The Leviticus Club (The Olympus Project, #1)

by Sydney Addae

  Noah leaned out the window. “Go put on some clothes.”

  Liam tilted his head, looked at Mia, nodded and returned inside. “Wait here for a minute.”

  He strode inside and released a frustrated breath at the sloppy condition of the living room. Clothes, empty beer cans, and half-eaten pizza were everywhere. Quickly, he picked up the clothes, tossed them into the hamper. By the time he returned to the living room, Liam helped clear the living room and kitchen.

  “Shirley’s in the shower, soon as she’s done, we’ll leave,” Liam said. “Do I need to change the sheets in the spare room?”

  “Yeah, toss them in the washer.” No need to mention how sensitive his and Mia noses were. He’d toned everything down the moment he reached the porch.

  Liam headed back.

  Noah looked around and exhaled before returning to the truck. Ryan stood next to the door on the passenger side talking softly to Mia. So softly he couldn’t hear what they said.

  “Hey, how’s it going?” Noah said offering his fist.

  Ryan bumped it. “Good. Once you guys get situated, we’ve got some things to share with you.” He nodded to the house. “Be back in a bit.” He turned and walked off.

  Noah opened the truck, assisted Mia down and wrapped his arm around her waist. “You’re a pretty, little-bitty thing.”

  She pushed his shoulder. “No. Fully grown woman standing in your arms.”

  He grinned, loving her spirit. “Standing corrected, pretty, little-bitty, fully grown woman.”

  “You’re bad.” She smiled and accepted his kiss.

  “Let me get your bags so we can get started.”

  Her smile eased away and he knew her thoughts were on the case. They were closer after last night hearing Drum. He grabbed her backpack from the back seat and computer bag, while she carried her purse.

  “This is nice, Noah. Quiet, restful,” she said looking around at the barn, large, old trees.

  “It is. I like it.” And hope you like it as well, he thought as they moved forward.

  Liam and his date walked out as Noah reached the porch. He smiled at Mia, glanced at her bags and his smile widened as Noah introduced them.

  “My name’s Marie, not Shirley, asshole,” the blond snapped at Liam and stomped off the concrete porch toward his car.

  Liam’s cheeks reddened as he shrugged, waved goodbye and headed toward his car.

  “That was interesting,” Mia said.

  “Not surprising though. Liam gets around,” he said. “I’ll place your bag in the bedroom. You can set up the computer on the table, I’ll get the internet code for you.” Inhaling, he strode to his bedroom, placed the bag on the chair and quickly made the bed.

  “Want something to drink?” he asked returning to the living room, handing her the paper with the code.

  “Not right now.” She typed in the information and sat at the table. Noah pulled his laptop onto the table next to her.

  “What did Ryan discover?”

  “Two years ago Aaron Mosely, the Priest running the Leviticus Club, was excommunicated for assisting a woman to abort his child” She looked at him. “The woman was in a wheelchair and much younger than his 57 years. It was hushed up because his brother is Senator Mosely from Alabama.”

  Noah whistled and sat back. “What the hell? That’s like a flashing light saying pick me, pick me.”

  She nodded and stared at the monitor. A few moments later she shook her head and closed her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Thomas is dropping the case, turning over the information we uncovered by traditional methods, which is very little, to the FBI. With the connection to the Senator he doesn’t want us involved, it’ll become too high profile. He’s letting the General know.”

  Noah frowned, trying to understand. “Turning over? Aren’t you the FBI? And what General?” he asked, completely lost. She could’ve been speaking Arabic and he’d be just as confused.

  “We can’t share the stuff we learned in dreams, how would we explain that?” she asked.

  “But—”

  “Hold on.” She typed and then stopped. “I have to get permission to share this with you.” She bit her nail while watching the screen.

  What did she mean, needed permission? He didn’t know what to think. Was she leading him on? He didn’t think so, but he could be wrong.

