Hush - Fighting Fate #2

by Maree Green

  There was silence for a split second before I heard Adam’s voice again. “Yeah, okay, but just tell me, is Noah alright?”

  “He’s fine. He right here, listening to you. So, other than the fun, happy, playful Noah we all saw yesterday, what other personalities would you say he had?”

  Adam exhaled heavily over the line. “Shit, well, there’s the pissed off, grumpy Noah when he’s tired…the serious, caring Noah he shows to those who mean a lot to him…there’s a really immature, childish Noah that could be mistaken for the playful one you saw yesterday…uh…I guess there’s angry Noah too. He comes out when you push him too far, but I think that one’s mostly reserved for brothers…” He paused, chuckling a little, making the corner of my lips twitch. “There’s flirty Noah. That one was quite prominent while he was in high school…And then there’s bossy Noah…”

  Kaeli’s lips curled a little. “What was bossy Noah like?”

  A soft laugh floated through the speaker. “Exactly how you’d expect the youngest of five boys to be like, having to continually prove he’s tough enough to play with the big boys.”

  “Did bossy Noah like to be in control?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  Looking me right in the eye, she went for the kill. “Did you think it was a bad personality trait to have?”

  There was silence for a few heartbeats. “Of course not. That side of Noah may have been bossy, but he was loyal as hell. You messed with someone he cared about, bossy Noah made you regret it.”

  I stared at Kaeli for a long time. I still had absolutely no idea why she was here with me. She was amazing.

  “Noah…” Adam’s voice broke into my thoughts. “I think I might have a little bit of an idea what this is about. You should listen to Kaeli. She’s right.”

  Kaeli’s lips curved up even more. Yeah, I was starting to think she might be. Walking over to the dresser, I lifted my finger to the screen.

  “Thanks, Adam,” I said. Then I pressed the end button.

  Chapter 65

  Kaeli

  Noah’s gaze didn’t leave mine the entire time Adam was on the line. It was as though he needed to watch my every movement to make sure I honestly believed what I was saying.

  I was so thankful Adam had backed up the point I was trying to make. I knew it could’ve backfired on me in a massive way, but I didn’t know what else to do. He’d looked so tormented.

  Slowly, he moved towards me

  “Do you really believe what you said?”

  “Yes, I do,” I said without hesitation.

  “But don’t you see? Mitch isn’t a great guy, Kaeli? He did some bad things. Really bad.”

  I shook my head. “Noah, what Mitch did was what he needed to do to survive. To protect himself, to protect you, to protect me, to protect your job. Tell me, did he enjoy doing those bad things?”

  Pain flashed across his eyes. “Sometimes.” His voice was almost a whisper.

  I searched his face, trying to understand what was going on inside his head. “What parts?”

  “Putting a bullet in that guy’s head who was about to slit your throat.”

  I swallowed, my breath shaking from the memory. “Was that enjoyment or satisfaction? Because there’s a difference, Noah.”

  His eyes narrowed a little as though he was beginning to understand what I was getting at.

  “He liked beating the fuck out of the people TJ ordered him to,” he countered.

  I steeled myself. He wasn’t going to win. I wasn’t going to let him. “Why did he like it?”

  “Because they were fucking scums,” he bit out, the distaste he had for those people more than obvious. “If they weren’t selling shit to kids, they were picking up young girls off the streets and pimping them out.”

  I held my breath, letting his words sink in as I hid the horror of what he was saying from my face. “So, you’re saying all the bad things Mitch did was ultimately to right a wrong? A payback for those who’d been abused? To protect those who hadn’t been able to protect themselves?”

  So many emotions flashed through his eyes as he tried to process my words. I watched them all, silently waiting for him to accept it. I could see he was struggling, and I wanted to keep pressing, to get him to see just how amazing he was, but I also knew he needed to do this on his own.

  So I let him stand there, within reach, as he silently went through the motions. After what felt like an eternity, he took a steadying breath and slowly exhaled.

  “How do you do that?” he said quietly.

