Page 78 of Emeric

“No,” Lawson whispered.

“It was all for you.”

“To what end?”

“I wanted your attention.” The catch in Noah’s voice drew my eyes back to him. Tears pooled in the corners of his. “I wanted you to notice me.” None of us knew Noah had learned how to do what Lawson did, or at least in part. How Noah was able to do what he had and not be detected.

“I can’t be who you need.”

“Lawson…”

“We’ve been through this. I stopped communication for a reason.”

“Please.” The trembling of Noah’s bottom lip cracked something inside of me. He wasn’t trying to hurt us. It was plain as day how much Noah craved Lawson’s attention. How long had he been like this?

“Enough,” Jordan growled. “I don’t give a shit if you were getting the best goddamn sex of your life from the man you were going to marry; you don’t put my family’s life at risk. All of these people are my fucking family. I considered you as such, Noah, but not anymore. Reghan!”

“No!” I turned in time to see Lawson yell and rush forward. I couldn’t do anything but step back and watch. Lawson wouldn’t hurt Jordan. He’d proved that time and again by all he’d done.

Reghan pushed Lawson aside to grip Noah’s arm. Raiden was there to pull Lawson away.

“Reghan, don’t!” Lawson shouted.

“Stay out of this, Law,” Jordan barked. “Noah did this to himself. I want him out of here, Reghan. He’s to get his shit and get the fuck out of my city. I don’t want to hear your name ever again. You’re lucky I’m letting you live. Find your own way from now on. You now have no money, no home, and no support. You don’t exist to me.”

“I’ll take him!” Lawson yelled.

“You’ll what?” Jordan asked incredulously as he slowly turned.

“He’ll be my responsibility. Just don’t hurt him.”

“Do you have any idea what I would have done had this been anyone else? He’d be bleeding out while I severed every appendage, watching him die painfully. He’s lucky he’s still able to walk.”

“I know,” Lawson breathed out and shook Raiden off him. “I’m well aware of what you’re capable of.” He turned to look at us. “What you’re all able to do. I’m sorry he hurt you. If I had known, I would have put a stop to it.”

“It’s not on you,” I said. “It’s on him.” My chin jutted toward Noah. I might not want to kill him anymore, but that didn’t mean I forgave him.

“Get him out of here, Reghan,” Jordan bit out.

“I never ask for anything,” Lawson rushed to say. “I do whatever you require of me. I find whatever you need. I don’t ask for anything in return except money owed. Please let me take him with me.”

Jordan speared me with his gaze. “What do you think? This affects you too. He was the one who put your men at risk.”

For a moment, I didn’t speak. I couldn’t believe he was asking for my opinion. We had all witnessed the change Jordan went through when Vail and Hartley came into his life. This was still surprising.

I thought about Sylvan and Emeric, what they would want me to do. They weren’t harmed physically. Sylvan had dealt with losing his home. If he knew it was Noah, the man who came to the safe house so afraid, so broken that day, would he want him to suffer more?

“Let him go with Lawson,” I said.

“Fuck’s sake,” Jordan muttered. “Go. I meant it when I said I don’t want to see you again, Noah. If Lawson can’t handle you, find a fucking hole to crawl into. You’ll get nothing from me.”

“Thank you,” Lawson said. He quickly walked to Noah and pulled him away from Reghan, who readily released him. “Let’s go.”

We stood there and watched as Lawson ushered Noah toward the elevator. Noah swayed on his feet as if his body could barely hold him up. Lawson’s arm quickly went around Noah’s waist to support him.

I wasn’t sure what Lawson was going to do, but that was his problem. I had to fill in the men I loved about what just happened.

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