Page 38 of Mine to Keep

When Gabe had first come to me and my brothers to vote on helping Mason, I’d thought he was insane to be so obsessed with him. I’d even told Noel Gabe was dick-whipped and that falling for people was a weakness. Gabe was determined, and in the end I was glad we had. Mason was good people.

Then JJ’s need to help Four—same fight, only it was clear Four was a mess and needed help. Either way, JJ hadn’t buckled. Now here I was, trying to step in and save Matt from someone who sent him gifts and left notes?

This stalker hadn’t even attempted to touch Matt, but I was in deep. It was like an itch under my skin, a need to make it better.

I shut off the water, dried my hair, brushed my teeth, and wrapped the towel around my waist.

I dressed quickly and collapsed onto my bed. I wanted to work at my computer, but JJ and Mason were right. My eyes felt like sand and as soon as I surrendered to it, I fell asleep.

Knockingon my door woke me. I was confused, not knowing what time it was, what day it was. That was why naps were evil. More knocking.

“Fucking hell, come in.”

The door opened and Noel waltzed in. He scanned my room—looking for what, I had no idea—and then met my “What the fuck?” expression.

“Where have you been?”

I opened my arms. “Here, you fucking moron.”

He rolled his eyes. “I thought for sure you’d pop out when Matt was here to force your assistance on him again.”

I grabbed my phone, it was six at night. “Shit. I slept a long time.”

“You clearly needed it.” Noel sat in my desk chair and woke up my computer. I had six monitors, and all of them were currently dedicated to Matt.

“You hacked into the CCTV here but why not on Crest Avenue?”

“They aren’t working. What did Matt say, is he quitting?”

Noel spun in his chair. My brother narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. That was his “trying to figure me out” look. It was rare that we didn’t know what each other was thinking.

“Why are you so invested in Matt?”

“My gut. It’s telling me it’s gonna get bad.” I motioned to my computer. “You can see for yourself. Crazy people are coming to his door and everything.”

Noel made no move to check; he believed me. “And if I told you Matt was quitting?”

“Is he?”

“Answer me, Nick.”

“I’d keep watching him.”

He nodded. “So, nothing changes. Why does him being here affect you?” When I didn’t respond, Noel continued. “Because he’ll be here three times a week and you can personally see he’s okay, and maybe you can convince him to let us help…do I have that right?”

“Did he quit, Noel?”

“No. He said he’d stay on, but that’s all he said.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Thanks.”

“Come out and eat. We ordered Chinese tonight, and it’s Gabe’s turn to pick a movie, so you know it’ll be bloody.”

“I’ll be right out.”

Noel left, and I fell against my pillow for a minute; then I was up and over to my computer. I went back to the morning and watched his Ring, the street cameras I could access, and the garage cameras. I watched as he and Darnell walked out together. Only Matt was seen in the garage—likely Darnell had parked on the street. No note, that was good.

I was curious about the time that he was here. So I watched until JJ shouted that it was time to eat. I grabbed my phone and synced it. I could only split my phone between two sections, so I’d watch two at a time.

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