Page 32 of After the Chase

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah." I turn to Tyler. "We should do this again soon."

"Definitely. Call me tomorrow?"

"I will."

“Later boys. Have fun!” Ivan says, the innuendo obvious. He’s such a child, but I like him.

Noah's hand guides me out of the building toward the waiting cab. On the journey back to the hotel he's silent, staring out the window at the city lights.

"How did it go?" I ask quietly.

"Marcus wants me to continue my father's arrangement and threatened me if I didn’t uphold my family name. Dumb fuck.”

“What did you say?”

Noah turns to me and his face is a demonic cold look that looks like it’s been carved in glass. His eyes are wide and empty, his jaw looks even more defined in the lights reflecting from the streets, and his mouth is set in between a sneer and a smile that would send people running.

“I took back the fucking power, baby. I bow down to no one. Now the ball is in that arrogant fucker’s court.”

“Tyler said they aren’t a gang to be messed with.”

“And I’m not somebody you cross." His hand finds my thigh, gripping it tight. "Because this isn't just about me anymore, Chase. This is about us. About what we're becoming. About theworld we're being pulled into, and I plan to control our own destiny."

“I’m with you, but I’ll admit, I’m scared, as I know nothing of this life.”

“Baby, you are the safest person there is with me by your side, trust me. Not only will I burn any fucker that crosses us, I will take full advantage of the world my piece of shit parents created. Don’t you worry about anything.”

When we arrive at the hotel, Noah doesn't speak during the elevator ride, but his hand never leaves mine. In our suite, he pours himself a soda and stands at the window, looking out at Manhattan.

I watch him from the doorway, seeing the tension in every line of his body. The meeting with Marcus has awoken something inside him that has lay dormant. This is a new side I haven’t seen to him before and it worries me as much as it thrills me. He looks like a King looking down on his people right now. Noah is after blood and power. He thrives on control and struggles with boredom. This new project is alleviating that boredom and may be the key in keeping him entertained while satiating his violent desires.

“You wanted to hurt him?”

“Of course I did.”

“I think you should know that Ivan mentioned the Kozlovs are planning to work with the Blackrose Saints. Some kind of deal, I imagine.”

Noah turns swiftly, even more pissed than before.

“Well that’s fucking perfect. Then again, it may come in useful as they do owe me for the help I have provided them, in particular that Brazil farce.”

“They will probably help, Noah. Tyler is my brother, they will want things to work out for us, they’ll consider us family.”

“I don’t do family.”

I remain silent as I’m not sure what else to say.

“Are you afraid, baby, of what’s to come? Or are you ready to fall into a new world with me? Hmm?” he asks, his voice low. It’s like he is purring at me.

“Why do you make it all sound so hot and tempting?”

Noah puts his drink down and grabs me by the waist, pulling me close to his body.

“Because your blood is becoming my blood. Infected with the darkness that becomes addictive. You are waking up, Chase. Just go with it.”

“I…” I stutter, stunned into silence, because am I? I’m so confused with which side I’m on and I remember what Ty said about maintaining a connection to humanity and not losing myself. But how can I not lose myself when this man is my entire world, my reason to breathe?