it out.

“A’right. I got other shit to handle; so let’s hurry this up,” Nazai started. “Ziora, were you able to find out anything useful about Winston?”

I unlocked my computer and pulled up what I learned about Winston.

“Nothing that makes me think he’s anything more than some lowlife pervert.

He has a few sexual assault charges against him, including one that involved a minor.

That one he was never charged for, due to lack of evidence.

He was also charged with grand larceny in his mid-twenties.

He started the Crimson Crew as a teenager and started with petty theft charges that eventually elevated to grand theft over time as the crew grew. ”

“So nothing to indicate if he’s involved with The Veil?”

“No. I’m still digging into him.”

“I have my guys on him,” River started. “I also spoke with my ears on the streets and rumor is the Crimson Crew is transitioning into prostitution, specifically runaways and druggies. Nothing about them kidnapping anyone. Mostly those looking for a place to lay their heads.”

“Sounds like he needs his dick cut off,” Cashlynn mentioned with her mouth turned upside down.

“I’m not trying to see you do that shit again,” Ezra commented.

My eyes widened.

“I believe the punishment should match the crime. If they’re hurting people using their dicks, then castrating them is the only option besides slitting their throats.” She shrugged and took a bite of a wing.

“Shit, you’re hardcore,” Inaya mentioned.

“This world is full of sickos, someone has to take them out.”

Inaya grinned. “I like you.”