by Brook Wilder
“I know.”
But I was still seething over it. Cassie looked troubled, gnawing at her lower lip.
“What are you going to do about Noah?”
I had no idea. All I knew was that space was what we both needed. I was getting cabin fever and Noah was beginning to see things that weren’t there. Maybe some time away from each other would help both of us out.
If it didn’t drive us further apart because of our stubbornness.
Cassie’s expression softened, and she hugged me, kissing my cheek.
“Get some rest and try to sleep, Liz,” she said gently. “I’ll come by in the morning.”
“Okay. Just don’t tell anyone where I am, please.”
“I can’t lie to Mason, Liz. You know that.”
I huffed.
“Fine. Tell Mason if you have to. But, if Noah asks, make him believe I’m at Mom’s. Noah won’t go there.”
“Noted.” Cassie squeezed my shoulder. “Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Cassie left, leaving me standing in a sea of bags. It was starting to realize that I had more luggage than I thought. That meant more unpacking.
I hated packing, but I hated unpacking even more.
But it had to be done. We weren’t going anywhere, and I didn’t want Hunter getting hurt knocking over the cases onto himself. He was at that age where everything was interesting. I was lucky if I could keep things out of reach; he seemed to have a longer reach than I thought.
I began to move the suitcases into my bedroom. Perhaps if I just shoved them into the corner of the room, they could stay there for a while. Just unpack a little at a time. With a baby running around, there was no chance of doing it all at once. The last time I had tried to do the laundry around Hunter, he kept taking everything out when my back was turned.
The first two cases were heavy, but I managed to get them into my room. Then I went back to the rest. That was when I realized that someone had been in the house. The front door had closed behind Cassie, but it hadn’t completely gone onto the latch. Now it was swinging gently in the breeze and there was a large manila-type envelope on the mat. It had my name written out in full in capital letters.
I didn’t like the look of this. Instinct told me to leave it alone and call Noah. But then I remembered that I had left the safe house because I didn’t want to be around Noah anymore, not when he was becoming unpredictable. This I had to deal with alone.
Bracing myself, I shut the door and locked it. Then I slid to the floor, my back against the door, and picked up the envelope. It felt empty. There was nothing bumpy or strangely-shaped inside. And it hadn’t been stuck down. I carefully opened the end and looked inside. It was one piece of paper. A blank piece of paper.
Why was someone sending me this?
I pulled the paper out and realized it was a blown-up photograph. The paper was thick, and I could feel the texture under my fingers. It was most definitely a photograph.
I turned it over. And my blood went cold. It was a picture of Noah outside a very familiar door. He was hugging a woman that looked more than familiar, their embrace showing them to be more than a simple greeting. It was like he was greeting her as a lover would.
I couldn’t believe it. Noah had said he loved me, that he wouldn’t look at another woman. And here he was, in the arms of that bitch, outside her fucking brothel.
The bitch who was there when I was sold in the first place.
My hands were shaking as I took out my cell phone and looked for Cassie’s number. I had something very important to do.
Chapter 36
Noah
I sat on the couch, feeling the leather creak under my weight, and watched as Khloe Walker poured us both a drink at the little bar in her brothel, a large, renovated old-style mansion. Dark, sleek, and modern throughout, boasting three stories and a basement level. Upstairs were ten large suites, there larger ones on the ground floor, and a large bar/sitting area with private viewing rooms, also on the ground floor. The entire third floor was Khloe’s private apartments, and no one went up there aside from her and her girls. Basement was a private area for her top clientele.
She was looking well, and her hair had changed since I last saw her. That woman changed her hairstyles as often as she changed her outfits. Now it was a short pixie-cut in fire-engine red, framing her oval face.
She did look good. I wasn’t about to argue with that. But she still didn’t hold a candle to Liz. She never would.
Khloe brought the glasses over and handed me one of them, giving me a salacious smile as our fingers brushed and she settled onto the couch beside me.
“Now, to what do I owe this pleasure, Noah?” Khloe purred. “It’s been a while since you’ve been here.”
“I have different priorities now.”
Khloe sighed. Some old habits never died. She could try to be a businesswoman, but she was a prostitute through and through. That would never leave her.
“That’s a shame. You were my favorite before Liz came along.”
“I’m surprised you can remember back that far.” I frowned at her as I sipped my drink. “And don’t be disrespectful about Liz, Khloe. Not in front of me. You know she can take you in a fight.”
“Oh, really?” Khloe smirked. “I’d like to see her try.”
“You’d have to get past me first.” I didn’t come here to square a friend off with my woman. I shifted away as Khloe’s hand brushed my leg. Khloe always pushed her luck. “Mason wanted me to talk to you. About Ruiz Fernandez.”
