CHAPTER FOURTEEN #2
I might have shown up here with a smidgen of wrath on behalf of my mother, but it’s impossible to hate anything about this place when I know they suffered like I did. I wonder if my eyes reflect the same disturbing hollowness as Jax’s.
After that, we all settled into a communal mocking of the dancers onstage.
Mercy lifts her drink, toasting the odd performance. “That’s an impressive back bend.”
Since the man’s shoes are glued to the floor, I’m inclined to agree.
“For the love of all the freaky holy things,” Tessa drones between sips of her espresso martini, “he’s thrusting to the beat.”
That judgment is a fair point too. It’s absurd.
“Disturbing talent is still talent.” I tilt my head, noting how the blood is rushing to the man’s face.
“It proves he’d have some moves, even if he were …” Jax pauses, but the whole table awaits. “Tied to a bed.” He glances at us. “He’ll get some numbers after this.”
“If that’s the case, women have an alarmingly low bar,” Tessa snipes.
“That he seems to be able to bend for,” I quip, to which they laugh. Swirling my wine, I track the competition beyond the red film lingering on the glass. “So, this is just an average weeknight in the Underground? Is dancing always part of it?”
Tessa’s face lights up despite her effort to rein in her pride. “If Maddox is involved, there’s always dancing.”
“True.” Jax bobs his head, taking that second-too-long pause again. “Unless there are pigs. Dancing never goes well with them.”
As I’m contemplating whether I should probe further about the pigs, another Noire shows up. I recognize him from the files Tripp gave me to study.
“Zara,” the haughty blond rasps, “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” A devil-may-care grin coasts up one cheek as he takes me in. “I’m Cash. I’ve heard and seen nothing but phenomenal things about you.”
The video.
Jax didn’t mention it, so I nearly forgot the entire Noire crew had been privy to my morning workout a few days ago.
This guy is trouble. The fun kind. But trouble, all the same. The ones who know how gorgeous they are always are.
“I’m sure you have.” I mimic his smile, sipping my wine casually. “I haven’t heard anything about you though. Do you work here?”
Jax’s head falls back with a howl as Mercy and Tessa both erupt in laughter.
Cash’s blue eyes narrow on them before he returns to me with a suave air that I’m certain melts most women. “Well played.” He doesn’t even consider the possibility of me being unaware that he’s a Noire, which is stupidly charming. “And an excellent point. Let’s remedy that. Dinner Friday night?”
Three sets of eyes burn a hole into the side of my face, but I don’t give credence to whatever opinion they may have.
Speaking strategically, it couldn’t hurt.
Cash might be able to point me in the right direction so I can get something to keep the client happy, especially since it was clear by that text thread that Axel hadn’t shared his suspicions.
Even telling Tripp I’ll be meeting with another Noire will go a long way.
But before I can answer, Mercy pipes up, “We have family dinner that night.”
Cash blows that off. “I’ll tell him I have more important plans and come late.”
“It’s game night too,” Tessa adds with an arched brow.
Tension wafts from them. They must take family dinner and game night seriously. I return to observing. You can learn a lot about people when they’re with those they’re most connected to.
“Missing this particular dinner,” Jax begins, chugging the end of his cocktail, “would be like a kamikaze mission.”
Cash slants his head, hitching a shoulder to meet it. “Just tell him I’m sacrificing for the greater good.”
They share a silent conversation, and my respect level for Axel skyrockets. He raised these two and Maddox. He must’ve been on the brink of insanity on a daily basis.
“So, Zara”—Cash leans closer to me, invading my space without touching—“think you’ll be hungry?”
So smooth.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but since you’re sacrificing so much, I suppose I can make it. A girl has to eat.”
“Perfect.” He winks. “Meet me here at six.”
The second he walks away, Tessa hums her disapproval. “That’s playing with fire, girl. Be prepared to get burned.”
I’m guessing Tessa is hung up on the heat she saw between Axel and me in the video, but while we flirt, he’s already made it clear that no matter how attracted he is to me, he isn’t interested.
Even if he were, I have no desire to be one of his NDA-signing trysts.
He awakens something inside me that I snuffed out years ago—a longing to have roots.
If anything happened between us or even if he gave me the slightest inclination that it could, I’d want to keep him, and that’s impossible.
Plus, we have far greater issues, like how I’m going to get a bug in his arbitration meetings.
“I’m already doused in gasoline. Flames were bound to find me.” I finish my wine, grab my purse, and say my goodbyes.
As I leave, I hear the three of them cackling in the background, and again, I’m struck by how light they all are.