Page 57 of Play Fast (Brooklyn Dawn 2)

“I understand it’s frustrating, but the less you know, the safer you’ll be.” Noah steepled his fingertips over his plate of fresh bread. He’d surprised me first by driving far beyond the speed limit, and now he was inhaling carbs.

Nothing about the world made sense anymore. The least of which was Noah’s appreciation for red meat and grains.

I glanced around and lowered my voice even further. “Is the band a target for something or someone? Are we in real danger?”

My answer was the momentary flash of Noah’s eyes. He probably regretted removing his mirrored aviators upon coming into the low lit steakhouse. If I hadn’t been studying him so closely, I would’ve missed it. The guy was like a vault surrounded by steel. Nothing getting in. Definitely nothing getting out.

“If you follow protocol and don’t do anything reckless, then no, you won’t be in danger.” His attention slid to Daisy, who was rubbing at the edge of her bandage. We’d changed it after she finished my shave, since she’d gotten it all wet. She claimed she wasn’t hurting, but from the way she was worrying it right now, I didn’t know if I believed her.

Maybe she just wanted to check out on this conversation. I couldn’t say I blamed her. I just didn’t like feeling as if I wasn’t privy to something that affected me.

Like you shut Daisy out of your feelings about her and Kerry for how many years?

I’d also wanted to keep her physically at arm’s length, because I was a dickish male who wasn’t the best at avoiding my impulses unless I stayed far, far away. My impulses toward Daisy had always veered toward disaster.

She’d insisted we stop at a nearby drugstore before coming in here. After buying a shit ton of makeup, she’d slipped into the restroom here and covered most of her shiner. I could still see some purple peeking through in the right light, but she’d left her hair down, and it covered that side of her face.

We all had our shields. Some worked better than others.

While at the store, I’d picked up condoms—the largest size and quantity in stock. Noah had looked as amused as if I’d filled him with buckshot and left him to roast in the sun.

“What happened at the venue?” I asked into the silence.

Noah leaned back in his chair and arched a brow. “Are you under the mistaken impression that I’m going to ease your fears? That’s not my job. My job is to keep you safe.”

“Telling us what to watch out for isn’t easing fears. It’s called treating people like adults.”

“Also not my job. I’m not the band’s social director. If you have questions, I suggest you present them to Lila. She’ll direct you as necessary.”

“What about Daisy?” I demanded.

Daisy’s head jerked up. “What about me?”

“Don’t you care if she’s safe? Isn’t she your family? Somehow.”

Noah’s nostrils flared. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yes, but denying her information—”

“Hey, oaf, sitting right here. I’d appreciate you not using me as bait. If I wanted information, I’d ask for it.”

Noah looked smug as he tore apart his bread and slathered on butter, and that annoyed me almost as much as being kept in the dark. “You know you’re curious. You said so last night.”

“Not in so many words. But I also trust Noah. If he’s not telling us, there’s probably a good reason. Besides, we’re only barely related and it’s through marriage.”

“Aren’t most relations through marriage?” Noah asked mildly.

I couldn’t fault the guy there.

Conversation stalled about twenty times during lunch. Once or twice, people came too close to the table, and I hunched my shoulders in a futile attempt to seem smaller. At my size, it was hard not to attract attention. But my new clean-shaven look was definitely a decent disguise. I didn’t think I’d shaved it all off since college. I was just too lazy most of the time, so my scruff usually went from manageable to verging on forestation.

I rubbed my jaw. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. Mostly, I appreciated that being as smooth as a baby’s bum meant I’d be getting another taste of Daisy tonight.

Assuming my conscience stopped knocking at the base of my skull every time I got a look at that bruise peeking through her carefully applied makeup.

After lunch, Noah said he needed to make some calls so he offered to meet us in an hour at a nearby ice cream stand. It felt a bit like dear old dad pretending to do something while the kids went on their first date, but whatever. At the very least, I knew Noah wasn’t a guy to waste time on trivial things. If he was tailing us, he probably had a good reason—or a good suspicion.

I just didn’t like knowing we were basically sitting ducks, requiring security to watch us at all times.

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