  She tilted her head, typed more information and stared at the screen. Finally, she looked at him. “Ready to go on a trip? Thomas said for me to bring you in, let you see, and we’ll explain it all to you.”

  Noah didn’t want to go anywhere without answers. Fear of losing her, of losing what they were building locked him in place. Her eyes seemed sad, resigned, tugged at his heart. Even though he didn’t understand what was going on, one thing was crystal clear. Life had become a thousand times better since meeting Mia.

  “When do we leave?”

  Her eyes widened and then went glassy.

  “You thought I’d let you go? Leave me behind?” he asked incredulously. They were just getting started.

  She nodded and turned away.

  He placed his finger beneath her chin, turned her to face him. “Did you hear deceit when I said I wanted you? When I said I was the first and last to eat your fantastic pussy? How can I do that if we’re apart?”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. He caught it with the pad of his thumb. “Together, we are better as a team, Mia. Whatever I need to learn or do, I’ll do it so we can stay together.” At that moment he meant every word. He had walked through hell in the military on the battlefield for his country, he would do no less for the woman who was fast becoming extremely important to him.

  She exhaled and typed. “We’ll leave in a couple hours. The others are already there.” She smiled at him and his world righted. “We’re going to Wyoming.”

  Ryan and Ryder stepped on the porch. “Come in,” Noah yelled. His thoughts on the upcoming trip.

  The twins entered and looked at them. “Dad says Thomas canceled the op and you guys are headed home. To your home,” Ryder pointed at Mia.

  “Yeah. I just read the email. He sent it an hour ago and had been waiting to hear from me. We leave in two hours,” Mia said.

  “How long will we be there?” Noah asked, thinking about his home.

  “I don’t know. It won’t take long to get the information,” she said.

  “In that case, we’ve got an hour to work with you Noah. You slept away the morning, let’s get started, we’ll grab some takeout from Lucky-G for you to take on the plane,” Ryan said heading toward the door.

  “You might as well come along, Mia,” Ryder said. “Can’t hurt to see what he’s learning.”

  “As soon as I finish this report to Thomas I’ll be outside. I need to tell him about Peter Drum.” She looked at Noah.

  He nodded and followed the twins outside.

  CHAPTER 20

  MIA STEPPED OFF THE private jet onto the tarmac with Noah behind her. The twins promised to listen out for his house as he locked his truck in the detached garage and informed Liam he would be out of town. His cousin offered to stay at the house until he returned and Noah agreed.

  They walked toward the small airport parking lot where Mia had left her car a few days earlier. Noah wasn’t sure what was going on with her. She had been uncharacteristically quiet since he agreed to accompany her. During the flight, she held his hand and listened to music through a headset.

  When they pulled out of the small parking area and hit Highway 80 he looked at the brown landscape. The drive was similar to the flight except light jazz played in the background. After an hour they turned off the highway onto a dirt road.

  In the distance, he saw a gray stone, squat building wavering beneath the hot sun. The closer they came, the larger it grew.

  She pulled up to a gate and ignored the box on the side. A few moments later, the gate disappeared and she drove down rather than toward the house.

  Surprised, he w
atched as they pulled into a covered garage filled with several types of vehicles and parked. Neither spoke for a few seconds.

  When she looked at him her eyes glistened. “I just want to say thank you for trusting me enough to come. This means a lot to me that you wanted to.” She leaned over, captured his lips and kissed him hard. The kiss was over before he fully engaged and she was stepping out of the car.

  Noah stepped out, grabbed both of their bags and followed her. She entered what he considered must be a decontamination area and was scanned. There were a few blasts of light, she stepped to the side and waved him through.

  “First place your palm here. The system doesn't know you.” He followed her instructions, felt the heat on his hand and waited until she told him to move it.

  “Master Sargent Noah Sloan, welcome. Step into the unit,” the machine said.

  Surprised to hear his name, he stepped forward, the sensation of needles on his skin was over in a few seconds. The heat from the light hit several spots on his body. When it stopped the light turned green.

