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[color=darkgray]“I’ll be there as soon as I can,”[/color] grunted Ezra, hands still up in surrender. 

[color=lightgreen]“I hope your wrist feels better,”[/color] said Nisha in response to Arabelle’s take care, already forgetting that it was Arabelle’s shoulder that was injured now that her mark was here.

 Fortunately, her words were muffled as she pressed herself into Ezra’s chest, so it was likely that they didn’t even understand what she’d uttered. The door to the ambulance closed, the sirens whined, and the vehicle drove off. Nisha felt Ezra’s hands slowly shift down to wedge her away from him, but she only tightened her grip. Was she coming out seeming a bit too desperate and clingy? Sure, probably, but pride be damned, it typically worked with men, although typically she wasn’t pretending to be related to them. Nisha dialed it back and let go of Ezra. 

[color=lightgreen]“S-sorry,”[/color] Ooooh, forced stutter? Now that was a smooth move. Keep it up, Nisha! It almost sounded natural, too. She brushed a stray bit of hair behind her ears and extended her hand. [color=lightgreen]“I got a little too excited. I’m Nisha. Pleased to meet you.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Ezra Vanburen. It’s good to meet you,”[/color] he said, taking her hand. It was a solid shake, but the flatness of his tone made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere. She locked eyes with him and found herself looking away. It wasn’t to be cutesy, either. She had been trying to get a read on the guy, but he looked like he was seeing right through her—like he had already called her on her own bullshit the second he’d touched her hand. She didn’t want to give away more than he had already taken. Hell, looking away probably had given him all he needed. She dragged her teeth against her lower lip. She could feel his eyes still on her. This was getting uncomfortable. Why wasn’t he saying anything else? 

[color=lightgreen]“Nice wea—”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“Let’s talk in the car,”[/color] said Ezra as he walked past her.

Alarm bells rang in Nisha’s head as she realized she was about to get in a vehicle with a total stranger. How many murder mysteries began with a beautiful young woman trusting an older white man? Of course, how many victims were inhabited by a water hag and capable of projecting spectral arms out from their body? Nisha figured the crossover was zilch. She ignored what little common sense she possessed and jumped into the car, taken aback by Ezra’s lame ride. Maybe the Vanburens weren’t so rich after all. He fired up the vehicle and drove away. 

[color=darkgray]“So, James Vanburen is your father?”[/color] asked Ezra, the doors locking with the question.

[color=lightgreen]“Well, I never knew my father. I really hope so, but—”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“It’s a simple yes or no,”[/color] interrupted Ezra. 

[color=lightgreen]“I was told he was,”[/color] said Nisha, glancing over at Ezra. He was keeping his eyes on the road.

[color=darkgray]“By whom?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“My mother,”[/color] she said, letting out a nervous laugh. She was about to spin a fairytale story about how her mother always told her that her father was some rich and powerful man and how she never had believed her, but Ezra was already onto the next question. There was no chance to even build a narrative into what was quickly turning into an interview.

[color=darkgray]“And her name is?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“Amara Reddy.”[/color] Shit! She’d used her mom’s real name. [color=lightgreen]“Why all—”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“You’re accent...you’re from Liverpool?”[/color]

Nisha’s eyes brightened and she answered before she could even think to lie. [color=lightgreen]“Wow, impressive. Close enough, yeah. Have you—”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“You’re, what, twenty-five?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“Wow again,”[/color] said Nisha, accidentally revealing the truth. [color=lightgreen]“Yeah, turned it a few months ago.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]“When exactly?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“September twenty-ninth,”[/color] said Nisha, furrowing her brow. 

