Page 69 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

“That was before I learned you were being threatened.”

Her mouth snapped closed and her nostrils flared. “Regardless, that doesn’t mean you had the right to pack up my home and force me into yours. There were measures I could have taken to ensure I was safe.”

“Because my brother is just as easily skilled in computers as you, I was easily able to get into your house many times without you knowing to the point where I took you. The guys we’re after have just as many Zioras and Emmets on their side.

They could easily get through any system you install and get to you. I wasn’t taking that risk.”

“But I’m safe here? The same thing could happen to me here!”

I chuckled and dragged my hand down my mouth. “The day someone attempts to come in here and cause you any harm will be the biggest mistake of their life. River and Emmet personally set up my system to make it so no one can get past. River also has some of his best guys keeping an eye on you.”

“All that could have been done at my house! I don’t need to be saved, Ezra.

I’m not fragile. If we’re going to work together then you need to understand that.

I’ve been protecting and looking after myself my whole life.

These people wanted to scare me, but in reality, they just made my attention on them increase. ”

When I didn’t respond, she continued, “I want to go back home. Move all my?—”

“No.”

Her face balled up, her eyes tightened, and her mouth twisted in a deep scowl. “No? You can’t tell me no! You can’t force me to stay here against my will either!” She winced and clenched her chest.

“If it means keeping you safe then I can and will. If I have to take other measures to do so then I can do that too.”

Her eyes flashed. “Like drugging me and tying me up?”

A deadpan expression rested on my face while I blinked slowly.

Ziora tilted her chin upward, closed her eyes, and mumbled something under breath. She exhaled a deep breath and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Ezra.” Prostration dripped from her voice and shadowed her face.

“I appreciate you wanting to protect me. I’m flattered actually, but if this thing between us is gonna make it, then you need to stop dictating everything and include me.

I don’t like being forced to uproot my life, my home, without having a say so.

You do understand, in relationships, communication is important.

You listening and not just making decisions for me is important.

You’re smart, Ezra, even with your…condition I know you are.

Hell, you’re probably even smarter because of it, so you know that what you did is not okay. ”

I heard everything she was saying but it was going in one ear and out the other.

If she thought I was going to apologize, she was wrong.

I didn’t feel bad and I wasn’t going to go back on my decision to bring her here.

“I’m not sorry for what I did. This is your new home so you need to get used to it.

You’re still recovering and you need to rest.”

I stood. “Ezra, have you heard anything I said!” She slapped the bed.

“I did, but it’s not going to change my mind.

Someone tried to take you from me. You’re sitting in my bed hurt, wheezing, and damaged because they wanted to kill you.

You received threats. Your life is in danger and I don’t take that lightly.

I’m here to take care of you. Plus, waking up to you and going to sleep next to you every day is a personal treat for me. ” I smirked.

Ziora sighed and her shoulders fell forward. “I’ll stay here until my foot heals, and when it does, I’m going home. I don’t know where you put my furniture and stuff but I want it back in my house waiting for me.”

I shook my head but didn’t reply. Instead, I got back on the bed and leaned over, kissing her hard.

“You’re so beautiful.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t patronize me.”

Again I kissed her, then pulled back, climbing off the bed and turning toward my closet. Ziora might think my actions were extreme but in the long run she would understand that what I was doing was meant to keep her safe and she was safest with me.

____

My brothers, River, and I circled around Rock who was hanging from the wall. His hands were chained and lifted above his head. He cried out when Cashlynn dragged one of the blades of her butterfly knife down his chest. His breathing was heavy and staggered.

“Bro, your wife really gets off on this stuff, huh?” I mentioned.

“She does.” Nazai stared at Cashlynn with desire and pride. His arms were crossed over his chest and a satisfied smirk rested on his face. “Happy wife equals happy life.”

“You two are sick,” Lucas mumbled, side-eyeing our big brother.

“Says the guy who uses his scalpel as a war weapon.”

“They make the smoothest cuts. Creamy as butter.”

“All of you are out of your damn minds,” River cut in.

Rock’s yells caught my attention. She twisted the blade wedged in his upper shoulder.

“Okay, Wildfire. I let you have your fun.” Nazai stepped forward. “We still need to get answers out of him.” He planted his hand on her shoulder.

She looked over her shoulder at him. The murderous intent in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

“I wasn’t done,” she pouted.

