Page 62 of Burdens
Barrera had grown more reckless over the years and started taking a bigger cut than he’d used to. In this world, money talked and if you could offer a better deal, one would be stupid not to take it.
We were offering them a better profit margin, protection, and respect.
Something only a fool would say no to.
And I had enough blackmail against each and every one of them if needed.
I’d still had a few more people to meet with, but with the short time frame we were put up against, we wouldn’t be able to turn everyone before Nassim took over.
We still had to discuss what the next steps were, but I decided to push the thought to the back of my brain and try to get some sleep before the long days we were about to face.
It felt like I’d barely just closed my eyes to get some sleep when a loud voice roused me awake. I pinched the bridge of my nose as the merchant outside yelled about carrots and zucchinis being discounted over and over again as he passed under the window above the bed where I was lying.
With my eyes still closed, I patted the sheets next to me for my burner to look at the time. Once my palm closed around thephone, I barely peeled one eye open and flipped it open, noting that it was just a little past 8:00 a.m.
I let out a groan and dropped the phone back on the bed. I tried to fall back asleep but after a few tosses and turns, I placed my palms over my face and let out another frustrated groan.
I was fucking exhausted and wanted to sleep, but it was too late. I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. I ran my hands over my face and sat up in bed, throwing my legs over the edge of the bed.
My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours. I retrieved my pants from where I’d discarded them on the floor and swiftly tugged them back on.
I reached back for the burner and quickly fired a nondescript text message to Nassim to arrange a meeting time. Once he replied he would meet us at the large market in town around ten, I rose to my feet and made my way out of the bedroom, stopping by the bedroom closet to grab adjellaba?2 and a pair ofbelgha?3from it.
Pausing before opening it, I listened for signs of Noah being awake. My own self seemed to be conspiring against me, so the more I avoided him, the better.
When I didn’t hear any movement on the other side, I cautiously turned the door handle and slipped out of the bedroom, doing my best to keep quiet. I turned and glanced in Noah’s direction, stopping short.
My breath hitched in my throat because for the first time in almost a decade, I had a full—almost—view of his body. Noah was sprawled shirtless on one of the low sofas, the strong planes of his body on full display.
He had one arm shielding his face while the other rested where the plaid orange sheet I’d left for him earlier this morning, the fabric pooling dangerously low around his waist.
Despite my efforts to tear my gaze away, he was hard to ignore. My gaze unwarrantedly traced over his golden-brown skin, lingering on the chain necklace that I hadn’t noticed before, one that he used to always wear. It rested low on his neck, the bottom brushing against his collarbone.
Unbidden flashbacks of how his skin used to feel under my fingertips and how much I’d loved looping my finger around the chain to bring him closer suddenly assaulted my mind.
I felt the sound of my heartbeat in my ears, the cadence increasing with each passing second.
“Not that I mind, pretty girl,” a hoarse voice said, immediately snapping me out of the trance. “But are you gonna keep staring at me like that or is there something I can help you with?”
My skin blazed from the fact that he’d caught me, but I quickly gathered myself. I jerked my head up to find he was still in the same position, unmoving.
I scoffed. “I wasn’t. Don’t flatter yourself,” I countered, obviously lying.
He suddenly sat up and leaned back, propping himself on one of his hands. The movement sent the linen pooling even lower around his waist, revealing the deep cut leading underneath what I could still, to my disgruntlement, vividly picture.
Joder?4, I cursed silently in my mind as his eyes met mine.
He let out a knowing laugh and stood, stepping around the low table to walk toward me, grasping the linen with one hand so that it wouldn’t drag on the floor. It did nothing to hide what it was attempting to conceal, but I didn’t let my gaze falter from his.
I knew he was taunting me, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“Where are your clothes?” I asked as he stood closer, slightly craning my neck as he towered over me.
“Outside, drying,” he replied, further closing the distance between us with another step. “Though there isn’t much left to wear.”
I didn’t move. “There should be spare clothes your size in the bedroom closet. Make sure you’re wearing something by the time I get back,” I told him, turning away and heading toward the front door.
Before I could take more than a few steps, his free hand wrapped around my wrist to stop me. “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
