Chapter Twenty-Three
With everything happening, Keely got sidetracked by more important things.
When Charley asked her to come over for a girls’ night, she initially declined.
But Charley was seeking more support. Elodie was obviously close, but she was still getting to know Dahlia and Quinn.
Charley needed another familiar face, so Keely got dressed and headed over to her house.
Elodie was already there, and Quinn showed up at the same time as Keely. A few minutes later, Dahlia walked in. And she wasn’t alone.
What? The. Fuck!
“Hey everybody!” Dahlia waved and gave all the women hugs. Noelle stayed a few feet away from everyone and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Charley, I hope it’s okay that I invited Noelle?”
Keely turned her head, staring at her best friend. Charley was nervous to begin with, but this seemed to shake her a little more. Keely intently watched her and waited. As much as she’d love to take this shot, if Charley wanted it, it was all hers.
Charley swallowed and nodded. “Of course.”
My turn!
“The more the merrier, right?” Keely’s tone spiked, and she grinned. Dahlia and Quinn didn’t seem to notice the change in her tone, but Elodie eyed her suspiciously. Even Charley seemed a little off put.
The women walked out to the living room, and she stayed back, offering Charley help with bringing out the food. When all the women walked out to the patio, Charley moved closer and lowered her voice.
“Are you okay? I had no idea Dahlia would bring her. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“I know you don’t like Noelle.”
No, Keely didn’t like her. Despise and detest would’ve been a better description of her feelings for Noelle.
It was personal, petty, and possibly childish.
Noelle had been a bitch to Keely. But it was nothing in comparison to what she’d done to Charley.
Or hadn’t done. Just thinking about it incensed Keely.
“Do you like her?”
“No.” Charley sighed. “But she’s Dahlia’s friend.”
“And you’re mine. So game on…may the better friend win.” Keely grabbed a tray and smiled. “Spoiler alert, it’s me. I win!”
Keely started to walk away with Charley close on her heels. “Wait, Keely. What are you going to do?”
If Keely shared her plan with her best friend, Charley would oppose it, for sure. I’m not gonna give her the chance. Payback was a bitch. And so am I, Noelle.
Keely set the food on the table and took the open seat next to Quinn. It placed her directly across from Noelle. Perfect.
“What are we talking about?” Keely asked.
“Men.” Quinn giggled. “Since you and Noelle are single, I wanna hear about your love life.”
Keely waved her hand. It seemed she’d be sharing more than one revelation at this girls’ gathering. “Oh, I’m not single.”
Charley jerked in the chair beside her. “You’re not?”
Dahlia sat up in her seat. “Do we know him?”
“Yes.”
“Well, who is it?”
“Caine.”
Elodie practically choked on her water. When she recovered, she wiped her mouth, and her eyes widened. “Oz’s Caine?”
Keely laughed. “Well, technically, if I’m in his bed every night, I’m pretty sure that makes him my Caine.”
The women sat in silence. Keely was expecting a barrage of questions and a thorough inquisition. It seemed everyone was struck speechless. This was the perfect time for a shift in topics.
Keely glanced over at Charley, then darted her gaze to Noelle and smiled. “Where’s Penny? She didn’t get an invite?”
Noelle’s face paled slightly, and she pinned Keely in her stare. Or was it a glare? Oh, it’s definitely a glare. Keely battened down her amusement and turned to her friend.
“Oh,” Charley said. “I left her a message but haven’t heard back yet.”
“She’s out of town this week,” Dahlia said.
Keely slowly nodded. “You know, we hung out last week. I heard a very interesting story about you, Noelle.”
“Really?” Noelle’s tone was even and she cocked her head. “Well, you can’t believe everything you hear, Keely.”
She laughed and settled into her seat, clasping her hands and resting them on her stomach.
“Oh, so it’s not true that when Charley got attacked on the street near her apartment building, you weren’t there? You didn’t see her thrown up against a wall by some lowlife scum, then chased until she got home?” Keely raised her brows.
Charley gasped, confirming everything Penny had told her. Keely should’ve continued to bask in seeing Noelle squirm, but her rage had taken over. Just thinking about it had her blood boiling, and it took every ounce of control not to jump across the table and take a shot at Noelle.
You fucking bitch!
“What are you talking about, Keely?” Elodie asked, darting her gaze between Noelle and Charley.
Keely pointed at Noelle. “I’m talking about Noelle watching Charley get attacked and doing fucking nothing to help her.”
“What?” Dahlia jerked her head to Noelle. “What’s she talking about?”
Noelle sat silent, glaring at Keely.
“Ask Charley,” Keely said, then turned to her best friend. There was a part of Keely who felt a little guilty putting Charley on the spot. But not enough to stay quiet.
“Charley?” Elodie said.
Charley shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. She glanced over the women and dropped her gaze to the table. Then she nodded.
All eyes quickly shifted to Noelle and Dahlia turned in her seat.
“Is that true?”
“Yes!” Keely blurted though she wasn’t talking to her.
Noelle’s glare hardened, and she looked over at Dahlia. “I wasn’t assigned to protect her. I’m your security, not Charley’s.”
There were audible gasps from all the women at the table. Rightfully, so! Assigned or not, what kind of woman stood by watching another get attacked? None of the good ones.
“That’s your excuse?” Keely asked.
Noelle whipped her head. “I don’t fucking answer to you.”
“But you answer to me,” Dahlia snapped.
