Noel

by Madison Stevens

  Haley nodded, not quite sure what to make of his statement. So out of everyone she knew, Finn was her supporter? It was strange to think that was the case, but he’d pretty much given her the green light.

  Finn balanced the tray with one arm and pulled out an envelope from his pocket. He placed it on the counter.

  “Noel needs this information,” Finn said. “He’s back at his place.” He stared hard at her for a moment, and she squirmed under his hard gaze. “I was going to take it to him, but with Alyssa as she is, I don’t want to leave her.”

  Haley nodded and stared at the envelope.

  “I’m trusting you with this,” he said, and she pulled her eyes back up to him. “Normally I wouldn’t ask, but my hands are tied.” He pulled out a piece of paper and pen. After scribbling down an address, he handed it to her.

  “I understand.”

  Finn gave a small smile and turned.

  She watched as he walked out of the room, both confused and gladdened. Now, at least, she had a reason to go talk to Noel again.

  Chapter Seven

  A shrill doorbell sliced into Noel’s sleep. He groaned, opened one eye and groaned again. There was no way it was time for his watch. He’d just barely gotten to sleep thanks to his damn body and its inability to calm the fuck down. You’d think with the way his dick reacted, he’d never touched a woman.

  The bell rang again, and he frowned. It better not be that damn delivery man again. After last time, he was pretty sure that man would never touch his bell again. It wasn’t like he hurt him, but he had made suggestions that it would be easy to hurt him. He just didn’t want the guy to wake him up. Was it really too much to ask?

  Noel hopped out of bed and pulled his jeans off the floor. He slipped them on without bothering to button them. This wasn’t going to take that long. At least, it better not.

  He picked up the shirt from yesterday and frowned. The last thing he wanted to do was put on the ashtray-smelling shirt. He tossed it down. Fuck it. It wasn’t like it really mattered.

  He stomped his way to the door, his anger rising the closer he walked.

  “This better be fucking important,” he said and threw open the door. Some people couldn’t take a hint.

  No delivery man confronted him. A little red-headed teacher did. It took his brain a few seconds to catch up to the reality in front of him.

  Haley shrank back from the door. Guilt stabbed at his stomach. Why the fuck did he always have to terrorize the poor woman? He scratched his eyebrow and tried to force away the glare he was certain that was still on his face.

  “Finn sent me,” she said quickly.

  Noel scrubbed a hand over his face to hide the shame he was feeling and took a deep breath.

  “Sorry,” he said. His voice was rough from getting so little sleep. “I didn’t know. I thought you were an annoying delivery man. You…” He shrugged. Babbling like an idiot wouldn’t help.

  She gave a small smile and stepped forward.

  “Well, at least you didn’t point a gun at me this time.”

  Noel glanced to the panel next to his head where a very loaded and ready gun was resting. No point in mentioning that. Maybe he could still salvage the situation without being too much of a dick, and if she was cracking jokes, she obviously wasn’t that scared.

  “I didn’t know you lived so far outside of town,” Haley said and looked around.

  His lot included ten acres of wooded land. Just enough to keep his life private but still close enough that he could go into town when he needed. After all, it wasn’t like his job had been exactly something that lent itself to a rural lifestyle.

  “Finn sent you?” he said, hoping he could get her back on track and out of his hair.

  She pulled out an envelope and placed it in his hand. Her fingers looked so small and delicate next to his own calloused ones.

  They both stared at the white envelope before he placed it in his back pocket. Whatever was inside wasn’t something she needed to get involved in. He was sure of that. Darkness still soaked his world and would for a long time.

  Noel looked back to her. She twisted a strand of red hair that had escaped her pony tail.

  “Was there something else?” he asked.

  He could only pray that she wouldn’t bring up last night.

  “I was just wondering,” she said quietly and looked down at her pretty white sandals. When she looked up, he felt his heart kick up in his chest at her stunning green eyes. “Maybe…” She licked her lips. He hardened at what he’d like to see that mouth of hers do. “Maybe we could go out sometime?”

  Noel froze. Out? His mind seemed to have trouble keeping up with the conversation.

  She stared at him now. Full-on stared at him, and the longer he didn’t talk, the more he realized just how underdressed he was. Her eyes trailed down his chest, and he knew she was seeing every mark, every scar. It was hard to miss them. Hard to miss the odd-looking and puckered flesh that marked Anton’s work.

  “We wouldn’t work,” he said, desperate for something. “You have to know that.”

  Haley’s eyes snapped back to his, and for a moment, he thought she might cry. Instead, she narrowed her eyes.

  “And why is that?” She placed a hand on her hip and raised a brow.

  “You aren’t my type,” he said. Only barely suppressing a grimace, he regretted his words.

  Haley stepped closer, the heat of her body mingling with his.

  She smirked. “Funny, didn’t seem like I wasn’t your type last night.”

  Noel frowned. That hadn’t been what he was expecting.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think I can go for a little grade school teacher,” he said. “You know what I am.”

  Haley pressed her lips together. She shook as she stared at him. If she had lasers for eyes, he would have already been long gone.

