Page 15 of Under the Lies

Noah sits in the middle, a neat glass of amber gold in hand, watching his friends intensely.

And he’s not alone.

A woman straddles his lap, lips roaming over his neck and along his jaw. She molds into his body while he sits board stiff. She’s the only one in the room not paying attention to what’s going on. She’s too focused on attacking Noah’s throat, his chin, the peeking of his chest beneath his unbuttoned collared.

He seems wholly unaffected by her. It brings a cynical smile to my face. I wipe it away immediately.

The temperature in the room drops, the air is tight as people stare. Reeve raises a single brow and Noah nods.

And with that nod action snaps into place.

Gabe snatches Henry’s arms and pulls him off his chair only to slam his chest on the card table, his face smashed against the black felt as he shouts to be let go.

Gabe does nothing but smile. One that promises pain and blood. Chills wrack my body at the sight. With one hand pinning Henry down by the neck, Gabe shoves his other hand into the other man’s pockets.

“Hey what—what are you doing!” Henry shouts, bucking his hips to shake Gabe off. Gabe’s grip tightens as he pulls his out of one of Henry’s pockets, fist clenched.

“Weeding out a rat,” he whispers, full of venom.

He lets go of Henry, moving to his side, and Henry uses that as an opportunity to get up. Reeve stops him with a whack to his spine, his cane resting like an iron bar on Henry’s back.

A smile stretches Reeve’s face. Relishing in the ripples of pain that wrack Henry’s body as he brings down his cane again, the sound piercing the room. It’s gone deathly quiet. Not even a breath stirs the charged air.

I chance a glance at Noah but he is no longer in the booth. He’s striding to his friends with unhurried steps. His face remains impassive while his blue eyes flare with wanton rage.

When he nears, Gabe opens his hand and poker chips fall from his palm, between his finger, to their feet. Almost in slow motion one rolls on the ground, stopping before Noah’s shoes.

He steps on it, continuing his march to Henry. Brin and I share a look of worry, of fear and the unknown, as he bends at the waist to meet Henry’s eyes.

“Trying to steal from me, Porter?” Noah’s whisper reaches my ears. There is no promise of salvation in it. “You should know I don’t take kindly to people stealing from me.”

Henry doesn’t answer. I see the back of his legs shake uncontrollably.

Noah sounds pissed beneath the calm and control he’s wielding over his body. I hold my breath as he waves Reeve away. He helps Henry stand up, holding on to his arm.

“Do you know what happens when people try to steal from me?” Noah still has a hand on Henry’s arm.

Henry hesitantly shakes his head.

A crack, then a scream fills the room.

Henry collapses to the floor, his arm still in Noah’s grip though it’s bent at an awkward angle between them. A piece of bone protrudes and I have to force myself not to gag.

Noah broke Henry’s arm. He broke his arm and he’s wearing a smile.

They all are. Reeve, Thea, and Gabe are grinning ear to ear. Enjoying this.

My stomach churns. Noah drops the arm and Henry howls out in anguish.

“Get him out of here,” he growls. Thea skips over to the body and hauls him up. Noah gives her a look and in a hushed tone that my ears strain to hear he says, “You know what to do.”

With a smile too sweet for the circumstances, she nods and leads him out of the ballroom. Gabe and Reeve, who’s whistling, stroll out leisurely behind her.

At first, there is only silence as the door shuts behind them.

Then, Noah shatters it.

“Let this be a lesson to everyone here.” Noah doesn’t shout. Doesn’t yell. His voice is steady. A lethal quiet that causes everyone in the room to lean forward to hear what he has to say. He holds the room on a precipice, antsy with anticipation and fear. We just saw him break the arm of a thief. “Anyone who tries to cheat or steal at The Underground will be caught and dealt with.” A pause. “By me.” One hand slips into his pocket, his body still tight with tension. “And next time I won’t stop at a warning.”

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