  I stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest. “By being honest.”

  He sighed. “You shouldn’t have to put up with my fucked up mood swings, Kaeli.”

  Moving my hand over the hard contours of his pecs, I gave him an easy smile. “Believe it not, but your mood swings make me like you more. They tell me you’re real, that you’re open and honest. I want to know what’s going on with you. Good and bad.”

  With hesitant hands, he reached out and softly touched my hips. “You want to know all the shit that goes through my head?” he said, his tone slightly disbelieving.

  “Always.”

  He exhaled long and slow as he watched me, then with an unsure touch, he gently ran the back of his hand down the side of my face. “Let me love you properly, Kaeli.”

  My heart stumbled. The combination of his words along with the adoring look in his eyes was doing something strange to it. “Okay.”

  Then he kissed me.

  It was the sweetest, most gentle, most loving kiss I’d ever experienced. It took my breath and melted my insides. It made my heart go from a stumble to a flutter.

  Both his hands caressed my face, holding it as gently as he would butterfly wings. Almost reverently. His fingers were so careful, his touch so tender, as he laced them in my hair.

  “I don’t know what words to use to tell you how much you mean to me,” he whispered against my lips. “I don’t know how to explain what you make me feel.”

  “Then show me,” I breathed.

  Brushing his lips over mine, he bent down and lifted me into his arms, gently carrying me over to the bed and laying me down.

  And with my heart in a state of disarray, I let him love me.

  ***

  Pulling my car up to Mia’s house the next day, I struggled to get my mind off Noah and everything that’d happened the night before. There was no doubt in my mind I was falling for him. It was impossible to stop, even if I wanted to. The only thing that worried me was whether Noah was ready for it.

  After loving me the night before, he held me until the early hours of the morning, talking about his time in rehab and what the psychologist had told him about possible mood swings and emotional states. If anything, that only made it easier for me to love him.

  After sleeping in each other’s arms for most of the day, neither of us wanted to let the other go when it was time for me to leave, but Mia had organized a girls get-together a while ago, and considering she was about to go on tour with the guys and I wasn’t going to see her for months, I knew I needed to make the effort.

  The only thing that made it bearable was knowing Noah was going to be spending the time with his brothers. I loved the close relationship they all seemed to have, and I loved that Noah had them to support him.

  Letting myself in, I made my way through the house, following the sounds of music and laughter I could hear coming from out the back.

  Guilt flared inside me when I realized I was the last to arrive yet again.

  Mia and Amy were perched on the edge of the pool in their bikinis, while Amber and Jess bobbed up and down in the water in front of them. They were all laughing at something Amber was saying, looking like they were having so much fun, I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Who said you could all start having fun without me?” I yelled as I dumped my bag and started stripping off.

  All eyes swung around to look at me, and I laughed.

  “We were all placi
ng bets as to whether you’d turn up at all,” Amber said, laughing. “If I were you, I’d still be in bed. Noah’s freaking hot.”

  Throwing my clothes on a chair, I moved towards the pool. “Jesus, I can barely walk as it is.”

  They all laughed, but I saw Amy’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink, making me wonder if I’d been too crass.

  “Oh my god, give me details,” Amber said. “That boy looks too hot to be bad in bed.”

  I laughed, sliding down to sit beside Mia. “Uh…yeah, he’s pretty good.”

  I wasn’t sure how much information I should give them. I wanted to talk about what had happened the night before. Not Noah’s melt down, but the dominant part. I’d really liked it and I kind of wanted to get a feel for where they stood with that kind of thing.

  “He’s…uh…he’s got a piercing…down there…”

  Mia’s eyes bulged. “Holy shit! Are you serious?”

  I laughed and gave her a nod.

  “Can you feel it? Is it good?”

  I felt like I should play it down, but I’d hidden things from Mia for too long. “It’s freaking amazing. I love it.”

  “Damn,” Mia said, shaking her head. “I wonder if Jace would consider getting one?”

