Chapter Thirty
Keely pushed open the front door to the Bowery and started down the walkway.
She wasn’t working but stopped by to invite the girls to the loft for a small get-together.
They all seemed excited and on board. Noticeably absent was Noelle.
The last time Keely had seen her was the night at Charley’s house.
Keely had asked her best friend about the aftermath of the confession, but Charley remained tight-lipped.
She didn’t push. Eventually, she’d get it out of her friend.
Keely rounded the bumper of her car parked on the street.
The rumbling engines had her turning around and watching the fleet of motorcycles pull into the lot of the apartment building across the street.
The Killcreek Drifters weren’t the local motorcycle club in Lawry, but she’d seen them several times in the city.
Two in particular she’d gotten acquainted with more than she would’ve liked.
She unlocked her car and reached for the handle when she saw a familiar face walking up to the front of the apartment building. This was the best luck ever, and she quickly abandoned her car and rushed across the street.
Keely had asked Caine a few times for her number, but he continually told her he didn’t have it. She got the distinct feeling he was lying. She had called to check in on Keely twice, but it always came from an unknown number.
This was perfect timing.
Keely double-timed her steps and waved her hand, calling out. “Jessie!”
The woman glanced over her shoulder, and she noticed the bikers walking toward the door paying special attention to her. Keely couldn’t be sure, but it seemed as though Jessie lifted her hand, shooing the bikers away. She smiled and walked toward her, meeting Keely on the curb.
“Hey, sis.”
“Hey, girl.” She took a second to catch her breath. “How are you?” Keely asked, noticing a few of the bikers stalling near the door. She inched closer, lowering her voice. “I think they’re watching you. Do you want to come across the street to the Bowery?”
Jessie glanced over her shoulder and turned back, smiling. “I’m fine. I can handle a few bikers. But I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“Of course.” Keely laughed. “We’re friends.”
Jessie smiled, staring back without saying a word.
“Anyway, I’m so stoked I ran into you. I wanted to call, but Caine said he doesn’t have your number. And it’s always blocked when you call me.”
Keely was hoping this would be the perfect segue for Jessie to offer up her phone number. She didn’t. It was a little hard not to take it personal.
“You okay? Do you need something?”
Keely shook her head. “Oh no, I just wanted to invite you over to our place.”
Jessie arched her brow. “Yeah?”
“I’m going to have a few friends over. Nothing fancy but I can guarantee, it’ll be a good time. I wanted to invite you, if you’re not busy.”
Jessie flattened her lips, eyeing Keely.
“When?”
“Next week.”
Jessie stared back at Keely. There was something about the way she looked at her. A softness.
“I’m out of town for the next few weeks.”
“Oh.” There was no missing the disappointment in her tone. Keely shrugged, trying to play it off. “Okay, I understand. Maybe we can get together when you get back. Get lunch or something.”
Jessie’s lingering silence had Keely shifting on her heels. Maybe she’d read too much into their friendship. Maybe there wasn’t one.
“Well, I’ll let you go. It was great seeing you again.” She waved and walked through the parking lot, heading toward her car across the street. She was just about to step off the curb when she heard Jessie’s voice.
“Keely.”
She spun around. Jessie was still standing in the same spot, but the bikers had disappeared.
“I’ll call you when I get back. We’ll have lunch.” Jessie smiled and winked, then walked into the building.
Keely had a feeling this was the beginning of a long and very cool friendship.
****
It had been a month since Inez’s deal had been settled, and life in the Underground had gone back to a normal routine. Well, normal for the organization.
“And Noelle? Is our next assignment finding her?” Caine asked, watching Nash’s response carefully.
He didn’t know all the details, but he was aware years ago Nash had taken up for her and was able to have her spared from the inevitable consequence of leaving the Underground. But he’d made it clear that wouldn’t happen again.
Noelle hadn’t been heard from or seen since the girls’ night at Nash and Charley’s. With Inez’s deal taking precedence, her situation took a backseat. But people didn’t just walk away from the Underground. They were removed.
“For now” —Nash scanned the men— “Oz has made the decision to not move forward with Noelle.”
