Page 148 of Stop and Seek
He’d beenplanningto beat the guy’s ass. Like with Keith. Like with Aaron. Clean, easy, no real mess. Just a message.
But now…
Now he wanted him dead.
The light turned red. Noah rolled to a stop.
Road wide open.
No one around.
Jagger shifted in his seat. “Mercy’s the closest hospital, shouldn’t you—”
“We’re not going to the hospital,” Noah said. “We’re going back to your place.” He tossed a quick look toward the passenger seat, eyes flat. “Theo’s fine, by the way. Not like you care.”
Jagger was going to try and make a break for it—
Yep, there it was.
He tugged on the handle, hard. Noah got to watch as it snapped off in his hands.
That kind of satisfaction never got old.
“It’s a nice car, right?” Noah asked as the light turned green again. “Custom fitted. My first bigto me, from mebirthday present.”
“I’m calling 911.”
Noah shrugged, still smiling. “Oh yeah. Do that. I haven’t talked to the Sergeant in a hot minute. Better yet…”
He lifted his hips, wiggling as he dug out the work phone. Second contact on the list. Putting it on speaker, he tossed it to the dash like he was showing off a toy.
The cop’s voice came on. “Terry.”
“Hey, Grant,” Noah sang. “How’s Monica doing in the school play?”
Jagger freaked. As expected. Scrambling over his words, panicking into the cold air. “I’m in a car, going down—down Jupiter. I can’t get out, I think this guy’s kidnapping me—”
“No one’s kidnapping you,” Noah cut in. He leaned toward the phone, talking over the noise. “Total drama king.”
“Next time, Mr. Bryant,” Grant said, dry as hell. “You don’t need to call. Let Ms. Sterling do her job.”
Click.
Noah shot Jagger another look. “No one cares. You get that yet? Not the cops, not your shitty employees at your third-rate tattoo shop. Not me.”
“I don’t evenknow you.”
That one hit a nerve. Noah had to inhale, deep, because that soundedexactlylike Theo. For a second, it stung.
“You’re right,” he said, low and way too calm for someone this keyed up. “But you did a number on my boy. And—hey—you’re not the only one guilty. You’re just… themostguilty. Make sense? You fucked upmyrelationship with Theo. Now I have to step in and fix it.”
“What about my side of the story—”
“Don’t care.”
He pulled up. Put the car in park. Unclipped his seat belt with aclick. His heart thudded against his ribs, adrenaline rushing through his veins
The door swung open, and Noah hadreallyhoped he’d be more impressed.
