Page 16 of After the Chase

"Chase is no longer practicing," he says softly.

"Oh? That's a shame. He seems so passionate about it. He was telling me about this book idea he has…"

"There is no book," Noah interrupts, his voice dropping to a level where trouble is on the horizon, his limits are being met. "Chase isn't writing anything."

An awkward silence fills the room. Jessica blinks, clearly taken aback by his tone. "I…I just meant…"

"I know what you meant." Noah stands, using his height and build to command and fill the room. His eyes find mine across the space, and the look he gives me nearly burns me to ash. "I think it's time for you to leave."

"Noah," I start, but the protest is half-hearted. I want her gone too, as I want to see what comes next.

Jessica gathers her things quickly, her earlier friendliness replaced by obvious discomfort. "Right. Well. Lovely to meet you both. Chase, I'll…I'll see you around."

"No, you won’t," Noah says, folding his arms as he stares her down.

I walk her to the door, murmuring apologies she doesn't acknowledge. When I close the door behind her, I lean against it, adrenaline pumping through my body after watching Noah be challenged with a social situation in his own space and without his control.

When I walk back into the room, Noah is standing in the middle of the living room waiting for me.

"That was rude," I say quietly, testing him a little further.

"Do you think I care?" He moves toward me slowly, stalking me. "She was asking too many questions and trying to insert herself into our life."

"That’s how some people are. She was just being friendly."

"She was being intrusive." He's right in front of me now, his hand coming up to cup my jaw. "And you let her in. You told her about the book after we decided there was no book and you gave her access to information about us."

"I didn't tell her anything specific."

"You told her enough." His grip tightens, and I feel heat flood through me. "Do you know what happens to people who get too close? Who ask too many questions?"

My breath catches. Because I do know and it fascinates me.

There was Wade, and his father. The waiter, Luca. The guy he helped kill back in New York with the Kozlovs. Shit, there may be more I don’t even know about, people who existed one day and were simply gone the next.

"Noah," I whisper, my voice thick with something that isn't fear. "How many?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." My voice is shaking, but not with horror, I’m too turned on. "I just need to understand."

"You understand perfectly." He releases my jaw and steps back. "You have just ignored it, preferring to pretend nothing is happening."

He's right. I've been noting his behavior in my journal, analyzing his patterns, noting the correlation between perceived threats and sudden disappearances. I've known from the start what he is, what he does, how far he'll go to keep me isolated and protected andhis. And instead of being repelled, I'm drawn closer.

Because this is what makes Noah so compelling and not despite the darkness, but because of it. The way he shapes the world around us to ensure nothing and no one can come between us.

"I don't want to leave you," I say suddenly, the words spilling out. "I don't want normal. I don't want anything except this."

Noah's expression doesn't change, but something flickers in his eyes like this confirms his control over me. I’m not dumb. I know Noah would love for me to fully be in his world, to bask in it.

"You are exactly where you're supposed to be, and I'm going to make sure you remember why you can't leave."

I really hope he doesn't make me wait.

CHAPTER FOUR

NOAH