“I don’t think we have a choice. Garrett and his thugs want to take over our business. Our city. Unless you and Damon really plan to join them, I think we’re all going to have to work together.” I didn’t like the way I’d felt when Noah had made a deal with Garrett. Even though it had been bullshit, I’d felt a strong sense of betrayal.
As we pulled to a stop at a red light, Noah reached over, placing a hand on my arm. “I was never going to join him. I only said that to get him to let his guard down.”
I stared at his hand. Against my better judgment, I took it in mine, sliding my fingers between his. Holding tight. Noah gave my hand a little squeeze before turning his attention back to the road.
We were almost to my place when he asked, “How do you think your friends will handle this? What do we even tell them? There’s a lot of bad history between us. They might not want to work with Damon and me.”
Bad history was putting it lightly. Not only had Noah and his friends snatched Rebel’s wife off the street, forcing her to jump from a moving vehicle, they’d also grabbed Stray’s fiancée. Both scenarios had ended in the death of one of Noah’s friends. Even though justice had been served, that didn’t sweep everything under the rug.
“I’ll deal with them,” I said, staring out the window, even though my focus was on the way his hand felt in mine. “They already know something has been going on between us. It won’t be a total surprise.”
Noah laughed softly. “Whatisgoing on between us? Other than taking hit jobs on each other.”
“I don’t have an answer to that. Does it really matter right now?” Feeling his gaze upon me, I looked over to find him wearing a hard to read expression. Something almost hopeful.
He shrugged. “No, it doesn’t matter right now.”
When we reached my house, we sat inside the car for a moment longer. Like neither of us wanted to be the first to pull away. When his hand finally slipped from mine, I found myself wanting to grab for him.
“You’ll be safe here.” I pushed my door open and got out. “I promise.”
I wasn’t sure how my friends would react when I walked in with Noah. We had a serious problem on our hands though. That’s what they needed to be concerned with.
As I shoved the front door open, I held my breath. I didn’t even know where to begin with explaining the situation. Everyone was gathered in the living room. They all looked up in unison as we entered. Casper was already there. Rebel had yet to arrive.
“What the fuck?” Stray muttered at the sight of Noah.
I suddenly became hyperaware of the fact that Noah stood beside me. Just an hour ago he’d followed me through traffic, watching as my car went off the road and I hit a damn power pole. Now we were here in my house, staring at my friends. I was more than a little mind fucked.
“We’ve got a situation,” I said, ignoring the knowing looks half of them wore. “Project X is in town. They have big plans. Once Rebel gets here, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Damon too,” Noah added. “He should be here any minute. I texted him from the car.”
Auryn gawked at the two of us, shaking his head in perplexed wonder. “I have so many questions.”
“Save it.” I shot him a warning glare. “This isn’t the time.”
A shit-eating grin lit up his face as he asked, “When will be the time?”
“Never,” I snapped, ready to beat his ass in front of everyone. I loved the hell out of Auryn, but he had a tendency to find a guy’s last nerve and jackhammer it endlessly.
The minutes seemed to grow longer as we waited. Motioning for Noah to take a seat on the armchair, I nervously shifted from foot to foot, unable to sit down. There wasn’t a lot of space left with everyone else gathered on the couch.
When the door opened again, Rebel walked in with Damon right behind him. Rebel jabbed a thumb in Damon’s direction. “What the fuck is this guy doing here?” Spotting Noah, he added, “What the fuck isthatguy doing here?”
Feeling strangely protective of Noah, I angled closer, standing near the chair where he sat. “Chill out, Rebel. We’re all here to talk. That’s all.”
Wearing a skeptical frown, Rebel perched on the arm of the couch. “All right I’m listening.”
I did my best to recount what had happened. In order to do that, I had to mention what happened with my car. I still needed to deal with that.
“Hold up.” Stray raised a hand. “Are you saying that Noah sabotaged your car?”
I waved both hands to dismiss his question. “That part is irrelevant. Just listen. Garrett and his guys cornered us. They think they’re going to take over our city and our business. That’s the part you need to be focused on.”
Casper’s dark frown spoke volumes. Still he signed, “Irrelevant? How is it irrelevant that he tried to kill you?”
“Because I tried to kill him first.” Hearing myself say this shit made me question my own sanity.
