Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 37

Chapter 37: You Gave Me No Choice

Brianna

My jaw went slack and I was frozen as the man I haven't seen in years started walking across the shop, towards the counter and I was holding onto for dear life.

“Hi, ma'am. I was hoping you could help me look at some of these designs here and give me an opinion on which one I should get.” Ezekiel was playing it off, like we didn't know each other.

I wanted to scream that he should leave, I wanted to run and hide out the back but all I did was stare at him. Eventually, I nodded my head yes and when Zaveri glanced at me for not responding to a customer.

“Great, let's have a seat home here.” He waved for me to follow him to the front couch.

My eyes were ringing, my mind was trying to grasp how this was happening right now and it had been to Mary. I told her I worked at a tattoo parlor and she knew the street we were on. All he has to do was look it up to find the name of it. What does he want from me? I was trembling but I tried to hide it. My throat felt dry and when we sat down, I had to swallow and try to moisten it enough to speak.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly, he popped the book open on his lap and flipped a page.

“You gave me no choice.” He replied in a low enough voice that our conversation wouldn't be overhead.

“This one isn't bad.” He pointed down at some random design.

Clearly, he is going to keep up appearances in the shop so nobody noticed how visibly shaken I was.

“You look good, so damn good.” His eyes darted all around my face and body and it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“You can't do this to me, Ezekiel. You can't just show up at my place of work, what do you want?” I tried to keep my voice calm. I didn't want him knowing I was scared.

“I wanted to see you, to see what you are doing now.” He said with no shame.

“I told you I didn't want to invite you back into my life.” I gritted my teeth, he flipped through another page and slammed his hand down on one.

“Cool,” he looked me dead in the eyes and the tension here was obvious. He hit the book to get my attention.

He was in a short sleeve button shirt, buttoned all the way to his neck and he still had that snake tatted coiled around his forearm onto his biceps. It felt like something was coiled around my neck and squeezed it.

“Please, Ezekiel, just leave me alone.” I begged him quietly, he flipped yet another page of the book.

“I am taking back what was mine, you owe me a lot, baby girl.” He let his words linger for a second.

I wanted to cry right now but I had to keep it together and when Zaveri came out to the waiting area, he took one look at me and noticed my uncomfortable disposition.

“Can I help you with anything? I am going to need my employee back, she has things to do.” Zaveri saved me and I saw Ezekiel lick his teeth and nodded his head.

“No, I think that's it for me, I will be coming back to get what I want.” He replied but his words were directed to me, he isn't talking about the tattoos.

“Great, we look forward to seeing you then.” Zaveri tried to remain professional. Ezekiel stood up abd handed him the binder.

“What did you say your name was again?” He asked just to mess with me, I cleared my throat and responded.

“Brianna,” he nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Brianna.” He said and went out at the door.

I felt sick in my gut with worry and still with shock. Honestly, I never expected to see his face again, nevermind in my workplace.

“Are you alright? You look a little freaked out.” Zaveri asked, I tried shaking this but I don't think I can.

“I am good, he was just weird.” I said with a half smile. He rubbed my back and let me to the counter again.

“If you feel uncomfortable with anyone in the shop, all you have to do is just let me know about it, I will settle and you can go back now.” He said and I thanked him as he walks off.

For the rest of my shift, I was zoned out and a million questions were plaguing my mind and my nerves were shot. I had received a text from David already telling me he wasn't going to be able to drive me back home so I will be on my own. What if he was hiding out there.

At the closing time, I lingered a little and chatted with the twins. I only walked outside when they did. Zaveri noticed I had no ride waiting for me and he offered to drop me off which I gladly accepted right away. By the time we got to my building, my phone was buzzing with a message. I had texted my brother asking if he would be home so I assumed it was him but I was wrong. It was Ezekiel's message.

'Fancy.' I had no idea if he meant the place that I lived or not.

I whipped around, trying to see if I spotted him but no one was there. I rushed inside the house, my gut lurched when my phone buzzed again. This time it was my brother and he was telling he wouldn't be around tonight. I wanted to cry, another buzz from my phone had me so on the edge. I almost dropped it in the bright lit lobby I was crossing and heels echoed, making it feel like footsteps were following me behind.

'Are you going to let me up?’ he mocked me.

Oh my goodness, is he here? I panicked. I was so freaked out that I just jumped into the penthouse elevator that needs a code. I punched it in so he couldn't get up there even if he tried. When the elevator pinged, I stumbled out and froze when I realized someone was in here. I stopped so did they, Callan and a woman whose hand he had up her dress as she leaned on the back of the couch that isn't pushed against the wall. I was humiliated for walking in on them, she was a tall brunette in a fancy dress and her hair was swept over oner shoulder and the strap of her dress was already falling down. Her eyes snapped at me and so did his.

“Shit, I am so sorry.” I rushed back into the elevator.

Callan called out to me but I had already hit the button to go back down. I was so flustered that I didn't go home. If Ezekiel was still around, I don't want him knowing what apartment I was in. Instead I rushed back outside, hoping to get out of here altogether. I was flustered that I walked in on Callan entertaining a woman. He is going to want answers why I bursted into his house without invitation and I don't have an answer for him.