Page 15 of Shattered

She was right. Their argument was pointless and going nowhere fast. Without all the information, we had no idea if their plan had merit.

“Why don’t we all just calm the fuck down for a minute and have a discussion like a bunch of adults,” I offered, steering Jade toward the couch, away from any potential blowback.

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Noah’s head swung in my direction; his eyes narrowed to slits.

“Fuck you, Koen,” he seethed. “What if we were talking about putting Jade in danger?”

My long stride ate up the space between us as I came to an abrupt stop next to Keaton. Noah wasn’t fooling anyone except himself. The idiot had it bad, but was too damn stubborn to go for what he wanted. I’d suspected for months his feelings for Lanie ran deeper than being coworkers and friends. Now he’d unknowingly shown his cards.

“The difference is Lanie’s a highly trained, highly lethal FBI agent.”

“Even the best of the best can get dead.”

“Noah.” Lanie pushed her way through our makeshift barricade. “We have to hear them out, and you need to trust I wouldn’t do anything to put a target on my back.”

“Not you I don’t trust, Lanes.”

“Listen. I grew up with Brandon Little. We were friends. Hell, he even dated my best friend before she disappeared. It’s going to be okay.”

“Your best friend who was abducted into a humantrafficking ring, then later killed? How sure are you that he wasn’t involved back then?”

“I’m positive. His family moved out of state six months before it happened.”

“Whatever. He still could’ve been in on it.”

Lanie ignored him, returned to her seat, and grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza out of the box. The timing of it all did seem eerily suspicious, especially given the kind of people Brandon was involved with. I had no doubt Noah would be looking into it further.

Jade

Even with my alcohol-induced brain fog, I detected the pulse of sexual tension between the two of them. I had no idea what caused the usually unflappable Noah to flip his shit, and I’m not sure I wanted to. Thankfully, after his momentary outburst, everything calmed down.

Once the pizza was completely devoured, Noah bid us all goodnight as he slipped out the front door, with Lanie quickly on his heels. Keaton and Henley weren’t far behind them, leaving Koen and I to clean up the remnants of the impromptu get-together.

My stomach flipped at the notion of being alone with him, sending a tidal wave of apprehension through my system. I was almost certain he’d been about to kiss me in the kitchen earlier, and the crazy part was, I wanted him to finish what he started.

For so long, I’d been hyperfocused on simply surviving that I’d dismissed any possibility of an intimate relationship. Jett’s well-being would always be my priority, even if it meant my wants and needs took a back seat. However, as I watched Koen gather the full trash bag out of the can,setting it outside, I wondered if I’d been mistaken. Was it possible to give my brother the worldandbe happy at the same time? My heart stuttered behind my ribs at the thought. I guess I was about to find out.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

A hint of concern laced his deep voice. My eyes stung as wetness gathered on my lashes. When was the last time someone asked me that question and truly meant it? Maybe…never?

“Nothing.” I breathed deeply through my nose to stem the flow of unwanted tears.

“No more hiding from me, Jade. I’m here for you, through good times and bad. It may be unconventional, but we’re going to be married soon and I take those vows seriously.”

“How soon is soon?”

“By the end of the week, if I can make it happen.”

“Could we keep it a secret for a little while?” His clean-shaven jaw clenched and he looked about ready to put up a fight, so I blurted out, “I don’t want our friends judging us for rushing to the altar.”

“They’d never do that; however, I understand where you’re coming from. We can keep our marriage quiet for now, but I won’t keep the fact we’re dating from them.”

“Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Angel.”

“Why do you call me that?”

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