Page 79 of Merciless Obsession
“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. Iamgoing 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 intothe 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.”