Khloe’s smile faded. She sat up, her seductive facade disappearing.
“Ah!” She put her glass on the coffee table in front of us. “I figured that was the case.”
“He’s beginning to worry that you’re getting too familiar with him.”
Khloe snorted.
“Come on, Noah. I’m running a business. I don’t want to be a part of your war, but Mason dragged me into it. I watched my girls get killed in front of me. It took a lot to negotiate myself back into Ruiz’s good graces. I won’t throw that away, not for the Riders, not for you, not even for Mason.”
“So that’s a maybe.” I put my glass down as well. “Mason wanted assurance. Ruiz has been here several times, more than a regular customer would, and Mason wants to have confirmation that you’re still on our side, or at least neutral and not shifting alliances.”
Khloe sighed. She stood and paced away from the couch. I could see the tension entering her shoulders. Khloe wasn’t one to get tense.
“My alliance is to me.” She swung around to me. “Mason and I have been friends for years. If he was so concerned about me, he should have come here himself, not sent you.”
“Cassie wouldn’t allow him.”
Khloe rolled her eyes. “Fucking woman. Is she still holding a grudge?”
“Khloe, you tried to buy her at the auction. Both of them. They’re both still pissed at you. It’s not something you can forgive so easily.”
Khloe huffed, baring her teeth. Her emotions flittered and changed quicker than Liz’s. I was just getting used to it now. After dealing with Liz, it was easier to follow Khloe.
“I had no idea they were being auctioned until it actually happened,” Khloe protested. “You know how these things are.”
“You should’ve done the right thing.” I snapped. “You knew Liz.”
“You know situations can change.” Khloe smirked. “She was quite cozy with Ruiz for a while.”
I growled and stood. That caused Khloe to take a step back. She had never been scared of me before. I glowered at her.
“Ruiz bought her, Khloe. He used her and raped her before Mason got her back.” I watched as Khloe’s face remained impassive. “Word is, it took place right here. Mason needs your connections to stay neutral. But don’t think for a second that this means we’re square.”
Khloe was still a little put out, clearly on the back foot. But she managed to gather herself together
and squared her shoulders. Her expression was schooled back to blank.
“Mason and I have known each other for years, Noah,” she said coolly. “I’m not about to fall foul of Ruiz. That’s not what I am, and Mason knows it. I run a business, and I run a damn good business.”
That was something. Hopefully, I would be able to persuade Mason to let Diesel come to talk to Khloe next time. I felt odd being in a brothel knowing I had Liz and Hunter back home waiting for me.
I made a mental note to get some flowers for Liz as an apology for shouting at her earlier. Liz didn’t deserve that. We needed a long talk, that much was sure.
“I’ll let Mason know,” I muttered.
Khloe grunted.
“Well, tell him to come himself next time, not send people in his place.” Her head jerked up as the sounds of shouting reached us. “What’s going on out there?”
I listened. It sounded like an all-out brawl was about to start with several women screaming. Then I recognized one of the voices. It sounded like Liz.
What was she doing here? She should be at the safe house, not in a brothel. What was she playing at?
I stood and hurried to the door, charging down the stairs. Liz was in the lobby having an all-out screaming match with Candy, one of Khloe’s girls. Their faces were inches away from each other and Liz looked like she was going to take a swing. Candy was taller and a dirty fighter, but I knew Liz would win. She was one of those people who always ended up being the only one walking away from a fight. I had never figured out how.
But this wasn’t something I was going to stand by and watch. Not this time. Not when she was carrying my baby. I hurried forward and grabbed her arm. Liz spun around, swinging her fist at me. I caught her wrist.
“What are you doing here? And where’s Hunter?”
Liz’s eyes were wild, her face bright red. She was furious.
“Oh, now you’re concerned about your son! He’s with Cassie at my house, where he’ll be staying.”
“At your house?” It took me a moment before I realized what she was saying. “You’ve gone back to your house? Are you crazy?”
“I’m mad. Mad because I thought you actually gave a shit about the mother of your child!”
I was confused. What was going on? I lowered her arms and stepped back.
“Would you start at the beginning and tell me what’s going on?”
“I got a picture of you entering this place.” Liz was breathing heavily. “It was timestamped as being today. You were with her.”
She pointed at Khloe, who was halfway down the stairs. Khloe shrugged and leant against the wall.
“And? All the men embrace me.”
I growled. “Khloe, shut up. You’re not helping.” I turned back to Liz. “Can we go somewhere quiet to talk about this, Liz?”
“No, we can talk about this now!”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
Liz’s eyes widened. They were blazing. I had a feeling I had said the wrong thing.
