“Blew up my fucking car,” Noah muttered with a laugh.
Unable to keep his fool mouth shut, Auryn piped up. “Is this what love looks like? Because I’ve got to say, you guys are setting a bad example for those of us still living the single life.”
My face flushed with heat. This jackass was doing his best to embarrass me and pulling it off successfully.
“Shut the hell up and listen.” Against my will, I glanced at Noah, finding him smirking. Bastard. Did he have to enjoy this?
Finally, I managed to recount the events of the evening without further interruption. Noah filled in a few of the blanks, including the fact that we’d both been hired by Project X to take each other out in order to start trouble that would make it easier for them to move in on our turf.
Rebel nodded, pondering everything we said. “Sounds like Garrett has big dreams. I guess we’ll have to show him the mistake he’s making. He already fucked up when he stole that kidney. Now he’s in enemy territory, and he’s not getting out alive.”
“We need to figure out a way to deal with them,” I said, touching the swollen bruise on my forehead. Fuck that hurt. “All of us. Together. I know that’s not ideal for most of you, but I think it needs to be this way for now.”
My friends all exchanged glances with one another. Finally, Casper signed, “How do we know we can trust them?”
“You don’t,” Noah answered. “But you don’t have a choice. None of us do. I know our history is pretty fucked up. I accept responsibility for my part in that. However, I think we need each other now. This is our city. And even if we have our own problems here, they are ours. I’m not willing to allow anyone else to take from us.”
“You also want to fuck Dom,” Auryn pointed out. “Isn’t that part of this little team up arrangement?”
“I’m seriously going to kill you.” I spoke through clenched teeth, ready to kick his blonde ass all over the house.
“He makes the whole thing more appealing,” Noah admitted. “It goes deeper than that though. A guy like Garrett can’t be allowed to gain a foothold in our city. Right now you guys pretty much run the show. We all know that. Especially since you cut our numbers down. Damon and I still manage a pretty lucrative business. Some of you may not believe me but I’d like to keep the status quo the way it currently is. We can’t do that if Project X moves in on us.”
Rebel swore, tugging a handful of his brown hair. Twisting the little blonde chunk in the front. “As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Noah. We need to deal with this problem before it can grow. If that means forming a temporary alliance, then so be it. Although let me state for the record that if either you or Damon fucks us over and betrays us to Project X, we won’t hesitate to put you in the ground with your friends.”
I winced, hating that he had to go there but knowing why he did. Noah and Damon exchanged a look before Noah nodded. “Fair enough.”
“How do we know that we can trust you guys?” Damon regarded all of us with utter disdain. “Like you said, you killed two of our friends. Our best friends. How do we know that you won’t sell us out?”
“After what you assholes did to Codie, you’re lucky I haven’t beat your asses and thrown you out of my house yet.” Arms crossed over his chest, Stray put his feet up on the coffee table, managing to appear menacing with very little effort.
“Colt died because of that.” Noah’s tone shifted, like his anger was tightly restrained. “I think we’re more than even.”
This was not going well. I held up a hand to get everyone’s attention. “Obviously there’s a lot of bad blood here. But if this is war, then we need an alliance. Until Project X is dealt with we need to set aside our differences and focus on our shared enemy.”
“Agreed.” Rebel stood up. “I have to get back to my wife. Let’s take a couple days to think this over. We’ll meet soon.”
Everyone dispersed. Everyone except Noah and me. Within minutes, the two of us were left alone in the living room.
“That went well.” He grinned.
I sighed, releasing the breath I’d been holding. “Better than I expected.”
“I guess I should be going too.” Noah rose from the armchair. He lingered a moment before taking a step toward the door.
“Or you could stay.” The words blurted out before I could silence them. “I mean, if you want to.”
He turned back to me with an arched brow, his expression playful. “Are you asking me to spend the night, prince?”
“It doesn’t have to be the whole night. Let’s see where it takes us.” Taking Noah’s hand, I pulled him along to the basement stairs and down to my bedroom.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
NOAH
I didn’t think this night could get any more surreal. With Dom holding tight to my hand, we descended the stairs, entering a finished basement that smelled like him. The stairs brought us into a living room area with workout equipment in one corner. I took a moment to survey the space. Dom’s space.
Basic but comfortable. A couch with a TV and a game system. A coffee table with a coffee mug he had yet to take up to the kitchen. A pair of sweatpants tossed over the arm of the couch. I liked being there.