“We agreed you got to start things off because you didn’t like being sidelined. I let you do this, but don’t push it. Enough.”

They stood in a standoff.

Cashlynn rolled her eyes then turned and yanked her knife out his shoulder. “Whatever, this baby’s on my bladder anyway.”

She turned and waddled in the direction of the stairs.

“Even pregnancy doesn’t tame that woman.” River chuckled.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Nazai beamed. “My Wildfire knows how to keep me on my toes.”

“Can we finish this up? I have other matters to attend to,” Emmet mentioned, looking up from his Rubik’s cube, a bored expression plastered on his face.

Nazai reached behind him, pulling out black leather gloves. He stepped toward Rock and slapped his cheek a couple times.

Sluggishly, Rock lifted his head. Blood seeped from the wounds Cashlynn caused. “Rocky boy, we need to talk.”

His eyes were unfocused and low. “Let me go and I’ll tell you whatever you want.”

Nazai chuckled. Again, he reached behind him and this time pulled out his gun. He rotated it and studied it for a second. “That’s not how it works, Rocky boy. You’re not running the show here.”

Rock’s eyes landed on the gun and he swallowed hard. “Ye-yeah, okay,” he choked out.

I stepped forward and patted Wilma on my hands.

“You received a teenage girl from her dad a few months ago and she was sold off to a man who did very, very bad things to her,” I started.

Rock’s eyes shifted from Nazai to me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?” His body shook and his head moved side to side.

“Now, now. No need to lie. The dad already told us the truth before he met his end.” I stood next to my brother.

“I-I,” He babbled. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

“I- I,” I mocked and swung Wilma, slamming it into his side, causing his back to buckle and him to cry out in pain. “Who did you give the girl to when you got her?”

“Please, please.” He coughed and groaned.

“Not the answer I’m looking for.” I swung Wilma again.

“Ez, chill.” Nazai placed his hand on my wrist. “We need him to still be able to talk.”

My jaw clenched and I nodded. I kept picturing what Tiffany looked like battered, scared, and chained in that cage. Nothing was worse than people who preyed on innocent kids.

“Now, as you can see, my brother here lacks the patience I have, so why don’t we speed this along,” Nazai said. “The girl you got. What did you do when you received her?”

Cashlynn had come back and was standing on the other side of Nazai now.

“Her dad gave her to me. He owed me some money, and to repay me, he gave me her,” he struggled out. Blood seeped from his mouth now.

“And then what?” My eyes narrowed.

“My cou-cousin. He told me I can make the money I was owed back and then some.” He winced as he attempted to move.

“Look, man, if I didn’t get the money for the drugs, I was gonna be in a lot of trouble.

When my cousin let me know about this business he was in, I didn’t want to do it, but I had no choice. ” He shook his head.

My tongue went across my top teeth.

“So you chose to sell a teenage girl to save yourself?” River asked. “That’s some fucked up shit, man.”

Anger crossed his face. “Her dad okayed it!”

My arm was moving before I could think. Wilma slammed against his other side. “So that makes it okay? If someone sold your sister into something like that would you be okay with it?”

Emmet looked Rock up. He had two sisters and a brother. He was the middle child, right between his two sisters.

“My family depends on me. I had to do what I had to do,” he gritted, then released a fit of coughs.

“Who does your cousin work for?” Nazai asked.

Rock shook his head. “I don’t know. I never saw them. He picked up the girl and delivered the cash. I didn’t ask any questions.” Tears clouded his eyes. “I promise that was the only time. I won’t do it again if you let me go.” His words grew more winded. He coughed out more blood.

“Men like you are the worst,” Cashlynn spat with her nose up and disgust written on her face.

“What’s the cousin’s name?” Emmet asked.

Rock struggled to keep his eyes open as he gazed around the room. He must have finally realized there was no getting out of this because his body sagged and tears silently fell down his cheeks.

The next ten minutes was spent getting all he knew out of him, which wasn’t a lot.

We didn’t know if his cousin worked with The Veil, but from what Rock knew it sounded like he did.

His cousin was a trucker who worked for some rich people who paid him a lot to drive their trucks and work with discretion.

We had a name, and with that, Emmet could learn more about him.

“Just make it so my mama can have an open casket, please,” Rock begged, accepting his fate.

Without answering him and with a blank face, Nazai lifted his gun, pointed it, and pulled the trigger, silencing Rock forever.