“Got a first aid kit on my bike. Be right back.” Ash tore off down the road.
I’d lost sight of Rafe, but I wasn’t worried about him.
The Serpent club ran at the first sight of us.
I sat in the middle of the road with Noelle and the weight of everything that had happened.
She stared at the blood on her hands, lowering them to her lap with her palms facing upward.
Rafe’s voice carried from down the street.
He barked orders at the others, something about making sure the area was clear.
No cops had shown up. What did that mean for Noelle?
“I need to tell you something.” Noelle glanced at me but couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hold my gaze. “All of you. I should have told you earlier. Maybe then, none of this would have happened.”
Doubtful, but I understood her sentiment.
“Noelle—”
“I’m a detective.” The words came out so fast, they tumbled over each other.
Ash and Rafe moved within hearing distance.
Noelle took a shuddering breath.
“My name is Noelle, but I’m not a reporter. I was sent undercover to investigate the Steel Vipers for suspected drug smuggling.”
Betrayal hung in the air between us.
I should have been shocked. Furious.
Neither bothered to edge in past the fatigue that had nothing to do with blood loss.
Ash moved to sit beside me and began working on my wound. “I know.”
Her head snapped up. “You know?”
“I suspected. From the beginning.” Ash concentrated on the wound.
I studied Noelle’s face, memorizing the way she looked in that moment.
Vulnerable and terrified and beautiful.
Ash continued. “You asked too many questions. Knew things a reporter shouldn’t. And your story had holes.”
He shrugged when he spotted Noelle’s shocked expression. “I figured you were a cop. You’re not exactly subtle, sweetheart.”
“You knew?” She looked from Ash to me.
I hadn’t suspected, but it all made sense now that Ash brought it up.
“You knew, and you still…”
“Still let you into our lives? Into our bed?” Ash gave her a devilish grin. “Why wouldn’t I? You were never a threat, Noelle.”
Until tonight. And I didn’t give a fuck. “It’s done. We know the truth now. I don’t care.”
