Page 28 of Silent Fire

That’s what enraged him so much about Noel’s ex. Tomas snorted. Yeah, right. Keep lying to yourself. You hate him because he had Noah, because he tried to put a ring on it. Because he didn’t appreciate how beautiful Noel is and abused him instead.

Tomas would never understand those kinds of monsters. His gut twisted even thinking about making Noel cry, let alone using his fists. His mate was a short shit, and Tomas loved it. Loved being his protector, loved that he could wrap the guy in his arms and Noah fit so perfectly.

He fit perfectly in Tomas’s life, period.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Tomas quickly wiped at his eyes and cleared his throat just as Santiago peeked in. “House cleaning,” he said in a diminutive voice.

Tomas smirked. “Get in here.”

Pushing the door open, Santiago strode in, Diablo coming in behind him, as well as the strong scent of freshly-brewed coffee. No doubt from the nurses’ station.

“How’s our boy?” Santiago asked, his gaze darting to Noel. “No change yet?”

With a hiss, Tomas walked slowly back to his seat, his stitches pulling and hurting like hell. “Still hasn’t woken up yet.”

“We found casings,” Diablo murmured. “Right in the parking lot, twenty feet from your window.”

Tomas gripped the back of his chair, other hand pressed to his bandages. Rage seared under his ribs. If the shooter—which Tomas would bet his left nut was Brian—had been that close, then he would’ve been able to see inside Noah’s room. The blind hadn’t been fully closed, which meant the perverted asshole probably watched before he’d shot his gun.

Tomas hoped Brian had seen him fucking Noel. Hoped it ate him alive. Almost ate you alive.

“It’s hard for us to track his ex if we know shit about him, not even what he looks like.” Santiago’s eyelids lowered to slits. “Give me something. We’ll track the bitch down.”

“Would love to pay him back for his kindness to Noah.” Diablo’s voice dripped with venom, hands clasped in front, shoulders tight. “Little man-to-man talk, you know.”

“Not your kill,” Tomas snarled. “That bastard doesn’t get to keep breathing after what he did. Not after—” His voice buckled as a tear slid free. Tomas swiped at it then ground out the rest. “Not after he tried to take mi elegido from me. That kill is mine.”

“We’re just helping you track him down while you’re here with your mate,” Santiago said. “Nobody’s gonna take the kill from you.”

Tomas jerked around when Noel stirred. His legs moved a little, stirring restlessly, the tip of his tongue peeking out to wet his lips.

“We’re heading out.” Santiago clapped Tomas’s shoulder. Tomas turned back to them. Diablo casually tossed up a peace sign before they walked out. “When did hospital food start smelling so good?” Santiago asked, eyeing the cart outside Noel’s door.

Tomas didn’t see what happened next. He was slowly moving toward the bed, hand on his bandaged side, his heart thumping a little faster. “Florito?”

“Worst. Cotton mouth. Ever,” Noel groaned. His lashes fluttered once, then again, before they slowly lifted to reveal those gorgeous gems.

He was disoriented. Tomas saw the confusion on his face. His eyes darted around the room, brows knitted tightly. “Did we wreck on the bike or something?”

Tomas slowly lowered into the chair, wincing at the pain of his bullet wound. Fuck, he didn’t know how to handle this.

On the one hand, Noel deserved the honest truth. The doctor would probably tell him anyway.

On the other? Tomas wanted to give him a moment of peace where his mate could breathe without reliving that horror. Just one damn second of reprieve.

“We’re stealing that hospital gown, carino. You can walk around our house with your gorgeous tush showing.”

Way to coward out.

Noel turned his head, nose crinkled. “You have a weird fetish, buddy.” His confused expression deepened. “You have a house?”

Tomas chuckled. “Yes, florito. I have a home. It’s not much, but”—he shrugged then glanced down, tracing Noel’s hand with his finger”—it’s ours.”

Like his pack, Tomas spent most of his time at the tavern, which was their wolf den, a home away from home.

His own place was fine, but it lacked the warmth and familiarity Tomas felt at Sin & Steel. It didn’t have Cesar in his kitchen making the best meals Tomas had ever eaten or the sense of belonging he felt at the bar.

It lacked everything that made a house a home.

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