Page 22 of Silent Fire

Didn’t want to feel that gut punch if the answer was yes. But the question still nagged at him like an incessant itch.

“Was Noel’s ex why he ended up in that empty house?” Cesar asked. “He said the guy left that band as a message, but man...” He scrubbed a hand over his head. “That’s fucked up. Noel’s got too much heart for that kind of crap.”

Tomas’s jaw tightened, his chest in knots. “I want to find the guy. Then I wanna bury him.”

He wanted to do more than that but feared unleashing that side of himself.

“Whatever you want to do, hermoso, I’m down for it.” Cesar leaned against his bike as Tomas took deep breaths. Noel would be back any minute, and he didn’t need to feel Tomas’s rage.

They both noticed the patrol car creeping by. Deputy Gilmore was behind the wheel. He smirked then gave them a lazy two-fingered wave before moving on.

“God, I hate that son of a bitch,” Cesar growled. “The minute Matias lifts his order not to touch the guy, that smug little bitch is mine.”

Tomas chuckled. “If Santiago doesn’t get to him first.”

Cesar let out a grunt. “After that bullshit arrest, he earns the kill.” He glanced around. “We still gotta figure out who tipped off Xavier’s enforcers about Santiago’s place. My gut says the snitch hasn’t left town yet.”

Suero’s mate was the nephew of the cheetahs’ alpha. At the time Xavier had thought the wolves snatched his nephews, including Jared, Miguel’s mate. Xavier had threatened war to get them back.

Then, out of nowhere, his enforcers showed up at Santiago’s looking for them. Which was odd since hiding Kia there was a last-minute decision.

“The vibes are all off,” Tomas said. “Too much sketchy stuff is happening.”

At least for now, the hyenas were staying quiet. Probably because Diablo had killed their alpha for kidnapping his mate.

“Get Noel back to the tavern when you’re done here. I’ll let Matias know your elegido has a hostile on his six.” Cesar started his motorcycle then held out his fist. Tomas bumped it. Our beef is squashed.

As soon as Cesar took off, Santiago and Noel walked out of the diner. “Where’s Diablo?” Tomas asked.

Noel handed back Tomas’s bank card, and even though he trusted his mate, Tomas took it and slipped it back inside his wallet.

“Chowing down under the watchful eye of those creepy lizards,” Noel said, eyes wide, which made Tomas grin. “Never seen anyone eat that much food before. His table looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet.”

Santiago laughed. “Since you’re Tomas’s mate, you’ll get used to seeing all kinds of crazy.”

Tomas shot him a murderous glare.

“Oh, uh, I hear Percy calling me. Peace out.” Santiago moved quickly toward his motorcycle, shoved his takeout into a saddlebag, then sped off.

“Nope. Nothing weird about that.” Noel turned toward Tomas. “All right, spill. What are you keeping from me?”

Chewing the side of his lip, Tomas studied his mate carefully, torn on how to handle this. His wolf had already chosen, but Noel hadn’t.

Being in an abusive relationship, Noel had his choices stripped from him.

Now Tomas felt like he was doing the same.

Damn Santiago for opening his mouth and sparking a conversation Noel wasn’t ready to have.

“You remember when my wolf chased you through that grass?” he asked.

Noel’s brows furrowed. “Kind of hard to forget a pony-sized wolf prancing around me.”

“Yeah, well, there was a reason for that.” He paused, wondering how badly he was going to screw this up. Noel was just now starting to trust him, and Tomas was about to blow the man’s mind wide open. “My wolf chose you.”

Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm him.

Silence fell between them, the rumble of passing cars the only sound. Noel simply stared at him, expression unreadable.

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