  “You know, I think I’m done here,” she said and stepped away. “Do what you want. It’s not like I can change things.” She waved a hand dismissively and then stomped back to her car.

  Before she caught him staring, he stepped inside and closed the door.

  Noel took a deep breath and pulled out the envelope.

  One picture rested inside. It was of a hallway, but he wasn’t really sure where. It just didn’t really make sense.

  Noel studied the picture before tossing it on the table near the door. Another cryptic message. Anton was really starting to piss him off.

  He sighed and glanced out the window as Haley’s old white sedan disappeared down the driveway. For some reason, whenever he saw her, Noel felt a need. Something that burned in him to do something. Anything.

  Instead, he shielded himself. Being with her wasn’t a possibility. Given the life he led and the things he did, he couldn’t be with someone who would be put in danger by just knowing him. He’d already suffered. What would Anton do to someone like her?

  Besides, Noel wasn’t like the others. Finding Anton was everything. He had a debt to pay, and he intended to at all costs.

  His mind flashed back to the night before. Lying on top of her had been heaven. She had soothed parts of him that he didn’t know were hurting. And the way she looked at him filled him with something he’d been missing. Light, maybe?

  He glanced down at his bare chest and cringed at the mangled flesh there. She’d seen the worst of it. Hell, she’d been there when the wounds were still raw and painful. It shouldn’t bother him so much that she saw him this way. And yet it did. This was the man she knew.

  Noel clenched his fists. It was just one more reason to find that bastard and let him know that this wasn’t going to end this way. He would know the pain Noel had suffered.

  He’d take his life back.

  Chapter Eight

  Haley ground her teeth in frustration. She’d wasted the weekend. It ended up being long, not productive and irritating. And because she’d wasted her weekend, she was now having to spend time taking care of stuff she should have taken car
e of Saturday, such as clearing out a corkboard covered with notices and notes at the school.

  She’d spent most of Saturday being pissed at Noel. Grade school teacher? She’d show him what a grade school teacher could do. Or she’d like to show him if she could actually work up the nerve.

  She yanked hard on a piece of paper. The stubborn thing didn’t want to come free of the corkboard. A second later, she finally won the struggle.

  Noel might be able to blow her off, but she wouldn’t lose to a stupid sheet of paper.

  Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out. The screen lit up with ALYSSA, bringing a smile to Haley’s face.

  “Hey,” she said and rested the phone on her shoulder as she continued to tear more little pieces of paper from the wall.

  “How’s it going?” Alyssa asked.

  Haley sighed. “Would it kill these people to maybe not stick stuff up in the most annoying way possible?”

  Alyssa’s sweet laughter sapped Haley’s temper a bit. “So I take it not well?”

  Haley turned and took a seat at a desk. She leaned back and placed her feet on the desk.

  “Oh, it’s fine,” she said. “I’m just in a bad mood.”

  “I thought after your exciting night you’d be in a good mood.”

  Haley leaned her head back. “Yeah, until I went to see him, and he shot me down.”

  “Well, maybe he was just tired.”

  She smiled. Her friend had been trying for months to get her to forget about him, but that still wasn’t going to stop her from supporting Haley when she needed it.

  “I wish, but he was very blunt. Said I wasn’t his type and other stuff. Said he couldn’t go for a school teacher.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I think I’m done,” she said. “He’s not interested in me. How can I keep trying for someone that doesn’t even want to be in the same room as me?” She shook her head. “It’s time for me to give up before I make even more of an ass of myself.”

  Movement in the hall caught her attention, and she stopped talking. It always creeped her out, being in the school when everyone had gone home, even if it wasn’t dark. Something about a building meant for so many people being empty really set her on edge. The quiet was unnerving, and although she had no reason to be scared, it was there.

  One of the janitors appeared around the corner, pushing his cart. He offered her a nod before continuing. She let out the breath she’d been holding.

  “Everything okay?” Alyssa said, her voice tight.

  Guilt ate at Haley. Her friend was pregnant and feeling sick. Plus, she was with Finn, which made her a target for Boris and his thugs.

  Although Haley wasn’t all that clear on everything that was going on in that strange, dark world, she knew that the Russians were mostly hiding out, and that left Finn and his people nervous.

  She shook her head. Alyssa had real problems. Haley just needed to learn to deal.

  “Fine,” she said. “How are you feeling? Any better?”

  “Much.” Haley could hear the smile through the line. “I wanted to thank you for making breakfast the other day. I’ve been on a kick for oatmeal ever since. I think I’ve worn Finn out on it, but I can’t get enough.”

  Haley laughed at the crazy whims of pregnancy. “Better than Julie. She got on a bean and onion burrito kick. I thought her husband was going to move out.”

  Alyssa snickered on the other end. “Maybe I should tell that to Finn and see how he feels about oatmeal after that.”

  Haley arched her back in the chair and stood.

  “I better get off here,” she said. “I want to get this wall done before I head home.”

  “Well, before you go I wanted to invite you out this Friday. Anna has been having a really tough time. Jason is making the divorce hell.”

