Page 74 of Saving Noah

Wayne drew in a deep breath and met Zach’s gaze. “Like you, Zach, I grew up in the club. My dad was an enforcer for the Georgia president. Unlike you, my dad never wanted me to be a member of the club, fought me tooth and nail when I joined. He insisted on things like completing high school and, hopefully, moving on to college. He wanted better things for me, but I was too dumb or too stubborn to open my eyes and see how right he was…and how wrong I was. I’d created this glamorous version of the club in my mind, and nobody could pry it out of my head, not even my own father. The day I took the oath was one of the saddest days of my father’s life. I was flying high, but he was crashing and burning.” Wayne reached up to cover Connor’s hand resting on his shoulder, appearing to gather strength from the simple touch. “Needless to say, it didn’t take long for the glamor to tarnish and reality to set in. It was ugly. It was brutal. I saw and did things that blackened my soul. After the first year, I wanted out. O-U-T, out.” He laughed bitterly. “As I’m sure you know, you don’t just leave the brotherhood. Once a member, always a member. I was miserable and slowly started hating myself and, even worse, started hating my father—the very man who’d tried to warn me off the club. We fought. I rebelled. I barely existed and was headed down a path that would have eventually led to them making me disappear.”

“Are…are you still a member?” Noah asked.

Zach knew Noah was exhausted, but he was wide awake, eyes glued to Wayne. He looked so worried about his friend. It was amazing that someone who had been betrayed over and over again could still put all their faith in a person. Zach wished his heart were that pure.

Wayne shrugged. “Yes and no. Like I said, once a member, always a member. You never really get completely out of the club, no matter what. In my case, I ended up getting somewhat of a ‘free pass’ ticket.” His eyes turned to Zach as he added, “Kinda like what Zach got.”

“Your father?” Zach asked.

“Yeah. My father gave his life protecting the president of our chapter—literally took the bullet meant for Gabriel. I didn’t know it, but he had a written agreement with Gabriel that, if anything happened to him, if he gave his life for the club, his son would be given a pass.” Wayne took a deep breath. “I would be allowed to walk away from the club without any retribution. I hated him and made sure he knew I hated him for introducing me to that lifestyle. In return for that hate, he forfeited his life so I could have mine back.”

Noah was frowning. “But you said you’d taken a…a…demon oath to protect Zach. I assume that’s a biker club oath of some kind? If you aren’t a member any longer, why do that?”

Wayne laughed again, but this time, it sounded more genuine. “Well, kid, you never really leave the club. I may have been given my freedom back, but club freedom always comes with a price. Before leaving, I had to agree to be on call if the brothers ever needed me.” His eyes turned back to Zach. “When Zach and Connor moved into my area, I was suddenly on call. Gabriel visited me and let me know the club expected me to keep an eye on Zach and to make sure he stayed safe. I thought to myself that it should be a simple job. I mean, how much trouble can a good doctor get into, right?”

Noah blushed. “Yeah, that’s on me.”

“Well, I’ll just say that the good doctor turned out to be more trouble than I anticipated. Hell, I might have even considered going on the run from the club and leaving Dr. Meadows to handle his shit by himself, but then I saw his bestie and I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“That’s me,” Connor piped up. “I’m the bestie. I’m the reason he stayed.” He winked at Noah. “Yeah, that’s on me.”

Zach frowned. “I don’t get it. Why would they care if I stayed safe or not? The club should want me dead. Hell, my own father should want me dead.”

“Apparently not,” Wayne conceded. “When Gabriel came to me, he said he owed your father a debt that could never be repaid and your father wanted him to make sure you were safe—to watch over his son when he couldn’t.”

“But why?” Zach couldn’t begin to understand what was happening or why it was happening. “He should hate me. He’s in prison because of me. He’ll die in prison because of me.”

“No, Zach,” Noah growled. “He’s in prison because of the crimes he committed. Because of the drugs, the weapons deals, the human trafficking…all of it. He put himself in prison, not you.”

Noah was right…but also wrong.

“It must have been quite a debt, too,” Wayne interjected. “The Demons really stepped up for your father, Zach.”