  “Come with me,” Mia said extending her hand to him. He accepted it and walked beside her to a heavy, steel door. She placed her palm on a pad. The door opened.

  “Place your hand the same way I did,” she said as she walked through. The door swooshed closed. He placed his hand on the scanner, it took a second longer than hers had but opened. He reached for her hand again as he walked through. The clip of her boot heels and his sneakers were the only sound on the polished concrete floor. They turned right, went through the palm security checks again and entered what could only be called an underground oasis.

  A large waterfall with beautiful green plants stood in the middle, giving off delicate scents that teased his nostrils. There were sitting areas, large screens on the walls, light jazz played softly in the background. Delicious aromas floated through the air.

  “Mali!” Mia yelled and took off running. Noah followed slowly while trying to see everything but there was no way. There were a lot of corners and halls he couldn’t see into.

  “In here, Noah,” Mia yelled.

  Hearing her excitement, he braced himself as he strode into the large commercial sized kitchen. A tall, slender, gorgeous woman with a heart-shaped face and light brown eyes stared down at Mia’ smiling. “I returned last night. Max arrives later today. Tip is in his room.” She looked at Noah and her smile dropped slightly as she inhaled.

  “Damali this is Noah, my guy. Noah, Damali.” Mia stepped back as the two looked at each other.

  “Where did you meet?”

  “Texas,” Mia said looking at him.

  “Thomas met him?”

  “Yes, he told me to bring him with me. Noah has questions,” Mia said moving back a few steps.

  “And Thomas has answers,” Mali said. “I see the energy around you like broad bands of bright color, good. It’ll take a strong man to handle Mia. She’s coming into her own and will probably be stronger than all of us.” She smiled and hugged Mia again. “Missed you, Princess.”

  “Don’t you start with that,” Mia said but it was obvious she and Mali were close. “We’re going to put our things away in my room and come back for a bite to eat.”

  “This is almost done, see you in a bit,” Damali said as she looked at Noah. “Call me, Mali.”

  “Nice meeting you, Mali.” Noah accepted Mia’s hand and walked with her down the hall. A minute or so later they stood in front of a wall. Mia placed her hand on it and it opened.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him as she walked inside. He followed. Once inside the door closed behind him as he stood in what must have been the living room with a long curved sofa in front of a wide screened TV mounted high on the wall. He marveled at the ten-feet walls and spacious floor plan.

  “Living or meeting area,” she pointed to the room they entered and continued walking. “Kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.” She pointed to a closed door, opened it and walked inside. A king sized bed was in the middle of the room and that was all. He looked around, noted a few doors and waited to be told where to put his clothes. She pressed the wall and it slid open revealing a large walk-in closet with a dresser, mirror, and hangers.

  “Put your things in here.” She placed her backpack on the floor and waited for him.

  “Very nice, big space. You all have suites like this?”

  “Yes, they’re all basically the same,” she said and moved to another wall, placed her palm on it. It led to an in-ground hot spring cut out of the rock. “Just a few of the rooms have these. A friend made it for me as a gift several years ago, I treasure it.”

  Steam rose from the water. He walked closer, the rock was smooth and lightly filtered from outside. Looking up he didn’t see how that was possible, there was nothing but stone overhead. Patience he told himself. Don’t start asking questions yet.

  “This is great, I hope we can use it soon.”

  She smiled. “I’d like that. Let’s eat, I’m hungry.”

  He moved slowly behind her, trying to take it all in. The comfortable temperature, solid construction, efficient floor plan. “Where’s the bathroom?”

  “Here,” she said turning slightly and placing her hand on a wall. The door opened, and the lights came on immediately. The large room held a huge tub, large shower tiled in lavender and purple, double sinks and a large tower holding towels, soap and cleaning supplies. It was twice the size of his master bath.

  Finished, he met her in the suite’s kitchen. He had thought it was a kitchenette because of the size of the main kitchen, but it was larger than his kitchen at home with modern appliances. She stood at the counter eating a banana.

  “Ready?”

