Page 96 of H E R
In front of us, Jasmin snorts. A ‘who gives a fuck’ sort of gesticulation. But Niki’s eyes grow wide with fear. “By who?”
I wish I could tell her he’s behind bars again. Getting him out of jail is easy. This, well… this is different. “Vork’s men. He forced his way into one of their well-known establishments. Made a scene, shot his gun a few times.”
Threw some names that he assumed would get him out of the situation he’d buried himself in—my name, to be exact. But I’m not going to tell her that. If Noah thought blaming me would get him off of Vork’s radar, he quickly found out how wrong he was. Vork can give two shits when it comes to weeping, finger-pointing men.
“How? When? And where is henow?”
The panic in her voice strikes at a part hidden deep inside my chest cavity and a pang of… I don’t know what holds the ventricles of my heart in a vise grip. I remind myself of Niki’s feelings toward Noah. I always knew she cared. I focus on the platonic aspect of that love, and remind myself that my fucking ego isn’t important. She’s worried about the dumbass, and if she wants to run to his rescue, we’ll do just fucking that.
The car is silent.
“He’s going to need reinforcements. Noah was drunk and yelling about all sorts of shit. I didn’t know if it would implicate you somehow, so I had Jason send someone to pick Jule up, just in case. Noah’s… being held.” To put it lightly.
“You’re notseriouslyconsidering going to rescue him?” Jasmin leans toward Niki.
I already know the answer, but it seems everyone in the car, even the fucking nosy ass driver, perk their ears up.
“I can’t just leave him. What about his mom? He’s all she’s got. Noah is my friend, Jas. I have to go.”
“I take it that Noah is the ex.” Olivia turns completely and elevates one crisp brow at me.
I grind my teeth, and the bones in my neck pop loudly when I pivot my head. It was a mistake to turn away from Liv. My eyes meet Charles’ and the look of awe coupled with his stupid grin is enough to send me to my fucking grave.
“You guys don’t have to come with me—”
Jasmin rolls her eyes. “Right, like we’d leave you to resolve that fucker’s problem.”
Niki buries her face into her hands, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders. Her breaths are sharp yet hollow–as if she’s finally about to let go and break down in front of everyone. But she doesn’t. My heat envelops her and her body relaxes into mine.
“How bad is it?”
Her big brown eyes stare into mine and the need to travel back in time to beat sense into Noah twists my insides to knots. Son of a bitch. “Last his tail informed, pretty bad. Vork knows he burned down a small warehouse of supplies. He doesn’t respond lightly to betrayal.”
Niki snorts. “Neither do I but… shit. What do we do?”
“Vork isn’t there. He never lingers after delivering a death sentence.”
I want to put a dent in Charles’s face. Why the fuck does he think uttering the wordsdeath sentenceis a good way to go? Seriously, who the fuck is this guy and why is he still here?
“Deathsentence?” Niki searches my face. “We have to get him out of there.”
I choose to ignore the worry in her tone and instead pull out my phone. Jason was smart enough to deliver our devices along with the getaway van. I tap on the link he provided and hand my phone to the driver. I knew this was exactly how shit would play out once she was told, but it’s not something I can keep.
“Do I get a voice in this? I’m not really in the mood for another search and rescue.”
Jasmin nods, agreeing with Charles, but Niki glares at him. “We’ll gladly drop you off on the side of the road. But that just means you’ll miss out on the ride toparadise.”
What?What fuckingparadise?
Charles seems to know exactly what Niki eludes to, and he responds by leaning back and lighting another cigarette. His silence is filled with more vexation than if he would’ve spoken his retort. Not like I would ever tell Niki, but I agree with the fucker–I don’t feel like going off to rescue Noah’s dumb ass after the shit we just went through. I don’t know if I want to mentally fist bump Charles or kick his ass out of the van.
“I can practically hear your thoughts, but you won’t get rid of me that easily,officer. Justice and I have unfinished business,” Charles says, but he doesn’t even turn to face me. He’s still staring out the window, the cigarette smoke covers the space around him like a gray clouded aura.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Olivia giggles to herself, amused by my jealous bout. But Niki grabs my hand and squeezes it, and I turn to face her serious glare. “Not here… not now,” she says, and it sounds like she’s fucking lecturing me.
I breathe in sharply and clear my throat. If everything would’ve gone smoothly, I would be reviewing Jason’s report on Charles and learning exactly who the fuck he is and how he connects to Niki. Instead, I’m riding in a fucking van with him to rescue another idiot from my woman’s life. Shit just gets better and better. I glance at my phone sitting atop the van’s dashboard and regret not asking Jason if he managed to dig anything up. The uncertainty is practically gnawing at me, an out of control and painful spasm tearing at my fucking tendons, and I wriggle both my wrists and shoulders in an attempt to rid myself of the sickening feeling.