2. Noah #2
I watched them just stand around talking, doing nothing except for the one person going around the apartment collecting evidence.
No one walked up to me and asked me what I saw.
I at least expected them to take me to the hospital to be checked out.
Physically and mentally. I’d just seen my mother get murdered for fuck's sake.
They did nothing.
That was the night I learned my father is the Don of the Empire Mafia—a crime organization that’s been around for decades and has power over law enforcement, New York City politicians, and other important people in this godforsaken city.
Up until that night, I barely knew my father. He was in my life, but he was hardly around. Always busy with work, my mother would say.
Losing her meant losing my sanctuary. She was my best friend.
The week following her death, I woke up every night screaming in terror. Nightmares haunted me. Seeing her getting shot replayed not only while I slept, but while awake. I’d stopped eating, stopped smiling. I was scared of everything and everyone.
My father didn’t have time to deal with my mental breakdown.
He had a mafia to run after all. So, he changed my name and let people believe I had died too.
He said it was to protect me from his enemies.
Then he sent me away to live with a distant aunt on the opposite side of the country where I was ordered to go to therapy for the horrors I saw that night.
It was only supposed to be temporary because my father wanted me to return home when I turned eighteen.
He had plans for me.
But on my eighteenth birthday, I wasn’t ready to go back to the home where my mother took her last breath. Therapy may have dulled the nightmares and allowed me to turn my fear into rage, but I will never forget.
I tried to live a normal life. I went to college in Northern California. I traveled the world. But the rage never went away.
Now I’m thirty-one, and I returned to New York City two months ago. Not because my father wanted me to come home. And it’s not because he wants me to learn the business.
How could he ask me to do such a thing after his ‘business’ is the reason my mother is dead?
I’m back because I’m determined to find out who’s responsible for her murder.
I’m back because I plan to dismantle the Empire.
My father won’t be the first powerful man I’ve destroyed.
“Um, hello!” Sage waves her hand in front of my face. “You just spaced out. Was the sex that good you just went through a replay? Tell me there were multiple orgasms. Hand necklaces? Bite marks? Does your kitty cat hurt, at least?”
“I wish.”
I sip the mimosa she ordered for me and chase it down with water. I’m way too dehydrated after last night.
“Aww. Was it bad? What happened? Is it because you still have the hots for your grumpy neighbor?”
I pick up the menu, avoiding my best friend’s eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just fuck him already. Put me out of my misery.”
Sage and I met at the bar we work at. We clicked instantly and now, two months later, we’re inseparable.
We talk about everything. Well, not everything.
She doesn’t know about my family. She doesn’t know I'm a mafia princess and my father wants me to take over some day. I can’t let her get involved in this part of my life.
Just like I can’t tell her I have blood on my hands.
“Oh, shit,” Sage whispers. “An unbelievably hot man just walked in.”
I glance over my shoulder to see this hottie who has her speechless, which never happens.
Oh hell no.
It’s as if speaking about him conjured his presence.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
I quickly turn back around and hide behind my menu. “That’s grumpy neighbor!”
“What? Holy shit, Noey. He’s hot as fuck.”
“Did he see me? Please say he didn’t see me.”
“Oh, I saw you, Kevin,” Delancy says, his deep voice vibrating throughout my body and awakening my thirsty cunt.
I sit up straight in my chair and glance up at the man. He’s dressed immaculately: black pants, shirt, and suit jacket. His hair is brushed back, revealing his gorgeous blue eyes.
“Are you stalking me?”
He leans down, planting a hand on the back of my chair. He smells fantastic, as usual. His mouth is right next to my ear as he says, “What if I am?”
I ignore the thought of how hot it would be if Del was, in fact, stalking me.
What is wrong with me?
Stalking fantasies have never been my thing, especially with what I went through as a kid. Scary men breaking in and murdering my mother?
No thank you.
My next-door neighbor breaking in and ravishing me?
Please.
“Hi, I’m Sage.” My best friend’s interruption saves me from the whimper that was creeping up my throat.
Del stares at me for a few seconds in that silent, sexy way of his, then finally averts his eyes to Sage. He plasters on a smile.
“Delancy.” He doesn’t take her offered hand, which I find rude, and gives Sage a nod before turning his attention back to me. “I’m meeting someone here.”
“Congratulations.”
The door to the restaurant opens at that moment, and we turn our heads to watch a curvy redhead walk in and scan the room. She spots Del and waves.
“Ah, there’s my date.” He makes a point to look at me when saying ‘date,’ adding his cockiest smirk.
The fucker.
“Good for you. I’m sure it’s been hard all these nights alone with your hand. Have fun, Laptop.”
I might have heard him growl when I turn my attention back to my best friend, refusing to give him a second glance.
“A date?” Sage asks once Del and the woman walk off to sit at a table on the opposite side of the restaurant. “Ouch.”
“No. No ouch. This is good. This is fine.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. Maybe this means he’ll stop bothering me. Besides, we’re just neighbors. He’s allowed to date or fuck whoever he wants. I know I do. Like last night.”
Sage picks up her menu.
“Okay,” she says, drawing out the word and trying to hold back a smile.
Thankfully, our server arrives at that moment, so I don’t have to kick my best friend’s ass.
After we order, I allow myself a glimpse over my shoulder and find Del staring back at me with a heated intensity. I quickly turn away, feeling my cheeks warm.
What’s he up to? There’s no way it’s a coincidence that he showed up at mine and my bestie’s favorite restaurant.
Maybe he is stalking me.