Page 107 of Shattering Nash

“Been fucking demoted, huh?” Of course, he would deem taunting appropriate at a time like this.

Nash ignored Rogue, rounded the bar, and moved to the center of the balcony. Trey sidled up next to him, resting his hand on Nash’s shoulder.

“She’s safe, Nash.”

“Yes.” His gaze darkened. “After a night of fucking hell, Trey.” He drove his hand through his hair and stopped mid-step, locking eyes with a woman across the room.

“What the fuck is Noelle doing here?”

“Oz specifically requested she be present.” Trey eyed him.

He may have trusted Oz, but he didn’t trust Noelle and her ulterior motives. Once everything settled down, Nash would be having a long talk with Oz, and especially Trey about her proposition and her desire to move back to Oz’s security.

For now, that wasn’t his priority. Charley was the only person he’d focus on. He made his way to the opposite side of the room putting some distance between himself and the others.

Nash was standing, resting his back on the wall near the elevator. No one talked, and there was an underlying tension that everyone felt. He was looking up at the ceiling when he saw a figure out of the corner of his eye. Nash straightened and watched Sal come toward him with a smile.

For anyone else, it may’ve been reassuring. For Nash it wasn’t. He poked his head in the balcony and gave a quick wave. “Night, everyone.”

He said it in such a calm and easy demeanor. The polar opposite of what everyone on the balcony was feeling. The doors to the elevator opened, but Sal made no move to enter. He stood in front of them, a few feet from Nash.

“I like her.” Sal smiled, followed by a small chuckle. “She’s strong.”

Nash turned toward Sal.

“That wasn’t the description you expected, right?” Sal shrugged with a smile. “Probably wouldn’t have been my first. I would’ve went with sweet, kind, and beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, your girl is all those things. But she’s more. There’s this misconception that strong women have to be loud, hard, assertive, and even aggressive. And all of that may be true. But I believe strength comes from endurance. Struggles one has faced. The long ones. The day in and day out. Those are the hardest. Not knowing when you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you keep on going. Because in the end, no one knows us better than we do ourselves. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes.”

Sal smiled and grasped his forearm. “You got a good woman, Nash. Well done, son.”

Yes, I do.

It was another few minutes of waiting in silence until movement from the hallway had him jerking his gaze. Caine stepped aside, and Oz walked through the door on to thebalcony. And he wasn’t alone. Charley was a few paces behind. She met his stare, and something sparked in her eyes. Oz walked past him and took a seat at his usual table. He pointed to the chair beside him. He expected her to immediately follow his orders. Everyone did. But Charley surprised not only Nash but everyone else in the room.

She walked back in his direction, picking up her pace as she weaved through the tables and lunged for him, wrapping his arms around his neck. Among Oz and the others, he’d always kept a professional demeanor, never straying from expected protocol. Not this time. Nash didn’t even hesitate, circling his arms over her back, pulling her tightly against his chest.

“You want me to stay close?” he whispered, brushing his lips to the side of her head.

Charley didn’t respond, but she nodded against his neck. He held her for a few more seconds, then led her to Oz’s table, encouraging her to sit next to him. Nash took a step back, only a foot. He wasn’t looking for permission from Oz or anyone for that matter. If she wanted him close, then that’s where he’d be.

Chapter Twenty-One

Oz wasted no time getting the meeting started. Charley expected some type of segue or explanation why they were all gathered there. It would’ve certainly been helpful to her.

“Since you were so eager to enlighten us all of the grave dangers Charley was bringing to the organization, I see it only fitting that you repeat them back to her. This way there are no discrepancies.”

Oz lifted his hand, gesturing to the only other woman on the balcony. “Noelle?”

Charley inspected the beautiful, dark-haired woman. She couldn’t recall meeting her, but there was something vaguely familiar about her.

“I was outside the Bowery, and I overheard her and Keely speaking about her brother’s dealer harassing her.”

Oz furrowed his brows. “Remind me who Keely is?”

Charley cleared her throat. “My friend.”

“She works for us at the Bowery,” Trey said.

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