Page 47 of Smoke and Mirrors

She calls to me, her body, her mind, her sweet heart. She’s everything I thought I could never have or be worthy of. Yet she’s finally letting me in, and it’s almost like I’m having withdrawals. I just need a fix, just to know if she’s okay. I know physically she is, I’ve been keeping track of her. But mentally? I’m still not quite sure. And that—that is driving me crazy. I know I said I’d stay away from her, but my resolve is weakening.

And after her visit this afternoon, the walls have begun to crumble completely.

I want her, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

Approaching my door, I notice someone standing in the hall. My muscles tense when I notice the figure in the shadows, but the stature is familiar. I move my hand closer to the hidden Glock at my hip as I approach, but when I get closer, Noah steps out and gives me a chin lift. He’s wearing his glasses so I know he’s off duty, but then again, you’re never really off duty when you’re a part of SO7. His tall stature and broad shoulders would intimidate some, but not me as they match my height. His disheveled brown hair and slightly longer-than-normal growth of beard covering his chin make me think something’s on his mind.

“Noah? Where the fuck have you been?” I ask as he steps forward to greet me. Noah hadn’t been at the briefing this afternoon, and he’s been off the grid since my mom called him into the Loft for this mysterious assignment.

I’m not happy.

Noah is one of my men. I hate the idea of him being out there alone without our backup and support even though I know he’s capable of handling himself.

The Seven is a team. We have each other’s backs.

I’m pissed my mother put him in this situation.

Noah exhales and shakes his head. “Kace… man, I swear I didn’t know.” His voice is strained, and his brows furrow.

I clench my face and tilt my head slightly. “Didn’t know what?”

He looks toward Lily’s door, and my chest heaves slightly. Noah might look like a complete nerd, but don’t treat him like a fool because he’s one of the Seven’s most lethal killers.

“Noah?”

He looks back to me and reaches his hand out grabbing my arm. “I didn’t know you were a thing,” he replies, and I look down at his arm noticing the wounds.

Fresh wounds.

Scrapes and holes.

Scabbing wounds.

Bite marks.

My breath catches, and I heave slightly as I pull his sleeve up higher to reveal more bite marks. He winces as I lift his shirt to reveal severe lacerations to his side that have been stitched. My eyes flick up to his as he shakes his head, and his eyes plead with me to understand.

But I don’t.

I don’t understand at all.

“You? Fuck! Noah… what the hell?”

“Like I said, I didn’t know she was your girl!”

Fury floods every inch of me making me rage red hot. My skin prickles in intense anger as I shove him hard against the wall. He doesn’t fight me as I pull him up the wall slightly and glare at him through gritted squeaking teeth. “What the fuck were you doing, going after Lily? Were you there to kill her?”

He sighs and shakes his head. “I was. It was a kill order. Then Daisy came out confusing the fuck out of me. She tore me to shreds, and I bailed out the balcony when I heard you guys coming in. That confused the shit out of me, too.”

“But why the hell were you there to kill her in the first place, Noah? You’re supposed to be on my team?” I yell in his face, spittle flying from my mouth in utter aggravation.

“Kace… man, I was just following orders!”

I scoff. “Following orders? The only orders you should be following are from me. Who the fuck are you working for? Are you a double agent? I swear to God, Noah, if you’re double-crossing The Agency, I’m going to rip your—”

“The order came from your mom,” he blurts out quickly, effectively cutting me off.

My body stiffens as everything starts to spin. I drop my grip on Noah as he slides down the wall, and I heave in and out of my mouth as I shake my head trying to figure out what the fuck he’s just told me, and more importantly, what’s going on.

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