The young man clung to Nikolai’s arms for support as he struggled to regain his balance.
“Oh, sorry, dude,” the guy blurted, seeming not to recognize the man he had just run into. Once he managed to steady himself, he did a double take and gasped.
“Niko?” the young man asked, looking just as surprised as Nikolai was.
“Wh-what the fuck? How is this—” Nikolai’s question was interrupted by the sound of men yelling down the street.
They both looked in the direction of the commotion.
Three men in suits were running toward them, all looking angry as hell.
“Oops. That’s my cue. Later, big guy,” he blurted before tearing himself away from Nikolai’s grasp and dashing off in the opposite direction.
“What? Reid!” Nikolai shouted, calling after the man he thought was dead.
He watched as his old friend ran off, looking like the devil himself was chasing him.
More shouts came from behind him.
His hands curled into fists as Nikolai turned toward the men who were chasing his friend. His jaw clenched. He didn’t know who these men were or why they were chasing after his friend, but there was no way in hell he was going to let them catch him.
Nikolai placed his fingers between his lips and whistled at Marcus and the crew. They were already staring at him, no doubt caught up in the commotion.
He raised his arm, signaling to the boys that he needed their help.
Recognizing the signal, the boys jumped on their bikes, revving them up with a thunderous roar. They all shifted into gear and sped off toward the men running toward Nikolai—or should he say, Reid.
Marcus, Caden, and Blade laughed and shouted and howled at the moon as they began riding circles around the confused-looking men.
The three men froze, distracted by the crazy bikers who were suddenly in their faces.
Nikolai looked back over his shoulder to where he had last seen his friend. Reid was about two blocks away and ready to zip around a corner. He watched as his old best friend paused briefly, hands gripping the wall of a building as he looked at Nikolai one last time.
Even from that distance, he swore he could see the young man smile, his lips pulled back the way he used to when Nikolai would enter a room. It was only the briefest of smiles, but enough to warm the pit of Nikolai’s stomach.
Then, just as quickly as Reid had crashed into his life, he turned the corner and disappeared once again.
Behind him, the sounds of chaos and mayhem filled the night air. The boys kept taunting the men, riding circles, tossing insults, laughing, and, for some reason, even howling at the moon. Blade could be a little odd from time to time, but tonight, he had apparently found his inner werewolf, it seemed.
He loved his brothers. They were all batshit crazy. But in the end, they could always be depended on to have his back.
Tonight was proof of that.
No questions asked. Just unconditional loyalty and friendship.
Nikolai hopped onto his bike, then sped off to join his brothers in the chaos.
He fucking loved his life!
Once they arrived at their hotel, the guys said goodnight and headed up to their rooms. Nikolai, on the other hand, was unable to move. He stood in the lobby, staring blankly at the elevators his friends had just disappeared into.
Reid was alive.That thought echoed inside his brain.
Where had he been all these years?
Knowing that his old friend was alive was both exciting and terrifying.
He was thrilled at the knowledge that his friend was alive and had been all these wretched years. The thought of being able to see him once more filled his heart with something he hadn’t felt in almost ten years. He couldn’t exactly say what it was, but he knew he hadn’t felt it since he last saw Reid.
