Page 42 of Smoke and Mirrors

“Not up to us to ask questions,” Axel replies.

“Fuck that! I say we ask Noah as soon as he comes out of the briefing,” Luca replies.

“For once, I’m with Luca,” Eli answers.

Tanner rests her hands on the table, leaning forward and sighing. “I really want to know what’s going on, too. But guys, you know the rules… if they don’t tell you, don’t ask.”

Blair shrugs. “Tanner’s right! And fuck, I wanna know what the hell could hurt Noah like that, but I don’t know if I’m willing to risk my job over it.”

Eli groans as Luca rolls his eyes.

“You bunch of pussies,” Luca quips.

“I’ll try and talk to Noah one on one. I’ll also try talking with boss. See if I can be read into a Loft briefing. Maybe then, I can understand a bit more of what’s happening around us. I’m not happy that one of us is being sent out there without the rest of us knowing or without us for protection. In the meantime, we should all go home and get some rest.”

“You gonna be okay going home?” Luca asks.

“Why wouldn’t he be okay at home?” Tanner asks.

I glare at Luca and tense up waiting for him, Axel, or Eli to say something.

Luca talks first. “Because he’s banging his neighbor, and she’s becoming a stage five clinger. If he goes home now, she might be there, and he might not get any of that much-needed sleep boss was telling him about.”

Tanner and Blair smile as Axel and Eli both fold their arms in a show of annoyance.

“Kace, my man, finally stepping out of the world of abstinence and getting some,” Blair says.

I roll my eyes and leer at Luca, who’s smirking maniacally.

“It’s not even like that, it’s complicated—”

“Oh shit! You like her?” Tanner asks.

“Okay, we are not talking about my relationship status, thank you, people.”

“Awww, this was just getting interesting,” Tanner taunts with a bright smile.

“Okay, go home, everyone,” I demand.

“Spoilsport,” Luca says, slapping my back as everyone heads for the door.

Luca pulls on my arm, making me stop as we wait for everyone to leave. I look at him raising an eyebrow. He looks around making absolutely sure everyone is gone, then slumps his shoulders. “Do you want to stay at my place?”

I smile because for all of his shortcomings, he really is a good friend. “I’m good. Don’t worry. I’m gonna stay in my apartment. I’m not gonna go see her. I’ll give her the space she needs to process.”

He exhales and shakes his head. “Let’s just hope that process doesn’t involve going to the papers and selling our identities.”

I chuckle. “That’s not her. I know her well enough to know that.”

“You better hope so, Kace, or we’ll be assassinated by this time tomorrow.”

I nod once. “Noted.”

Chapter Thirteen

LILY

Screw work.

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