Page 56 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

ZIORA

Me

Are you gonna explain to me why you had those things delivered to my house?

I hit send and waited for Ezra to reply.

This morning his assistant showed up at my house when I was on my way out, with a rose and a note along with a dress bag and shoe box.

Inside the bag was a one shoulder, asymmetric neckline black gown.

One side curved around my breast while the other wrapped around my neck.

There was a high slit on the side and it went down to my feet.

In the box were a pair of strapped Red Bottoms. Lastly there was a black and gold Christian Louboutin chain wallet crossbody.

The note had said:

As much as I look forward to seeing you in this, I’m going to enjoy stripping you out of it even more.

While everything sent to me was nice and obviously expensive, it caught me off guard.

I tried to tell the lady to take it back but she informed me she wasn’t allowed before leaving.

Last night, I came hard as hell in the bath after doing my strip tease for Ezra, then finally learning where he was hiding lit an intense flame inside of me.

I never thought of myself as one to have an exhibition kink, and maybe it was just because it was Ezra, but I had started anticipating this game between us.

“Zee, you ready?” Inaya questioned. Lifting my head, I faced her. Her hand was on her door and she was staring at me curiously.

“Yeah let’s go.” I turned my car off and pushed my car door open.

We were at the community center, here to talk to Ms. Rubin. I knew she usually got here around eleven or twelve and stayed till about six in the evening. It was one o'clock and only Ms. Rubin should be inside.

My phone went off just as we got to the doors of the center.

Stalker

I have an event to attend with you by my side, of course.

You know normal people ask someone on a date and not demand it!

I stepped through the door. Instantly, my eyes scanned the small foyer area we were in.

Not much had changed since my sister used to come here.

The center had two gyms side by side, separated by a wall, and a community room on the other side of the hallway.

If I remembered correctly, the office was around the corner from where we were before we hit the gyms and community room.

We both know by now I’m anything but normal, Bumblebee. But I’ll play along. Friday at six there is a black-tie event we need to attend. So can you be dressed and ready by then?

A stifled laugh escaped my mouth. This man truly thought he owned me and had access to me at any time.

Won’t people think we’re together if we go to an event like that?

“The office should be this way.” I went to the right, and just as we were turning the corner, an older, brown skin woman with a pixie cut emerged.

I stumbled back in surprise. “Can I help you?” she asked. Glasses sat at the top of her hair. She was dressed comfortably in jeans and a sweater.

“Ms. Rubin?” I asked.

“Yes. Can I help you? If you’re here for the center, we don’t open until?—”

Inaya came to my side. “Actually, we came to talk to you,” she cut in.

Her eyes bounced between us. “Are you looking for information pertaining to our center?” She smiled. “I have a pamphlet of the programs we offer. Is this for you or someone younger?”

I slid my phone in my back pocket and stood straight. “Actually, my little sister used to come here for your after-school program. She also was part of your youth mentoring program.”

Her smile grew. “Oh really? That’s wonderful. The mentoring program is one I’m very happy about. These young kids need guidance and we’re here to offer it in any way we can. What’s your sister’s name?”

“Her name was Charlie. She was kidnapped and killed nine years ago.”

The smile on her face slowly dwindled. “Oh my. I’m sorry to hear that. The amount of girls going missing lately is such a tragedy. That’s why I try to keep them active and occupied as much as possible so they stay out of trouble.”

I squinted. “My sister wasn’t a troublemaker. Her being here wasn’t to keep her out of trouble.”

“Oh no, of course. That’s not what I meant.”

“We noticed most of the missing girls came to this center and from troubled backgrounds,” Inaya cut in again.

Ms. Rubin shot a deadpan look her way. “Are you implying something?”

“Not at all.” Inaya’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “But isn’t it odd that this is the common ground for all those girls? You never thought that was strange or you should speak up and say something to the police?”

I studied Ms. Rubin’s body language as she spoke.

She wasn’t defensive or tense. “Look, I’m sorry about your sister.

” Her eyes found mine. “But although this neighborhood has gotten better over the years with the gentrification they’re attempting in certain areas, it’s still rough.

