Page 51 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

I shook my head. “We’re going to meet her at the hospital. We wanted to talk to you first, if that’s okay.”

Tiffany blinked a few times then glanced behind me before nodding. “Keep the door open,” she called out.

“We were wondering… do you remember how you ended up with Winston?” She flinched at the sound of his name then rubbed her bruised neck.

“I, uh…” Her teeth scraped over her bottom lip. “I, uh, my dad.”

“Your dad?”

Nodding slowly, her eyes lowered. “I was visiting my dad and we went to a man’s house.

He said it was a friend of his and would be a quick stop.

When we got there the man offered me something to drink.

Next thing I remembered was waking up in an unfamiliar room, stripped of my clothes.

There were no windows, just a bed and a door. ”

A knot formed in my stomach. “Do you know who the guy was?” Nazai asked.

Quickly, Tiffany’s eyes darted to him then back down. “No.”

“How did you end up with Winston?”

“I don’t know.” Tears clouded her eyes and her voice cracked.

“One day I was still in that room, then one of the guys holding me came in, shot something in my neck, and I woke up in the dog cage.” She rubbed her arms. The monitors she was connected to started beeping and her breathing became rushed.

I flashed a reassuring smile at her. “Okay. We’re going to take you to the hospital now.”

I turned toward the door. The knot in my stomach grew with each word that came out of Tiffany’s mouth.

Once outside I had to take a minute to gather myself. “You okay?” Ezra approached me.

Pressure built behind my eyes. I closed them, attempting to reel my emotions back.

“Yeah, I just can’t believe her own dad would do something like that.

It makes sense though.” I cleared my voice and opened my eyes.

“Her dad was on drugs at one point. Got a few convictions in the past. I’m sure that’s why his wife, Tiffany’s mom, left him.

From his social media it seemed like he was clean and Tiffany had just started being allowed to do solo visits with him.

This was the first summer she was staying with him and he does this shit. Scum.” My face twisted with anger.

Ezra’s hand landed on my arm, causing a bolt of electricity to shoot up it. “Try not to think about it too much. It’s only going to do more harm if you do.”

“How can I not? That shit is sick! If her dad really gave her to this man and allowed her to be sold, then…”

“Then we’ll find them and take care of it.”

I stared into Ezra’s alluring gaze. It was warm and brought me a sense of comfort.

My eyes cut into slits and my heart pounded.

“I hope you make them suffer too.” I planned on exposing Tiffany’s dad for the sicko he was and whoever he was working with too.

If they could do this to Tiffany, then I doubted she was the only one.

It made me wonder just how deep this kid trafficking ring went and how many people were wrapped up in it.

____

“You sure you don’t want me to come in with you two?” Ezra questioned from the driver’s seat. Nazai had gone home, but mentioned a meeting would be set so we could go over everything and come up with a plan of action.

“No, I got it.” I pushed the door open. “C’mon, Tiffany.”

She climbed out of the truck and rushed to my side. She was still wearing the large T-shirt from Winston’s house and I found out we wore the same size shoes so I gave her mine so she’d have something on her feet.

We walked into the entrance of the emergency room. A few people were in the waiting room already but hopefully, given the situation, they would take Tiffany right back. Her mom should be arriving any minute now, she was minutes from entering the city when we left Lucas’s clinic.

“I need a doctor!” I rushed out when we got to reception, making sure to put panic in my voice.

“What seems to be the pro—” The woman’s voice halted when she looked away from the computer and her eyes landed on Tiffany.

“I found her walking on the side of the road. She needs a doctor!” The woman, still in shock, blinked quickly. I snapped my fingers. “Hello! We need a doctor and someone to call the police!”

“Uh, right, right!” She snapped into action. I looked over to Tiffany who looked uneasy. Her eyes kept bouncing around the waiting room. Her body pressed against my side.

“What’s her name?”

“Tiffany?” A woman’s voice sounded from behind us.

Tiffany’s body whipped around. “Mom?”

“Tiffany. Oh my God!”

Tiffany broke away from me and rushed to her mom, colliding into her. Her mom hugged her tightly. “I missed you so much, baby.”

“Mom,” Tiffany cried.

