CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DOM
We drove along in silence for several long minutes. The tension stretching between us. Finally, I said, “You took a hit job on me? And here I thought you simply wanted to kill me for your own personal enjoyment.”
A wry smile crossed Noah’s face. “I could say the same to you.”
“For the record, I wanted to kill you before I got the job.” I angled myself in my seat so I could watch him.
He glanced over to meet my eyes momentarily in the dark. “Ditto.”
I had to bite back the urge to slap him upside the head. Instead of giving in to my violent urge, I found myself laughing. The situation was beyond ridiculous.
“I guess we’re more alike than we want to admit.” Shoving a hand through my hair, I pointed at the intersection ahead. “Take a right. Head to my place. You should probably call Damon and tell him to come too.”
“Your place?” A brow arched, Noah waited for me to elaborate.
“Yeah, Auryn and Stray are already there. I’ll get Casper and Rebel to meet us. I think we all need to discuss this situation.” Pulling out my phone, I texted both Rebel and Casper, telling them there was an emergency and we needed to meet right now.
Noah was quiet for a moment before saying, “Do you think that’s a good idea? All of us together.”
“I don’t think we have a choice. Garrett and his thugs want to take over our business.
Our city. Unless you and Damon really plan to join them, I think we’re all going to have to work together.
” I didn’t like the way I’d felt when Noah had made a deal with Garrett.
Even though it had been bullshit, I’d felt a strong sense of betrayal.
As we pulled to a stop at a red light, Noah reached over, placing a hand on my arm. “I was never going to join him. I only said that to get him to let his guard down.”
I stared at his hand. Against my better judgment, I took it in mine, sliding my fingers between his. Holding tight. Noah gave my hand a little squeeze before turning his attention back to the road.
We were almost to my place when he asked, “How do you think your friends will handle this? What do we even tell them? There’s a lot of bad history between us. They might not want to work with Damon and me.”
Bad history was putting it lightly. Not only had Noah and his friends snatched Rebel’s wife off the street, forcing her to jump from a moving vehicle, they’d also grabbed Stray’s fiancée.
Both scenarios had ended in the death of one of Noah’s friends.
Even though justice had been served, that didn’t sweep everything under the rug.
“I’ll deal with them,” I said, staring out the window, even though my focus was on the way his hand felt in mine. “They already know something has been going on between us. It won’t be a total surprise.”
Noah laughed softly. “What is going on between us? Other than taking hit jobs on each other.”
“I don’t have an answer to that. Does it really matter right now?” Feeling his gaze upon me, I looked over to find him wearing a hard to read expression. Something almost hopeful.
He shrugged. “No, it doesn’t matter right now.”
When we reached my house, we sat inside the car for a moment longer. Like neither of us wanted to be the first to pull away. When his hand finally slipped from mine, I found myself wanting to grab for him.
“You’ll be safe here.” I pushed my door open and got out. “I promise.”
I wasn’t sure how my friends would react when I walked in with Noah. We had a serious problem on our hands though. That’s what they needed to be concerned with.
As I shoved the front door open, I held my breath. I didn’t even know where to begin with explaining the situation. Everyone was gathered in the living room. They all looked up in unison as we entered. Casper was already there. Rebel had yet to arrive.
“What the fuck?” Stray muttered at the sight of Noah.
I suddenly became hyperaware of the fact that Noah stood beside me. Just an hour ago he’d followed me through traffic, watching as my car went off the road and I hit a damn power pole. Now we were here in my house, staring at my friends. I was more than a little mind fucked.
“We’ve got a situation,” I said, ignoring the knowing looks half of them wore. “Project X is in town. They have big plans. Once Rebel gets here, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Damon too,” Noah added. “He should be here any minute. I texted him from the car.”
Auryn gawked at the two of us, shaking his head in perplexed wonder. “I have so many questions.”
“Save it.” I shot him a warning glare. “This isn’t the time.”
A shit-eating grin lit up his face as he asked, “When will be the time?”
“Never,” I snapped, ready to beat his ass in front of everyone. I loved the hell out of Auryn, but he had a tendency to find a guy’s last nerve and jackhammer it endlessly.
The minutes seemed to grow longer as we waited. Motioning for Noah to take a seat on the armchair, I nervously shifted from foot to foot, unable to sit down. There wasn’t a lot of space left with everyone else gathered on the couch.
When the door opened again, Rebel walked in with Damon right behind him. Rebel jabbed a thumb in Damon’s direction. “What the fuck is this guy doing here?” Spotting Noah, he added, “What the fuck is that guy doing here?”
Feeling strangely protective of Noah, I angled closer, standing near the chair where he sat. “Chill out, Rebel. We’re all here to talk. That’s all.”