This center is a safe space for the youth, especially ones that come from hard home lives or have limited resources available for them.

As much as I would love to say we saved every kid that’s come through that door, it’s just not possible, but I try my hardest.”

“Who owns the center?” I questioned as my phone vibrated in my pocket.

“Excuse me?”

“The center? I read that it almost closed due to lack of funding years ago, but suddenly it was bought and has been running since with no issue. According to public records it was bought by a company that technically doesn’t exist.”

Everything about the company that saved the center led to a dead end. Whoever was running it went to extreme measures to keep their identity a secret. Their records looked legit but all the information was bogus.

She pressed her lips together “I’m not sure. My job is to keep the center up and running. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some things to take care of. You ladies enjoy the rest of your day.” Ms. Rubin turned around and walked back in the direction she had just come from.

“Did we just get dismissed?” Inaya asked, throwing her hand to her chest.

I snorted. “C’mon. It’s obvious we’re not gonna get anything here.” I turned to the door. Lifting my eyes I noticed the blinking red light above the door and the camera attached. That must have been how Ms. Rubin knew we were here.

“What do you think?” Inaya asked when we got back in the car.

I looked at the large brick building. “I don’t know.

The way she talked, it seems like she enjoys her job and cares a lot about the kids that come here.

But it’s just weird she never put two and two together.

I mean, almost every year, three or four girls just stop showing up at your center and you don’t get curious.

And then the whole owner thing, it’s clear she was lying there. ”

“Yeah, I got that too, but why? I mean… unless she’s afraid.”

“Afraid?”

Inaya nodded. “Yeah. I mean, think about it. If The Veil is connected to this somehow, then she knows if she talks too much, she’ll most likely be killed.”

I sighed.

Inaya wasn’t far off. If the rumors were true, then Ms. Rubin could’ve put a target on her back if she told us anything and someone found out.

“I’m going to do a little more digging and get with Emmet. I’m sure the two of us can find out something together.”

I started the car.

My phone vibrated on my lap and there was a notification from Ezra waiting along with some developer diagnostics from my app.

Since I had been stood up at the hotel, I hadn’t been on the app to look for a hookup, instead I’d just been handling the behind-the-scenes work, recoding and updating the software.

Tossing my phone in the cup holder, I put the gear in drive and pulled off. I would worry about Ezra and his antics later.

____

Ezra leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You look beautiful tonight, you know?” A shiver shot up my spine and my eyes cut in his direction. He had just helped me out of my seat after giving the valet his keys.

Just like he promised, Ezra was at my door at five, dressed elegantly in a black tux that looked tailored to fit him. The diamond studs in his ears shone brightly along with the watch on his wrist. Ezra was a naturally handsome man, but when he was dressed like this it made my pussy pulsate.

“Thank you.”

Flashing a crooked smile, he moved in and kissed my cheek.

“Shall we?” He held his hand out for me. Placing my hand into his, we started toward the hotel. The streets were flooded with people coming and going. Flashes from cameras kept going off. Chatter scattered around us. We were downtown and the night was already in full swing.

“Are you going to tell me what this is?” I asked after Ezra opened the hotel doors.

“The Mayor’s Ball,” he mentioned.

My face balled. “The Mayor’s Ball? I don’t even like our mayor.

” To me, the mayor was half of the city’s problem.

He only catered to and cared about what was going on in the wealthy parts.

He didn’t do things that would accommodate and protect everyone.

In fact when he was elected the gentrification in The Sticks slowed down.

Ezra laughed and led me to the left. “You don’t have to like him. I’m here to network and rub shoulders and you’re here to look good on my arm.” He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes.

After walking down the hallway for a little while, we got to the ballroom where Ezra gave the guy standing outside his name. Once his attendance was confirmed, he was given a card.

“Your table number,” the woman next to him said.

Ezra thanked her and the two of us walked into the hall.

I scanned the room. It was classy looking I could admit.

It was decorated in gold and black and everyone was dressed as if they were headed to an adult prom.

A live band played in the front of the room.

Waiters walked around with flutes of champagne I assumed.

I adjusted my purse on my shoulder. These events weren’t my thing. They were always full of people wanting to show off who had the biggest wallet.