Page 62 of The Contract

I want to kill Rafael right now.

“Don’t glare at him,” Noah says, policing us up like we’re still teenagers. “He’s looking out for you.”

I disagree. I think he’s being a dick. But I stop looking at him as he goes into the kitchen and starts making a drink.

I sit on the stool that Noah shoves my way with his foot.

Noah reminds me, “When I agreed to let you wage your agonizingly drawn-out war against Capelli, you made me a promise.”

“I know.”

“You promised that you could handle it. That you had the self-control for it.”

“I do.”

He regards me steadily. It’s very familiar, that assessing look from Noah. There’s never judgment in it, but there’s way too much insight.

He says, “You did then. You don’t now.”

“Bullshit. Nothing’s fucking changed—”

“Tell me about Tristan.”

What the fuck is this? “Tristan has nothing to do with it!”

Noah isn’t the least bit unsettled by my anger. He’s seen a lot worse. In the early days, when he was bigger than me, he put me on the ground more than once. He had to.

Noah reminds me, “You gave him my number.”

“Foremergencies.”

“He called me.”

“Because he was being an ass.”

“No, he called me because you moved him in with you against his will.”

“And I got him his own apartment, like you fucking insisted. And he’s barely set foot in it. Because he didn’t fucking want it.”

“Why did you move him in with you? You’ve never done that before.”

“So you’re here to bust my ass about Tristan?”

“I’m trying to understand what’s going on with you. You’re losing control.”

“Tristan has nothing to do with what happened with Capelli’s crew! If you want to bust my ass about that, fine, but fucking leave Tristan out of this.”

“You were kissing him,” Rafael puts in as he pours a drink. I slap it off the counter, all too happy to unleash my aggression on him.

“What’s your fucking problem, Rafael? And what did you say to him last night?”

“It’s not going to work, Dante. You know it isn’t. Cut him loose. He’s getting attached.”

“Fuck you!”

“Dante! Rafael!” Noah barks. “Both of you, back the fuck down!”

I don’t realize I’m on my feet until Noah’s in my face. Usually, I chill the hell out when Noah does this. Usually, I yield to him.

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