[color=darkgray]“And has your mother ever been to Ara—”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“Hey, what the fuck! What’s with all the questions? You gonna ask my blood type next, see if you can harvest my organs? ”[/color] shouted Nisha, glaring at Ezra. It was the first time he glanced over at her, and then back to the road.  [color=lightgreen]“I might be your fucking sister, and you’re interoggating me like I committed a crime. What is your fucking deal?”[/color]

Brakes screeched as the car swerved over to the side of the road and came to a stop. Nisha held her breath and watched as Ezra shifted the gear into park and killed the engine, his eyes focused dead ahead as the corner of his lip twitched. Crap, he was going to throw her out of the car. She had blown it. She had really blown it. She glanced outside. They were away from the crowds, away from the shops. She felt a tingle in the back of her skull. She gritted her teeth. No, she hadn’t pressed all her options yet. Maybe she could—

[color=darkgray]“I’m sorry, Miss Nisha. If you honestly believe that James Vanburen was your father then I realize that the prospect of meeting his family and being accepted in is truly exciting, but for me this has become rote. I should’ve begun with this explanation, but I had a really trying morning and I have seemed to have forgotten myself,”[/color] Ezra said as he sighed and looked over at her. It no longer looked like he was trying to analyze her, but it was difficult for her to tell if he looked remorseful or if he was just distracted.
 
[color=darkgray]“Let me explain—you are not the first stranger to show up to Araminta claiming that my father is your father. You’re not even the first one this year. Since I can remember, people have been showing up saying that they’re a Vanburen or that their kid is a Vanburen. Sometimes, it’s true, but my father was a very magnanimous man—and a very, um, active man—and people tended to take advantage of that fact. It’s not that we don’t want more members of the family, it’s just that we cannot afford to be one hundred percent trustworthy. So he developed a system when a stranger shows up claiming to be kin. It has proven to take care of most claims almost instantly, as most of them are false. It’s only one question,”[/color] said Ezra, who unbuckled his seatbelt and turned so he didn’t have to crane his neck. [color=darkgray]“Do you actually think you are family, or do you just want something?”[/color]

Nisha was about to answer when Ezra held up his hand to stop her. [color=darkgray]“I am only looking for honesty here, Nisha. My father wasn’t the only generous man in our family. If you need something—money, shelter, anything—I can provide it for you. Trust me, I am not lacking in resources or in wealth, but like my father I know that the most valuable thing a man can have is connections. If I help you today, one day you might be called upon to help me. Look at me.”[/color] Nisha looked at him. It was suspicious how genuine he seemed.  [color=darkgray] “This isn’t a trick. I can provide for you, if you need it. So, do you want to be part of the family, or do you just want something?”[/color]

It was tempting, but more than that it was insulting: did he think she was a fucking idiot? If she asked for money he would’ve kicked her out of the car. Besides, she wanted more than just money—the payday was just an added bonus. 

[color=lightgreen]“I hope I can be part of the family, but I feel like I’m not wanted,”[/color] said Nisha. Cue the sniffling nose, the watering eyes, all made easier by the lingering smell of cigarette smoke messing with her senses. Disgusting little things, but they helped force the acting. She swore she even saw Ezra frown, perhaps upset at himself from making her cry, the thought that he was possibly annoyed not even crossing her mind.

[color=darkgray]“Your timing was just poor, but that’s not your fault. As long as you aren’t trying anything funny, this will be good for you,”[/color] said Ezra, turning the engine back on. Nisha didn’t dare ask what would happen if she was trying anything funny, feeling as if it would be too much of a giveaway. [color=darkgray]“Whether he is or isn’t your father you’re going to find some closure. I’ll explain how things are going to go while we’re on the way to the hospital. How are you with needles?”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“Needles?”[/color] choked Nisha, worried for a moment that Ezra might have been able to probe her mind and dig into his past. His employee had powers; did he as well? 

[color=darkgray]“Well, yeah. How else are they going to draw your blood for the DNA test?”[/color] He must’ve seen her face tense, because he laughed and shook his head. [color=darkgray]“Relax, I’m just kidding.”[/color]

[color=lightgreen]“Had me going,”[/color] chuckled Nisha, trying to stop her heart from exploding. 

[color=darkgray]“Pretty sure they use the swabs now...”[/color] muttered Ezra, merging back into traffic as he headed towards the hospital.

[sub][right][i][b]…shit.[/b][/i][/right][/sub]