  We all laughed at that, because we all knew she was seriously going to ask him.

  Biting my lip, I glanced down at the pool. “Noah also kind of has a domineering side…”

  Jess giggled. “Whoa.”

  “No,” Amber said, her expression turning serious. “You need to stop right there.” I blinked at her, suddenly panicked I’d gone too far, but then she sighed. “Okay, no. I need to know. Tell us.”

  I stared at her, unsure of what was going on.

  “Wait, no. Don’t tell us. I seriously can’t know. It’s bad enough that he’s all inked up and pierced. He can’t be dominant as well. That’s not fair.” She growled as we all watched her with amusement. “Shit. Please don’t tell me he cuffed you. I forgot he’s a freaking cop. He has handcuffs!”

  We all burst out laughing at her dilemma.

  She begged me with her eyes. “Oh god. Just put me out of my misery!”

  “Well, he didn’t use his handcuffs. Yet.” Amber groaned. “But he made me put my hands on the headboard and I wasn’t allowed to move them. And he teased me for what felt like forever. And that god damned tongue piercing-”

  “He has a tongue piercing!?” Amber yelled. “Nope. I’m out.” With that, she turned and waded to the stairs, grumbling under her breath the whole way.

  Mia and Jess were full on laughing at her then.

  “Oh, Ambs,” Jess choked out. “We so need to find you a guy.”

  Amber stomped over to the outdoor fridge and grabbed a soda before making her way back over to us.

  Amy laughed and shook her head. “God, I feel so out of my depth with you guys. Is it wrong that I haven’t slept with Ryan yet?”

  I glanced over at her. I was a little surprised actually. I’d just assumed that she and Ryan had already gone there considering they’d been going out for as long as Mia and Jace had.

  “No way,” Jess said, shaking her head to reiterate. “If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. I haven’t found anyone I’ve wanted to give it to either.”

  Amy raised her eyebrows at Jess. “You haven’t? I thought you and Cain…”

  Jess shook her head. “Everyone just assumed, and he never bothered to say otherwise.”

  “Neither did you,” Amber said, folding her long legs onto the lounger.

  “No one asked,” Jess retorted.

  Mia eyed Amy. “Jess is right. You have to wait until you’re ready. Ryan’s okay with waiting, isn’t he?”

  Amy looked down into the water, her eyes growing a little cloudy. “He’s getting frustrated with me I think. I guess I can’t blame him. We have been going out for as long as you and Jace have, which he likes to remind me of every time I say no. But…I don’t know…it’s just that when we get close, something stops me.” She shrugged.

  Mia gave me a knowing look. I didn’t know Amy as well as I knew the others, but I did know she had pretty strict parents. Her dad was a lawyer, and her mom was a very successful realtor. They were high society, and they expected Amy to act accordingly.

  Amber put her soda on the table beside her and leant forward. “Look, Amy, take it from a self-proclaimed slut. Your virginity is yours. No one else’s. Yours. When you decide to give it to someone, remember it’s the biggest, most personalized gift you could ever give. If someone is in a hurry to take it off you, then they obviously don’t understand the significance of that gift, which means that they’re probably not worthy of it.”

  We all stared at Amber for a few heartbeats, surprised by the heaviness of her words, but then she simply shrugged and sat back, picking up her soda like it was no big deal.

  “Yeah,” Jess said, breaking the silence. “What she said.”

  I laughed. Damn I loved these girls.

  After that, we made sure any topic of the heavy kind was left out of conversation, and I swear I had the most fun I’d ever had. We swam, we danced, we joked, we sang. We had good food, good music, and good company. It was perfect.

  It was dark by the time we started to wind down. The music was turned down to a low background noise, and we were happily floating around the pool on blow up mats, laughing at Amber’s stories of her search for adrenalin.

  The only thing that marred it was the constant barking coming from the next door neighbor’s little yap yap dog. With the bushes occasionally rustling, we knew it was most likely a cat, but still. I wished the owner would just shut it up already.