“What do you mean? What else besides making sure Moretti didn’t kill me?”

“Well, that’s a pretty big damned deal, Meadows,” Connor countered. “Keeping you and Noah alive turned out to be a full-time job.” He motioned for Wayne to turn on the television. As Wayne held up the remote and started channel surfing, Connor continued, “Wayne kept the brotherhood up to date on what was happening with you and Noah, who we thought the threat was coming from, and then, eventually, who was responsible for Noah’s abduction and attempted murder. All the while, Wayne was busy trying to keep yours and Noah’s asses safe, mine satisfied, and the club up to date. He was doing all of this while you were bitching at him and sending him the stink eye every chance you got. I bet you feel like shit now, don’t you, Meadows?” Connor scratched at the wound covering Zach’s heart but did it in a way that only a best friend could.

Zach did feel like shit. He didn’t like that Wayne had once been a member of the same clusterfuck he’d been involved with, but he totally understood where the guy was coming from. Their lives had been very similar but the exit from the club so very different. He still couldn’t begin to comprehend why his father would want to protect him. None of it made sense.

“Wait! There. What’s going on?” Noah yelped, startling Zach from his thoughts. His lover, as weak as a kitten, struggled to rise up into a sitting position so he could get a closer look at the television. Zach helped Noah up and then moved to sit directly behind him, offering a solid wall of muscles and love for him to lean back on since Zach knew Noah wouldn’t have the strength to hold himself up. Once Noah was situated, Zach glanced at the television to see the Moretti name flashing across the bottom of the screen while news reporters were gathered outside a huge mansion. Helicopters flew overhead and police tape decorated the background for the reporter as she talked into her microphone.

“Turn it up,” Noah yelled.

The four of them sat in silence, listening to the latest news on the Moretti crime family. Zach’s throat tightened up in fear for about two seconds before his heart exploded with joy and relief.

“Last night, while the FBI was busy investigating the possible murder of the senior Moretti crime boss in his prison cell, it appears some sort of vigilante justice took place at the luxurious home ofDante Moretti, the son of Donovan Moretti and the apparent next-in-line to rule the notorious Las Vegas crime family—alleged crime family. Our sources are telling us that during a meeting between Dante Moretti and his top advisors, to discuss the recent death of his father, someone—or several vigilantes according to unconfirmed reports—shot their way into the heavily armed compound and murdered every attending member, including Dante Moretti. Sources tell us the massacre may have been the work of a rival organization taking advantage of Moretti gathering his troops and convincing them of his ability to fill his father’s notorious shoes. While we haven’t received solid confirmation from the FBI agents on the scene, our behind the scenes informant verifies the deceased are only members of the Moretti organization. We will continue to update you as we receive details. Hopefully what happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas this time, and we’ll be able to shed more light on the gruesome details ofjustice…vigilante style.”

The reporter smiled into the camera like she was the funniest comedienne in the world, and Zach’s heart soared straight out of his fucking chest. Moretti was dead?

Noah was safe.

“Oh, my God! He’s dead, Zach. Moretti is dead.” Noah gushed and wiggled around for a hug. Before Zach knew what had happened, Noah straddled his lap and kissed him with reckless abandon. He was practically doing a lap dance while their lips tangoed. When he broke away for a breath, Noah said, “He’s dead and you didn’t have to kill him. Holy shit. He’s dead. I’m safe. You’re safe.” He leaned in and whispered against Zach’s ear, “I really want you to fuck me right now. I can’t promise I won’t pass out from weakness right in the middle of it, so I’m gonna tell you ahead of time that it’s the best I’ve ever had. He’s fucking dead, babe. No more worries.”

Zach couldn’t help but laugh at Noah’s enthusiasm. The smile on his face, spider bites and all, transformed him into an angel.

“Jeez, guys, get a room,” Connor grumbled good-naturedly. “I’d hold out until Zach made an honest man of you, Noah. Let the well dry up until he puts a ring on it.”

Noah looked over his shoulder at Connor and said, “This well ain’t ever gonna dry up, Conn.”

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