“What happened to you?” Her mother pulled back and grabbed Tiffany’s face. Tears ran down her face. She pulled her daughter back into her.

Turning from the reception desk, I approached them. “I was in the middle of getting her checked in,” I mentioned.

Tiffany’s mom lifted her head and stared at me.

“You’re Ashley? You’re the one who found my daughter?”

I nodded.

Keeping her hand tightly on her daughter, she reached out and pulled me into a one-sided hug. It caught me off guard and my body tensed. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I… you’re welcome.”

She released me and hugged Tiffany tightly again. Both were still crying.

“Good luck, Tiffany.” I went to leave but she broke away from her mom and rushed me. Throwing her arm around me, she hugged me. “Thank you for saving me,” she whispered.

I started to get choked up. Returning her hug, I rubbed her back soothingly. “You’re welcome and good luck.”

She released me and went back to her mom’s side. I left the hospital almost in a daze. When I got to the truck where Ezra was waiting for me, I stared forward silently.

“Bumblebee,” I heard him call out, but it was muffled, almost as if I was under water.

“Ziora.” When his hand landed on my leg I jolted and whipped my head to the side.

“What happened?”

Licking my lips, I looked toward the entrance doors and shook my head. “Nothing. I’m just glad I was able to do more than just warn people from behind a computer screen.”

Ezra grabbed my hand and lifted it, kissing the back. “Your sister would be proud.” The pressure from earlier returned behind my eyes. I tucked my lips into my mouth and gave a stiff nod.

“Don’t hold it in. If you need to release the burden you’re feeling onto me, then do it. I’ll handle it for the both of us.” His words curled around my heart and eased the tightening sensation that formed.

Ezra kept his hand laced through mine and started the truck.

I wasn’t sure what to make of him right now. I wasn’t used to this soft and caring side of Ezra. He was so assertive and intense. It almost felt as if he was empathizing with me, even if I knew he couldn’t. Ezra had so many parts to him and it seemed a new one had just been unlocked.

____

I wasn’t sure how long I slept or even what time it was when I woke up the next day, but Ezra was still asleep under me on his back.

After returning the truck we got Ezra’s car and he drove us back to his house.

I passed out the moment I lay in his bed, feeling the weight of the day finally taking over.

I didn’t even remember laying on him. Never in my life had I been a cuddler, so it was odd to me that I easily did it with him.

Yesterday played over in my head. It was a lot to take in and process.

It was the first time I had ever done any hands-on saving and I couldn’t deny it was exhilarating.

It made me understand why some people had hero complexes or even took the law into their own hands.

The pride you got from doing a good deed and the sense of accomplishment was one I’d never felt before.

Yes, my blog did a lot of good and brought awareness, but yesterday, for the first time, I felt like I was making a real difference.

Lifting my head, I eyed Ezra as he slept peacefully.

It amazed me how someone could take a life then sleep like a baby all in the same day.

His nose twitched slightly. His lips were firm and sensual.

It amazed me that even asleep he was more stunningly virile than ever.

Both his hair and goatee were perfectly edged and groomed.

I raked my eyes lower, watching his chest rise and fall slowly.

There were so many layers to this complex man.

Different sides of the same coin. Last night I saw the darkness inside him.

His eyes were cold and screamed danger. His voice was stoic and firm.

Every move he made was precise and without hesitation.

I’d seen him in action at The Barn but last night was completely different.

He had tunnel vision, and when he came back to the truck, his demeanor was cool and calm, as if he hadn’t just taken a life.

It was chilling, but I said nothing. In some way, knowing the lengths he would go to protect someone enhanced my feelings starting to develop for him.

Biting down on my bottom lip, I turned my head to his groin. His morning wood was present under the covers. My throat thickened and my mouth watered knowing what stood under the plush material.

Grabbing the covers, I pushed them down and eyed the burnt orange briefs.

They hardly contained Ezra’s dick. Flicking my eyes up to make sure he was still asleep, I slowly moved down his body, gripping the waistline of his briefs and taking them with me.

His dick sprang out, looking like an extra-large Snickers bar.

Glancing up one last time, I hovered over his dick and circled his tip with my tongue before taking it in my mouth.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head. I couldn’t put into words how much I loved feeling the weight of his dick on my tongue and stretching my mouth.