Page 97 of After the Chase

Chase’s hand finds my knee under the table and gives it a squeeze. This is not what I came back for, I only want action, not chitter chatter.

Dima and Marcus exchange glances, talking silently. “That’s fine with us, no pressure, Noah.”

“I bet you are starved for some action, right?” Aaron says from the end of the booth and it’s good to see one of them with a brain.

“You could say that.”

“Well this meet up was a waste of time,” Lev complains as he grabs the back of Aaron’s neck in a possessive manner.

“I’ve said before we can do this shit over e-mail,” I say, and Dima groans.

“We are not communicating over any fucking e-mail,” Dima says, rubbing his forehead.

“It would be less stressful,” Lev mutters and Dima slams his hand down on the table.

“Enough of fucking e-mails and complaining. What the fuck is going on? Am I living in an alternate universe where the mob is complaining over communication skills?”

Chase starts to laugh at that and Aaron joins him. Dima looks like his blood vessels in his head may burst and Lev is watching Aaron like he is about to eat him. The dynamic of this group is so bizarre and I’m supposed to be the psycho.

“Why don’t I take over this conversation. Noah, meet me at the club tomorrow night, the first of many will be there for you to break, we need to get moving. Good for you?” Marcus asks.

“Yeah,” I say as I grab Chase’s hand, ready to leave here.

“Will you be planning on sticking around longer this time?” Dima asks me as we stand.

“Depends if I get bored and can’t be entertained.”

Another loud voice shouts Chase’s name behind us, and I turn. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Tyler and Ivan. Now we’re never leaving.

“Chase!” Tyler throws himself at Chase and they hug like they haven’t been talking nearly every day on the phone. I look over and see Ivan with a big ass grin walking over to me. Fuck no.

“Don’t fucking think about it. Touch me and I’ll cut your hands off.”

He still approaches and slaps me on the shoulder. Asshole.

“Missed you, bestie.”

“I will kill you one day,” I say, my eye twitching at his affection for me. I hate it.

“Only because you love me.”

“Leave him, Ivan, before he blows,” Chase says as he comes back to my side.

“So, who wants a drink?” Ivan asks and I roll my eyes, begging the devil for help.

One fucking hour later and we finally leave that damn bar.

“You did well,” Chase says to me on the way back home.

“Never again, and your ass is gonna pay, baby.”

He turns and looks at me with a smug grin.

“I can’t wait.”

EPILOGUE

Two Months Later