  I was just climbing out of the pool when I heard my phone ping with a new message. Not able to stop myself from smiling with anticipation, I quickly dried myself a little before picking it up.

  The second I opened the text the smile fell from my lips.

  It was a picture from an unknown number. Of me. Tied and bound to a chair.

  My blood started pumping too fast and my hands shook. I knew exactly when that was. I knew who had taken that picture.

  Aaron.

  Before I could get my brain to form a coherent thought, another picture came through. This time it was me, in my bikinis, holding my cell. Right where I was standing now.

  I felt the blood drain from my face as I struggled to get my breathing to cooperate.

  “Kaeli?”

  My head snapped up to see the girls surrounding me. “We need to get inside.”

  Without waiting for an answer, I turned and hurried inside, automatically rushing to lock every door that led to the outside. When I came back out to the living area, the girls had everything inside and were looking at me with panicked expressions.

  Locking the door, I pulled the curtains and scrolled through my cell for Noah’s number. “Aaron’s out there,” I said, hitting call and lifting it to my ear.

  I didn’t look to see what their reactions were, I just walked back out to the lounge room.

  Noah answered on the second ring. “Hey, gorgeous.”

  “Noah…” I’d hoped my voice would come out strong and sure, but unfortunately, it didn’t. It shook, and quite frankly, sounded panicked.

  “Kaeli? What’s wrong?” The urgency in Noah’s voice made me crumble even more.

  “I…I think Aaron’s here…”

  “Fuck. Where are you? Get inside and lock the doors. Do you understand? I mean it, Kaeli. Lock the fucking doors. You don’t open up for anyone. I’ll be right there.”

  I heard rustling and movement, then low voices in the background.

  “Okay,” I said, still shaky.

  He sighed. “You’re okay, baby. Just stay inside. I’ll be there in a second.”

  “Okay.”

  I heard the line click in my ear and I slowly lowered my arm, turning to see the girls watching me wearily.

  Mia came closer and took my hand. “What happened? Why do you think Aaron’s here?”
>
  Instead of explaining, I opened up my text messages and held up the phone for her to see.

  “Shit.”

  Yep. That about summed it up.

  Six minutes later, I heard Noah’s car screech into the drive. Knowing he was close made my heart start to settle. When the knock came, it was urgent.

  “Kaeli, it’s me. You can open the door now.”

  Flicking the lock, I pulled the door open and threw myself into his arms. Noah didn’t linger though. He carried me inside, followed by all four of his brothers.

  As the door swung shut and Adam flicked the lock, I heard someone gasp, then Amber’s low groan. “Holy mother of amazing gene pools…”

  Chapter 66

  Noah

  Adrenalin was pumping through me like I was tapped to it. I knew this was personal and I was worried about Kaeli, but my mind was as sharp as a tack. If Aaron was here, I was going to fucking take him down.

  When the door was securely closed, I looked down at Kaeli and gave her a pointed stare. “What happened?”

  She swallowed and lifted up her cell. The second I saw the screen, anger flared. Snatching it from her, I opened the picture to see her fucking tied and bound to a chair in some dark, fucking dank room. When the fuck was this? And why didn’t I know she’d been fucking tied up?

  Barely containing my fury, I levelled my gaze on Kaeli. “This was from when he took you?”

  She nodded. I could see how scared she was, so I tried to rein it in, but fuck me, it was hard.

  “We’ll talk about why you didn’t tell me this later.” Flicking to the next picture, my blood ran cold. The fucking motherfucker had been out there watching her.

  Without looking to see which one of my brothers was behind me, I shoved the cell in their direction and took the gun from where I’d stashed it in my pants.

  Kaeli took a step away from me.

  “Whoa!” Adam said, coming closer. “Just wait, Noah.”

  “Like fuck I’m waiting,” I growled. “The fucker was out there watching her!”

  Eli passed Kaeli’s cell to Adam, who glanced at the screen before looking back at me, jaw clenched. “You can’t go out there without a clear head, man.”