Page 25 of Duke of Ruin

He releases me from his mouth, gasping for air as he slides onto his knees next to the couch and rests his head against my hip. I gasp for breath but reach down to stroke his hair, both of us still shuddering from release.

“I love you, Eli,” Noah says, turning his face into my abs. “Please know that no matter what, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I say between breaths as I run my fingers down his cheek. “I believe you.”

We sit like that for a few more minutes, catching our breath before I’m finally brave enough to ask, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“It can wait,” he says as he lifts himself off the floor. He takes my hands and pulls me up from the couch, then leads me over to the bed where we lay down, curling up together like an old married couple. I wrap my arms around him and he lays his head on my chest, a scene completely at odds with the rough handling he was capable of a few minutes ago. I continue to stroke his cheek, and before I can say anything else he’s snoring softly.

I consider extricating myself and searching for something to eat, but I don’t want to break this moment, and before I can think too hard about it, I’m nodding off to sleep.

* * *

Noah is gone the next morning. He left me a note that says he’ll let me know when he has a new phone, and I start to wonder what happened to his old one. I’d been so selfish last night I didn’t even bother to ask. I didn’t ask about his car, either. Damn, it’s a harsh realization just how self-absorbed I can be. He’d had a rough day too, but still let me use him as a salve for my own pain. I can’t even comprehend why he cares about me the way he does.

The mirror in the bathroom is still fogged up from his shower, so he must not have been gone long, but I was so exhausted I slept right through it. Still, if there’s anything I’ve learned it’s that there’s no going back from here. I love that man, and nothing is going to take that away from me.

9

NOAH

Forcing myself to stay away from Eli has proven to be more difficult than anything I’ve ever done. Keeping him out of my apartment, even more so. I should be bothered by how often he shows up unannounced, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t always happy to see him. He’s been nervous lately, though. He told me about the upcoming shipment, but I kept him from giving me too many details. I don’t know how much Rossi is listening to me, and I can’t be too careful.

I found at least three bugs in my apartment, and I’ve managed to either disable them or keep them quiet, but there could always be more. There was also a tracker on both my phone and in my car. I picked up a burner, an old-school flip phone that’s almost less than useless, and I’ve been struggling to convince Eli that it’s just until my new phone arrives. Thankfully, Montcove has a great public transit system, so I don’t have to mess with the car, at least most of the time.

But I’m sitting in it now as I wait for Rossi. My mind races with what’s going to happen. There’s no way he hasn’t noticed that all the bugs on me have gone silent or that my car has been sitting still for a week, but with the elimination of his contact in the family—Reese “disappeared” about two days ago—maybe he’ll pull back a bit. No matter what, as soon as I can convince Eli to come with me, I’m running. I’ve already found us a place in California. I pushed the papers through with an alias yesterday, and I’m going to talk to Eli tonight.

I’ve tried so many times to come clean already, but something always gets in the way. I just hope Eli doesn’t hate me when I drop this bomb. My spiraling thoughts come to a halt when Rossi pulls into the parking spot next to mine. My pulse racing and my senses on high alert, I dutifully exit my car and jump into his passenger seat. If I can convince him that I’m still collecting evidence, that should give me the time I need to get Eli the hell out of here. Rossi is definitely arrogant enough to think he’s bullied me into going along with his plan.

“I notice your phone’s been turned off,” Rossi growls as soon as I get in.

“Eli got paranoid,” I lie.

“You definitely seem to be spending a lot of time at his ‘secret’ apartment,” Rossi says, using his fingers to make air quotes.

I keep my face neutral. I suspected that he knew about the apartment thanks to the tracker in my phone, but his mention of it sets my pulse racing, and I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“What have you got for me?” he asks as he turns to face me. His hand rests on the grip of his sidearm, but this time I have mine, too.

“Nothing new,” I lie again.

“Bullshit, kid,” Rossi says, and his jaw ticks. “I know there’s a shipment coming in, a big one. When’s it happening?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say through clenched teeth. “Eli doesn’t give me details since the family has been asking around about me. He thinks it’s safer if I don’t know what’s going on.”

“He gives you a lot more than details,” Rossi says with a huff, and I have to stop myself from decking him in the jaw.

“Look, if you want more, then I’ll need more time to get the family to trust me,” I say, clenching my fists at my sides.

“They might be able to trust you, but I sure as fuck don’t,” Rossi says, tightening his grip on his gun. “All of a sudden you’re not giving me anything, the bugs are quiet, and your movements aren’t being tracked. How am I supposed to know you haven’t switched sides?”

“You’re one to talk about trust,” I shoot back. “Or do you not remember threatening my life the last time we met?”

“You needed the motivation. You’re getting too distracted by your personal feelings.” Rossi rolls his eyes like I’m the one being petulant.

“I need more time,” I say again. I shift so that my own weapon is within reach.

“Where’s the damn shipment?” Rossi says.

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