Wearing a skeptical frown, Rebel perched on the arm of the couch. “All right I’m listening.”
I did my best to recount what had happened. In order to do that, I had to mention what happened with my car. I still needed to deal with that.
“Hold up.” Stray raised a hand. “Are you saying that Noah sabotaged your car?”
I waved both hands to dismiss his question. “That part is irrelevant. Just listen. Garrett and his guys cornered us. They think they’re going to take over our city and our business. That’s the part you need to be focused on.”
Casper’s dark frown spoke volumes. Still he signed, “Irrelevant? How is it irrelevant that he tried to kill you?”
“Because I tried to kill him first.” Hearing myself say this shit made me question my own sanity.
“Blew up my fucking car,” Noah muttered with a laugh.
Unable to keep his fool mouth shut, Auryn piped up. “Is this what love looks like? Because I’ve got to say, you guys are setting a bad example for those of us still living the single life.”
My face flushed with heat. This jackass was doing his best to embarrass me and pulling it off successfully.
“Shut the hell up and listen.” Against my will, I glanced at Noah, finding him smirking. Bastard. Did he have to enjoy this?
Finally, I managed to recount the events of the evening without further interruption. Noah filled in a few of the blanks, including the fact that we’d both been hired by Project X to take each other out in order to start trouble that would make it easier for them to move in on our turf.
Rebel nodded, pondering everything we said. “Sounds like Garrett has big dreams. I guess we’ll have to show him the mistake he’s making. He already fucked up when he stole that kidney. Now he’s in enemy territory, and he’s not getting out alive.”
“We need to figure out a way to deal with them,” I said, touching the swollen bruise on my forehead. Fuck that hurt. “All of us. Together. I know that’s not ideal for most of you, but I think it needs to be this way for now.”
My friends all exchanged glances with one another. Finally, Casper signed, “How do we know we can trust them?”
“You don’t,” Noah answered. “But you don’t have a choice.
None of us do. I know our history is pretty fucked up.
I accept responsibility for my part in that.
However, I think we need each other now.
This is our city. And even if we have our own problems here, they are ours.
I’m not willing to allow anyone else to take from us. ”
“You also want to fuck Dom,” Auryn pointed out. “Isn’t that part of this little team up arrangement?”
“I’m seriously going to kill you.” I spoke through clenched teeth, ready to kick his blonde ass all over the house.
“He makes the whole thing more appealing,” Noah admitted.
“It goes deeper than that though. A guy like Garrett can’t be allowed to gain a foothold in our city.
Right now you guys pretty much run the show.
We all know that. Especially since you cut our numbers down.
Damon and I still manage a pretty lucrative business.
Some of you may not believe me but I’d like to keep the status quo the way it currently is.
We can’t do that if Project X moves in on us. ”
Rebel swore, tugging a handful of his brown hair.
Twisting the little blonde chunk in the front.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Noah. We need to deal with this problem before it can grow. If that means forming a temporary alliance, then so be it. Although let me state for the record that if either you or Damon fucks us over and betrays us to Project X, we won’t hesitate to put you in the ground with your friends. ”
I winced, hating that he had to go there but knowing why he did. Noah and Damon exchanged a look before Noah nodded. “Fair enough.”
“How do we know that we can trust you guys?” Damon regarded all of us with utter disdain. “Like you said, you killed two of our friends. Our best friends. How do we know that you won’t sell us out?”
“After what you assholes did to Codie, you’re lucky I haven’t beat your asses and thrown you out of my house yet.” Arms crossed over his chest, Stray put his feet up on the coffee table, managing to appear menacing with very little effort.
“Colt died because of that.” Noah’s tone shifted, like his anger was tightly restrained. “I think we’re more than even.”
This was not going well. I held up a hand to get everyone’s attention. “Obviously there’s a lot of bad blood here. But if this is war, then we need an alliance. Until Project X is dealt with we need to set aside our differences and focus on our shared enemy.”
“Agreed.” Rebel stood up. “I have to get back to my wife. Let’s take a couple days to think this over. We’ll meet soon.”
Everyone dispersed. Everyone except Noah and me. Within minutes, the two of us were left alone in the living room.
“That went well.” He grinned.
I sighed, releasing the breath I’d been holding. “Better than I expected.”
“I guess I should be going too.” Noah rose from the armchair. He lingered a moment before taking a step toward the door.
“Or you could stay.” The words blurted out before I could silence them. “I mean, if you want to.”
He turned back to me with an arched brow, his expression playful. “Are you asking me to spend the night, prince?”
“It doesn’t have to be the whole night. Let’s see where it takes us.” Taking Noah’s hand, I pulled him along to the basement stairs and down to my bedroom.