  He nodded and tossed the paper towel he used to dry his hands in the trash.

  “Come on.”

  He pulled her close and stared down into her eyes. “You’re simply beautiful.”

  She met his stare and smiled. “Thank you. I think you’re sexy and ruggedly handsome.”

  “Rugged for sure.” He kissed her, loving how she melted against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her tongue stroked deep inside his mouth, kidnapping his thoughts.

  She moaned deep in her throat and it ran through him. He pressed her close to his hardness, wanting her to know how much he wanted her. Always seem to want her.

  Breathing hard, she lay her forehead on his chest and took several deep breaths. “How... how hungry are you?”

  “For you? Starved.” Questions could wait, his need for her couldn’t. “Here or in the room? Your choice.” He slid his hand beneath her blouse, tweaked her nipple.

  A red buzz went off.

  Noah froze.

  Mia groaned.

  “What?”

  “Call to meeting. Thomas and Max must be here.” True regret filled her eyes as she looked at him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “We’ve got to go.” There was no hesitation, she could’ve been in the military the way she followed orders. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Following her, he was completely lost until they arrived near the kitchen filled with several faces he didn’t know. Mia launched into the outstretched arms of a pale guy who could’ve modeled for Adonis with his long blonde hair and beach bum look. He picked Mia up and spun her around.

  “Good to see you, Princess. It’s been too long,” he said, smiling at her.

  “I know, Max. I missed you, too. Now put me down. I want you to meet Noah, he’s my guy.”

  Max’ s brow arched. “Your guy? Since when?”

  “Since I said so. Now put me down and be nice.” She pinched him.

  “Ow.” He looked at Noah. “Hope you realize how vicious she can be.”

  Noah met Mia’s happy gaze and smiled. “She’s good for me.”

  “Noah, this is Max. Max, Noah.”

  Max’s nose quivered as he extended a hand to Noah. “Nice to meet you man, you’ve got a real Princess there.”

  Noah looked down at Mia. “I totally agree with you. S
he’s very special.” Max held his hand slightly longer and Noah looked at him. The two stared at each other and Noah sensed he was being warned not to hurt Mia in any way.

  “Thomas and the others are in the dining area,” Mia said claiming Noah’s attention. He nodded at Max and walked behind Mia.

  The dining area was huge with a long, wide, mahogany table currently loaded with food. Thomas, Mali, Tip and another female Noah hadn’t met sat at the table talking softly.

  “Lizzy, yes. Yes, yes,” Mia yelled and ran to the woman with long dreds, sun-kissed complexion, and freckles. She was much taller than Mia and average size. They embraced and held each other for several moments. Lizzy held Mia’s head to her and stroked it gently. “I’m home. We’re here. There’s a lot to talk about, a lot to do, sweetie,” Lizzy murmured.

  Mia nodded, stepped back and wiped her face. “I prayed every day for you. I’m so glad to see you.” She looked at Noah and extended her hand. Moving forward he took it. “Noah this is Lizzy, Lizzy my guy Noah.”

  Lizzy smiled. “Hello Noah, it's great meeting you. Please have a seat so we can all catch up. It’s been months since we’ve all been together, a lot has changed.”

  Mia and Noah sat next to each other. After grace was said, the food was passed around. No one talked until plates were pushed aside.

  “Noah, thank you for your assistance in the stoning deaths case. Mia said we wouldn’t have discovered the critical clues in the case if the two of you hadn’t walked back in time.”

  “Walked back in time?” Max said looking at Thomas.

  “Noah is a dream-walker, a very strong one,” Thomas said to everyone at the table before looking at Noah. “Mia asked if she could explain the mission to you and I told her that it would be better for you to see first. Before I share our secrets, you’ve got to promise never to repeat them to anyone. Not your family or closest friend.”

  Noah thought about it. Honestly, who would he tell? He hadn’t shared his dream-walking with Liam and that would’ve been the only person he would consider talking to. All of his closest friends died on the battlefield.