Page 14 of Silent Fire

Tomas grunted noncommittally, keeping his eyes on the bike as he tightened the last bolt on the handlebars, the metal cool against his calloused palms. Another stretch of quiet fell between them, this one heavier. Tomas focused on the rhythmic motions of his hands, replacing spark plugs and adjusting cables with practiced ease.

“I’m sorry,” Noel said in a rush. “I know I said I wouldn’t take off like that again, and then I did. You have every right to be pissed.”

Slowly, Tomas set his wrench aside and turned to face his mate fully. Noel’s shoulders tensed as if bracing for Tomas’s reaction. But his eyes...those baby blues held a vulnerability that made Tomas’s breath catch.

“Can I...can I trust you?” The question was so soft Tomas almost missed it. “I mean really trust you, with the dangerous shit? The life-or-death kind of trust?”

Tomas studied him for a long moment, reading the fear and desperation in the rigid lines of Noel’s body. Whatever this was about, it was huge. Monumental in a way that made Tomas’s wolf stir restlessly.

“On my life,” he said simply, meeting Noel’s searching gaze with steady conviction. “You can trust me.”

Noel drew a shaky breath then dug into the pocket of his jeans. He withdrew his phone, thumbing through the screens before holding it out to Tomas. “You need to see these.”

Tomas took the phone, brow furrowing. A long string of messages appeared, the first dating back six months. As he scanned the words, a cold knot of dread formed in his gut.

The texts were threatening, vile things filled with thinly veiled promises of violence. Tomas’s grip tightened on the phone until his knuckles turned white. The most recent message had come through last night, right before Noel had started drinking himself into oblivion.

Miss me? Been thinking about you. Is that town as cozy as it seems? Winking emoji. See you soon, love.

This “Brian” was hunting Noel, stalking him like prey. And Noel, brave, beautiful Noel, had been living under the shadow of those threats for half a year.

He forced himself to meet Noel’s haunted gaze, his own expression carefully neutral despite the fury simmering inside of him.

“Who is this asshole?” The words emerged in a low growl. Tomas struggled to contain the rage boiling in his veins, an all-consuming need to protect his mate from any who would harm him.

Noel shook his head, wrapping his arms around his bent knees. “Just...someone I need to get away from. For good this time.”

Tomas wanted to demand more, to understand the full story so he could properly eviscerate the bastard. But he forced himself to remain calm, to let Noel open up at his own pace.

“I swear.” The words emerged in a low growl. “Whatever this asshole has planned, I won’t let him touch you.”

Noel’s eyes widened, but Tomas didn’t care. Let his mate see the ruthless side of him, the primal beast lurking just beneath the surface. A beast that would shred anyone who dared lay a hand on his elegido.

Shoving the phone back into Noel’s hands, Tomas rose in a single fluid motion and swung a leg over the seat, gunning the engine to snarling life. He had no idea where Brian was or what he looked like, but Tomas was reacting, his wolf was snarling for him to hunt.

“Where are you going?” Noel scrambled upright, coffee sloshing over the rim of his mug.

Tomas revved the throttle, letting the feral growl of the engine answer for him. His blood sang with the promise of violence, every instinct urging him to hunt this Brian down and make him pay for his crimes.

“Tomas, wait!” Noel reached out, grasping Tomas’s arm. “Please, just...don’t do anything stupid, okay? He’s not worth you getting into trouble over.”

Torn between obeying his baser instincts and honoring Noel’s wishes, Tomas stilled. He studied the fear and concern in Noel’s eyes, at the way his fingers trembled where they gripped Tomas’s sleeve.

With an explosive exhale, he killed the engine.

“I won’t let him keep hurting you,” he said, voice low and intense. “I’ll make this Brian disappear from your life. You’re mine to protect now, Noel. Don’t ask me to ignore that.”

Noel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “I’m not asking you to ignore it. I’m asking you not to stoop to his level.” He took a step closer, sliding his hand down until their fingers twined together. “Please, Tomas.”

The contact was like an electric jolt, sizzling through Tomas’s veins. He tightened his grip reflexively, holding on to Noel’s smaller hand like a lifeline. Drawing a steadying breath, he nodded once.

“Okay,” he said gruffly. “I’ll handle this the right way. You’ve got my word.”

Noel’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you,” he murmured, offering Tomas a tentative smile.

He allowed himself to return it, a silent acknowledgment of the trust Noel had just placed in him. It was a fragile, precious thing, and he would guard it fiercely.

With his free hand, he patted the seat behind him. “C’mon, beautiful. I’ll take you to get breakfast.”

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