Page 87 of Felix

“Noel, did you tell anyone about him?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he says. “I told our boss, but he didn’t seem concerned.”

Of course not.

“I’ll be right there,” I tell him, eyes on Emil. “Don’t leave the club, okay?”

“Thank you, Christian,” he says in clear relief.

When I hang up, Emil is already closing his laptop. “Where are we going?” he asks.

We. My heart kicks.

“My friend Noel might need some help,” I explain. “He works about twenty minutes from here.”

Emil nods, pulling out his phone. “Name?”

I rattle it off, and Emil’s fingers fly over the screen as I climb off the bed, quickly unpinning the muslin around my waist. I pull on some pants as Emil’s phone and my own start pinging in rapid succession.

“Who are you texting?” I ask.

“The crew,” he answers simply.

By the time I’m dressed, Emil is waiting for me. He hands me my phone, and my throat closes up as I look at the screen. Emil started a group chat with our coworkers.

Specs: Need help. Knee Highs on The Strip.

Dixon: OMW.

Niko: We’re twenty-five minutes out.

Alex: Rowan is bringing his bat. Ignore the knickerbockers. We were doing…a thing.

Teddy: Leaving now.

Kipp: I’m in the chat!

Alex: Porn stars assemble, bitches! Yeehaw!

“Come on,” Emil says gently, giving my arm a tug. “Let’s go.”

Blinking the moisture from my eyes, I nod, and we head out the door.

My foot taps the floor of the car as Emil drives us across town. I text Max on the way, certain he’d want to know what’s going on with Noel. He doesn’t answer right away, and I can only hope he gets my message soon. The drive seems to take forever, but after exactly twenty minutes, Emil parks beside the club.

I see a lot of familiar faces as we walk through the front doors. A few of my old coworkers wave, and I return their hellos, but I don’t stop to chat. I head right toward the bar where Noel is standing. He heaves out a sigh when he sees me coming.

“You okay?” I ask as soon as I’m close.

He nods. “Yeah. I’m probably being paranoid, but I just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.”

“Where is this guy?”

He cants his head behind him. “Black shirt. Near the wall.”

My gaze sweeps the area. “Sitting alone?”

Noel nods.

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