Noelle straightened her shoulders. “As I said, I’m not her security.”
There was a long stretch of silence. Dahlia’s face hardened, which was a sight Keely had never seen from the usually bubbly, friendly woman.
“And Caine wasn’t mine!” Dahlia shouted.
Caine? What did he have to do with this? Keely shifted her gaze between Dahlia and Noelle. She was beyond confused, unable to follow the story.
“Do you know what would’ve happened to me, Noelle, if Caine had used that excuse the night at the safe house?”
For the first time since this conversation started, Noelle showed remorse. She dropped her gaze to the table.
“You do know.” Dahlia’s voice shook. “Had he decided I wasn’t worth helping, my life would be forever changed. But he didn’t, did he?”
Noelle drew in a breath and held up her hand. Keely expected some type of apology. But Dahlia wasn’t willing to hear anything.
“Get out. You’re fired.”
“Dahlia?” There was an underlying plea in Noelle’s tone.
“You’re not my only security. I have two others downstairs along with Quinn’s, Elle’s, and Charley’s. Leave before I have them remove you!”
Noelle gripped the arms of the chair and slowly stood. She didn’t make eye contact with any of the women. Not even Keely. She walked inside and disappeared from sight.
For the next few minutes, the women sat in silence until Dahlia pulled out her phone, excusing herself from the table. Elodie and Quinn followed suit, leaving Charley and Keely alone at the table.
“Who told you?” Charley muttered.
She peeked over at her friend, who was staring at her.
“Penny. And as much as I hate seeing all the girls upset, I really enjoyed watching Noelle get her ass handed to her.”
Charley shook her head with a smile playing on her lips. “A little heads up would’ve been nice.”
Keely shrugged. “You would’ve tried to talk me out of it.”
Charley arched her brow. “When have I ever successfully talked you out of anything?”
Keely laughed.
True.
****
Caine arrived at the X-Lounge just after nine. They’d done all the triple checks and a dry run to Ghosttown to make sure they weren’t missing anything.
The club was closed for the night, and he expected it to be quiet. Before they even got to the offices, he heard the shouting.
“What the fuck is going on?” Ridge asked, and all three men picked up their pace.
As they rounded the bend, security was lined up in front of Oz’s office door, which was closed. At the opposite end of the hall was Trey and Rogue’s security. Jared glanced over and pushed off the wall, making his way to them.
“Oz, Rogue, and Trey are in with Elle, Quinn, and Dahlia. And Noelle is officially AWOL.”
Caine glanced over at the closed door. It had only been a matter of time before Dahlia, Elodie, and Quinn found out about Noelle’s betrayal of Charley.
Caine had his own thoughts on allowing Noelle to continue working as Dahlia’s security.
But it wasn’t his place to voice them. His job was to keep Elodie and Charley safe and away from Noelle.
Caine turned and made his way to Nash, who was standing outside his office with Charley, who was nervously nibbling on her thumb.
Cyrus snorted, gaining their attention. “It’s like I said, it was only a matter of time before they found out.”
Charley nodded. “They were so upset.”
“They should be,” Nash said.
The office doors opened, and Rogue stormed out. He slowed his steps, allowing Quinn to catch up. He didn’t even spare them a glance.
“That fucking girl is a pain in my ass.”
Quinn halted her steps and spun around. “And honest, don’t you think, Rogue?”
Who the hell were they referring to?
Quinn twisted her lips, shaking her head. “You want to finish this conversation here or at home?”
Oh fuck!
Rogue’s jaw squared, and he lifted his chin but surprisingly remained silent.
Trey and Dahlia walked out next, and she made a beeline for Charley, taking her in for a hug and whispering, “I’m so sorry, Charley.”
“I’m fine, I swear.”
Dahlia straightened. “I wish someone would’ve told me when it happened.”
“She’s your friend.”
“And you’re my family.” Dahlia stepped back. “I have to go. Trey has a very long night ahead of him.”
Oh fuck!
Elodie never emerged from the office, but he caught sight of her slamming the door closed and heard her shout. “No Oz, I will not calm down!”
“Charley?” Nash said. “Wait on the balcony for me. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She nodded and walked off. Caine noticed Nash specifically waited a minute until Charley disappeared before addressing them.
“So? Who’s the pain in the ass Rogue was talking about, Nash? I’m assuming it’s the one who outed Noelle.” Cyrus snickered.
“It was.” Nash slowly looked over to Caine. “Keely.”
God, this fucking woman!
Caine gripped his hips. “How did she know?”
Nash cocked his brow. “I was going to ask you the same question.”
“I didn’t tell her.”
Cyrus held up his hand. “I didn’t either, but I gotta say, I ain’t mad.”
Nash jerked his head and narrowed his gaze.
“Just speaking my truth, Nash.”
It was a fair consensus from all of them. Nash gave a curt nod. He agreed, though he rarely shared his opinion with them. He walked toward the end of the hall and glanced back, pinning Caine with his stare.
“You need to find out who told her.”
Yes, he did.
Nash sighed. “My guess is Penny.”
Ridge chuckled, shaking his head. “That woman is like a fucking oracle. A knower of everything.”
“Yeah, well, she’s got help in that department. If Killcreek knows, so does Penny.” Nash looked over at Caine. “I want confirmation on that.”
This went beyond the scope of Noelle’s infraction. If Keely had information on that incident, it was possible she had more knowledge.
What else does Keely know?