“That’s exactly what I said about those pictures Ruiz had someone take of us when he held me hostage! You didn’t believe the truth, so why should I believe you when you throw that in my face?”
The place was quiet now. Everyone, girls and bouncers, was staring at us. I had never felt so embarrassed. I nodded at Khloe and took Liz’s arm, directing her towards the front door.
“I’m not going to do this here,” I growled.
Liz fought against me even as we got outside. We were nearly at her car when she elbowed me in the stomach and danced out of my reach as I let go of her, the air having been knocked out of my lungs.
“Well, I am,” Liz snapped. “You took those pictures the wrong way. They were taken to have a hold over me. Ruiz used to bring them out and gloat over them in front of me. They were not innocent at all! Am I supposed to think that seeing you with your arms around a madam is innocent as well?”
“I’ve never slept with Khloe.”
“Really?”
“Really.” I folded my arms. “Give me some credit, Liz. When I’m with someone, I don’t sleep around. Monogamy is part of me.”
“And you think I sleep around?” Liz demanded shrilly. “You know I didn’t have a choice with Ruiz.”
“Do I?”
Deep down, I knew that Liz wouldn’t betray me. She was the most loyal person I knew. But I still had niggling doubts. She had been alone for two years. Auction or not, Liz would have tried to satisfy her sexual needs. That was what that small part of my brain was saying. And it was doing the talking.
From the shocked look on Liz’s face, I had clearly said the wrong thing. Then Liz’s face paled and her eyes narrowed, baring her teeth at me.
“You know what, Noah? Fuck you,” she hissed. “I know what happened and that’s what matters to me. If you’re not prepared to believe me, you can go fuck yourself. Go and fuck Khloe or go back to fucking her. Whatever you want. I don’t want anyone who doesn’t trust me anywhere near me.”
Chapter 37
Noah
That had me taking a step back. Was she telling me it was over? I couldn’t quite believe it. When I met Liz, I thought it was for good. And now I had put my big foot into my mouth and Liz was walking away from me, this time for real. She wouldn’t be coming back. No amount of pleading would make her stay.
“What are you going to say to Hunter when his father disappears?”
Liz’s jaw tightened.
“Nothing. He won’t notice. Oh, and you’re on thin ice with him, Noah.”
“Why?”
“I have no qualms about you seeing Hunter with a mediator. But, if you falsely accuse me again, you’ll not see Hunter every again.”
That was a slap in the face. I never thought I would hear Liz say that. She wasn’t the sort of person. My mouth went dry and I had to swallow hard as the gravity of the situation set in.
“Did you just use my son as a weapon?”
Liz shrugged.
“You’re willing to believe the worst of me. Might as well carry on living up to that.” Liz flung the door open and glowered at Noah, tears suddenly shimmering in her eyes. “Have a nice life fucking whores, Noah.”
She was crying. She didn’t want to do this, I could tell. And I didn’t want her to. But before I could reach her, Liz was in the car and revving the engine. All I could do was stand there and watch as she screeched the tires and drove away.
***
I didn’t go back into Khloe’s brothel. Nothing would make me go back in there now. I went to my bike and gunned it back to the safe house. Even though Liz had told me, I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to believe that she and Hunter were still there, safe and sound.
But I knew the truth as soon as I got there. The place felt empty just looking at it. When I went inside, all the things Liz had brought with them were gone. Most of the toys I had bought for Hunter were there, but the belongings Liz had packed were no longer there.
They really were gone.
I had never felt so empty before. Not even in the slammer. Those two years I had been inside, knowing that Liz was there waiting for me had kept me going. Now she wasn’t there, and I felt hollow.
This was bad. Very bad.
I made my way back to the annex, slamming my way into the bar and kicking a couple of stools over. Diesel was behind the bar, cleaning glasses. He came hurrying out when I started kicking things over.
“Hey, take it easy! What the fuck is the matter with you?”
I snarled at him, shoving him back into the bar.
“If you can’t say anything more than stupid questions, don’t talk at all.”
“That doesn’t really make any sense.”
“I don’t give a shit right now!”
I paced the empty bar, tugging my bandanna off and throwing it across the room. It hit the wall and landed on a chair before slowly slipping onto the floor. Then I kicked at the pool table. That stubbed my toe and pain shot up through my foot and
my calf, but I kept pacing around. I wanted to pick things up and throw things. Throw all the glasses across the room. But I stopped myself. Mason would have me cleaning it up, I knew it.
I was furious, but I wasn’t angry enough to go down that road.
“Hey, slow down!” Diesel grabbed my arm as I paced past him again. “What’s up? Have you had a fight with Liz?”
