Page 80 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

“Yes,” I breathed with no hesitation.

I was working on not being so wired. It wasn’t easy releasing control and not worrying about everything, but Ezra had shown me that putting my faith in him was well worth it.

____

Another five days passed since the night Ezra went full executioner in the barn, and here we were, back, but inside the farmhouse. Nazai was going over the plan for the girl’s pick up, which was happening in a week.

It was still surreal to me that I was sitting here with the Tavarez family.

The past couple of months seemed to have flown by, and for the first time, I felt like a part of a team.

Everyone was here, besides Lucas, who was running behind.

The whole time I was locked in the house under Ezra’s watchful eye, I was glued to my computer, updating my evidence board, and trying to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

“Ziora, you mentioned you think you found something,” Nazai called out, staring at me.

I nodded. “Yes.” I placed a file on the table and slid it toward him.

“Something kept bugging me and I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I finally found it.” Nazai reached for the folder and opened it, pulling out the contents inside.

“What is this?”

“A marriage license between Ms. Rubin and Chief Bolden.”

“Wait, what?”

“I know. I thought it was weird that there was record of her being married, but I couldn’t find out to whom, so I dug deeper.

I looked up her kids’ birth certificates and saw Bolden was listed as the father.

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

That also showed me there was something to find.

She kept her maiden name and they had their marriage hidden so no one would make the connection. ”

Inaya spoke up. “So you’re saying?”

“That the community center being the hunting ground for the girls and the police not making the connection or investigating it makes sense now.”

“You think they’re involved, both Bolden and this Rubin lady?” Nazai asked.

“I do. We know the two who took me were getting instructions from somewhere. Every time I went to Bolden about my sister, he brushed me off, insisting the guy who ODed was the guy and she wasn’t connected to the other girls.

The police butchered my sister’s case, Watz kept things out of the police report, the community center was never made as a connection, and the police never took these kidnappings seriously after years of them happening.

Bolden has been chief for the past ten years.

He moved up the ranks quickly, making detective, sergeant, and lieutenant all within five years before being appointed to chief.

Now I’m no expert but even for the greatest cop that seems quick.

So someone had to make that happen. The Veil would have those kinds of connections and pull. ”

“Fuck, that was sexy as fuck,” Ezra growled, leaning over and nipping my chin.

“Ezra, please.” My cheeks flushed and I went to push his head away. He grabbed my hand and kissed my neck with a crooked grin.

“No need to be shy, Bumblebee.”

PDA was still hard for me. Learning to accept affection was one thing but having it shown in front of everyone still made me feel weird.

Nazai cleared his throat. “If what you’re saying is all true, then we need to have proof and find out just how far up the chain this goes.” He looked at Ezra. “Do you think that Ryan guy is in on this?”

Ezra twined his hand through mine and faced his brother. “I doubt it. He only became commissioner three years ago, and if Dad suspected anything, he wouldn’t have dealings with him.”

“So we need information about the old commissioner then. This just keeps getting better and better.” Nazai ran his hand over his face.

Before anything else could be said, the door to the basement was busted open. Everyone turned in alert and guns were drawn faster than I could blink.

“Lucas, what the fuck!” Nazai bellowed.

“I saw her!” he rushed out with a frazzled expression.

The guns were tucked away. “You saw her? Saw who?”

Lucas rushed to the table and slammed his palms down.

“Adrian. I saw Adrian.” Lucas had a wild look in his eyes, one I’d never seen before. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Luke,” Nazai sighed.

“Have you finally cracked, big bro?” Ezra joked.

Lucas scowled in Ezra’s direction. “I’m not delusional. I saw her.”

“It’s been eleven years, Lucas, how can you be so sure?” River asked.

Lucas dug into his coat pocket and tossed something on the table.

“That’s how!”

All eyes went to the folded piece of paper.

“I don’t get it,” Cashlynn expressed. “How does folded paper prove anything?”

“Adrian used to make these all the time. It was left in the same spot I saw her in.”

I bit into my bottom lip and bounced my eyes around the table. Ezra looked slightly amused. Nazai looked concerned. Emmet was messing with his Rubik’s cube, completely zoned out. River had a look of indifference.

“Lucas…” Nazai started.

Lucas’s face pinched and he snatched up the folded paper.

“I can tell none of you believe me but I saw her. After all these years I found proof she’s alive and she’s in the city and I’m going to find her!

” He didn’t bother to wait for anyone else to speak before turning and storming out of the room.

“Is he going to be okay?” I asked after a minute of silence.

“Fuck,” Nazai groaned, dropping his head. “I told our parents he was gonna crack one day.”

“And I’m supposed to be the crazy one.” Ezra snorted.

“Always entertaining with this family,” Inaya mentioned, looking around the table.

After the show from Lucas, the meeting concluded. The brothers huddled up and spoke among themselves while us girls went upstairs.

“We should have another lesson soon,” Cashlynn said, leaning on the counter in the kitchen. She bounced her eyes between me and Inaya. “A war’s gonna happen soon, and if you don’t know how to defend yourself, you’re gonna end up dead.” There was no laughter in her face or her tone.

Cashlynn turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me and Inaya.

“She kind of scares me but she’s such a badass.” Inaya snickered.

I faced her. “Nothing ever fazes you. I wish I could be like that.”

Inaya’s face fell. “Well, you know how I grew up. I learned to be tough and use my resources from a young age.” She shrugged.

I understood. Inaya’s childhood wasn’t so cut and dry but she used her upbringing to her advantage. There was so much more to her than met the eye.

The guys came upstairs and Ezra let me know we were leaving. Balancing on my crutches, I followed him.

“Is your brother going to be okay?” I asked once we were in the car.

Ezra faced forward and stared at the farmhouse. “He’s a Tavarez and we don’t fold. Whatever he’s going on about, he’s got the family to back him on and help him get through it.” He pressed the button to start the car.

Family.

The word still was new to me, but the more time I spent around this group, the more I was starting to believe in the term.