Caine raised his brows. It was a move he hadn’t seen coming.
Cyrus snorted. “You’re showing more leniency than most people.”
“It wasn’t my request.” Nash paused. “It was Charley’s.”
Caine bowed his head, hiding his reaction. It wasn’t the choice he would’ve made, or any man in the room for that matter. They lived by their code and the consequences. But Charley was different. She may not have realized it, but she was giving Noelle the ultimate, undeserved gift. Mercy.
“Think that’s the last we’ll see of her?” Cyrus asked.
Nash sighed. “Probably not.”
Caine, Cyrus, and Ridge were officially done for the night. He walked out of Nash’s office with the others following behind. He’d made it to the end of the hallway when the elevator doors opened and Keely rushed out, slamming into his chest.
What the fuck?
He gripped her arms as her hands splayed over his chest.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Keely glanced up, chuckling. “I came to see you. I wanted to ask you something.”
Caine ground his teeth, eyeing security in the balcony. It had become a known fact that he and Keely were together, but that didn’t change how Caine protected his privacy.
“And it couldn’t wait until tonight?”
Keely licked her lips. “I was in the neighborhood.”
Bullshit!
“No, you weren’t.”
“Well, I was, as of five minutes ago.”
Caine ignored the muffled snickers from behind. Keely on the other hand, entertained them.
“Hi guys!”
“Keely,” Ridge said in unison with Cyrus’s greeting, “Hey Keels.”
Her smile faltered when she looked back at him. “Okay, it’s kind of urgent.”
That was enough to raise his concern, and he scanned her body, stepping closer.
“Is something wrong? Are you in trouble?” It was a phrase Caine found himself saying a lot more times in his future when it came to Keely.
She smirked and pointed her finger, tapping on the center of his chest. “It depends.”
“On what?”
She grinned. “Your patience and understanding.”
Oh, fuck me.
“We’ll leave you two alone,” Ridge said and started past them, but Keely reached out, grabbing his arm.
“While I have you guys here, I don’t know what your work schedule looks like, but we’re going to have a few people over at our place next week. You know some snacks and drinks. It’ll be fun, and I want you guys to come.”
What the fuck?
“At the loft?” Cyrus asked, and without waiting for confirmation, he laughed. “Oh yeah, I’ll make that work with my schedule. Just let me know when.”
Keely clapped her hands and bounced on her toes. “Ridge?”
Caine shared a look with Ridge. His lips twitched, but he held a little more composure than Cyrus when it came to his amusement.
“I’ll be there,” Ridge said and walked away.
Caine growled, turning back to his woman. At least she had the decency to appear a bit uneasy.
Caine lowered his voice and stepped closer. “Keely.”
“I know you’re not a huge fan of having people over, but it’s gonna be small, and you’ll know everyone, and I promise I’ll take care of all the details.”
“Who?”
She raised her brows. “The guest list?”
There’s a fucking list? Caine’s muscles tightened, and he dragged his hand over his face.
“Okay, I can see your temple pulsing so” —she widened her eyes— “Just Charley, Elle, Dahlia, and Quinn. And of course, Ridge and Cy.”
Caine drew in a breath, cupped his jaw, and his tension eased slightly. It was a short list, and as she pointed out, he’d know everyone.
“I also extended the invite to Nash, Trey, Oz and,” she rolled her eyes. “Begrudgingly, Rogue. The girls will let me know if they can make it.”
Jesus fucking Christ, Keely.
“Oh, and my brother and Jay.”
Caine narrowed his gaze.
“And Penny,” she added then smiled brightly and rested her hand on his chest. It usually calmed him, but he had the distinct feeling this move was a tactic.
“And um, just two other people. Can you not get mad?”
This woman is a fucking menace.
“You asking me not to get mad tells me I’m going to be fucking pissed.”
“Probably.” She sighed. “I ran into Meaghan and Theo in the elevator this morning.”
“No,” he snapped.
“I already invited them,” Keely whined, glancing up from her lashes.
“She hates me, and you invited her into our place?”
“It’s an olive branch, baby.”
Fuck me!