  “Yeah,” Haley said, staring at the wall. “She seemed upset. This has to be so hard on her after he cheated like that.”

  “I think so,” Alyssa said. “She seems to hold things in and that just isn’t good.”

  Haley shook her head and then sighed. Love was so unfair sometimes. Maybe Noel was doing her a favor. Poor Anna thought she had love, and it’d turned out far worse in the long run.

  “I’d love to go,” she began, “but Mom and I are going to lunch Saturday, and you know she’ll be at the house bright and early.” She cringed at the thought.

  “You know she means well,” Alyssa said. She’d always liked Haley’s parents.

  They weren’t bad people, but they could be a bit extreme when it came to relationships. And her mom was just a bit too much like the 1950’s housewife for her taste. Still, they loved her and really just wanted what was best. Or at least, what they thought was best. She supposed it could be worse. She certainly had a number of friends with terrible parents.

  “Yeah, she means well, but I just can’t keep having the family talk with her. It’s only going to be worse when I tell her you’re pregnant.”

  “You could wait,” Alyssa said.

  Haley smiled. She really was a good friend.

  “No way,” she said, grinning. “Maybe I can distract her by looking at baby stuff.”

  “Good luck. Let me know if you decide to come. I’ll have Finn send someone to get you.”

  Haley laughed. It was funny how her once poor friend had adjusted to the lifestyle. There were definitely perks of dating a mob boss, reformed or otherwise.

  “Shut it, you,” Alyssa huffed. “It’s not so bad having men ready to help at any time.”

  A grin spread across her face. “I bet it’s not.”

  “Be good,” Alyssa laughed. “Call me.”

  “I will.” She smiled.

  Haley hung up the phone and looked around the room. There was still so much work to do before she could go. She walked back over to the wall and groaned. Her arms were going to ache when this was over.

  “I’m so going to throat punch the jerk who did this,” she ground out.

  Glue on a cork board. Who did that?

  * * *

  Several hours passed before she was free.

  The wisdom of the glue became clear once the board was clear. The cork was riddled with holes and likely needed to all be replaced. Though, it would have been nice if the asshole who did it had left her a note to that effect.

  Haley grabbed her purse and massaged her shoulder muscles. A nice, hot soak in the tub would help with that. Maybe a little wine with dinner as well.

  She flicked off the light to the classroom and stepped into the hall. The lights were all on, but the quiet seemed to seep into the corners of the halls. Her sneakers squeaked as she made her way to the door.

  Keys in hand, she pushed out the door and looked around the dark lot. Maybe staying this late had been a bad idea.

  She looked around, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

  Something banged against a trashcan, and she jumped. Her keys fell to the ground, landing with a soft plunk. She scrambled to pick them up.

  Frantic, she looked up to see how much time she had before whoever was out there was on her.

  Hands shaking, she watched as a figure stepped out into the well-lit parking lot. The older janitor raised a hand in a wave and smiled. She took deep breaths to steady her racing heart. All that fear for nothing.

  “Night,” she called out.

  Haley rushed across the lot. She’d been so silly getting so wound up over nothing.

  She laughed a little when she was safely in her car and pulling out of the lot. The whole situation was silly. Things like that didn’t happen to people like her.

  Just because she had some friends connected to some dangerous sorts didn’t change the fact that she was just a teacher. She snickered. If she was dangerous or risky enough to get targeted by creepy psychos, Noel wouldn’t have rejected her.

  Besides, even if something were to happen, it wasn’t like she’d be able to do much besides run. And not very well at that. />
  Bravery had never really been her thing. It wasn’t that she didn’t try, but it just seemed her heart wasn’t in it. Luckily, it also wasn’t something she had to worry much about. The biggest thing she had to be brave over was what brand of yogurt to buy. Rowdy kids just weren’t that dangerous.

  Haley snorted. There was definitely going to be a glass of wine in her future.

  Chapter Nine

  Friday brought a crushing crowd to Cortex. Noel hadn’t really wanted to come to the dance club his boss owned, but there wasn’t much choice.

  The women had all decided to go out for the night, and he’d been assigned to watch them. Riley sat across from him, watching the women as they sat at another table, chatting. At least on their turf, there would be little risk.

  Riley pulled out a card and slid it across the table.

  Noel frowned at the red envelope. Another message from Anton. The asshole sure liked to play games.

  Still, the roach was hiding. Anton was a tough guy with a bunch of other guys around, but the way he kept sending cards told Noel all he needed to know about how brave the guy was in the end. He knew who would come out on top if they were alone in a room together.

  “When did this get in?” Noel said, flipping open the top and pulling out the card.

  “Last night,” Riley said, his eyes still trained on the women. Everyone had noticed his particular attention to all things Anna.

  Noel opened the card.

  Another picture slipped out from between the folds.

  He stared at the cute little house, feeling as if he’d seen it somewhere before. This time the card inside was blank. Anton was going to have to be less vague if he was hoping to get a rise out of him.

  “Know the place?” Riley said.

  He looked back down at the house.

  “I think so, but I can’t place it. My head’s shit right now, though. So who knows?”