Page 50 of Who's Saving You
Nik
I park my truck in the underground garage, scanning the area. I spot the unfamiliar car parked at the back corner and raise a brow as I step into the elevator.
Nice to see Stone can try to be incognito.
After practice, I went back to the locker room and grabbed my phone. I received an alert that Noelle had left my condo earlier today, and my stomach tightened. I told her to stay put until I got back. At first, panic set in, but when I saw that Stone's location was the same as hers had been, I grew mad instead.
The elevator doors slid open, allowing me to enter the penthouse floor. The moment I opened my door, I knew something was off. The silence was thick, like the air before a storm. Noelle was on the couch, one leg tucked under her, flipping absently through a magazine she clearly wasn'treading. She didn’t look up. It’s like she already knew I was pissed.
Stone was seated near the kitchen, arms folded, eyes tracking my every move. I dropped my keys on the table a little too hard. Scattered on the table were half-opened bags of candy. I look closely at the sour ropes and push pops laid about, and shake my head at the sugar junkie who’s crashed into my life.
“Where were you?” I ask, my voice low and steady.
Noelle turns the page of her magazine. “Out.”
“Withwho?”
She looks at me. “Stone.”
My jaw clenches as I shift my gaze to Stone, who doesn't blink but just gives a subtle nod.
“Where did you go?” I asked.
“I needed some candy.”
“I told you to add whatever you wanted to the list.”
“Needed to pick my own.”
Her curt reply has me whistling, shaking my head. “Done with the attitude yet?”
Noelle raises an eyebrow. “Done with the interrogation yet?”
“Don’t play with me, Noelle.”
Her tone cools. “I went to get coffee. My sister met us there. It was public. Stone was right outside the whole time.”
“You left this house. You wentout. With yoursister.”
“Yes,” she snaps. “Because she wanted to see me. Because she was worried. You still get to talk to yourboyfriends, why can’t I talk to my sister?”
I give a non-humorous laugh. “You think this is a joke?” My voice rises for the first time. “You think just because Stone was with you, that makes itsafe?”
Noelle stands, magazine forgotten, her eyes burning. “You told me I’m safe!”
“You’re safe inhere!”
She throws her hands up. “I can’t stayhereforever!”
I take a breath. “You made a phone call asking for some records, and look at the shitstorm that turned up. You going out today probably opened a whole new portal for thesemalakas.”
She rounds the couch, coming to stand in front of me while Stone sits and watches. “You don’t get to make me feel guilty for trying to hold on to a sliver of normality.”
“Life isn’tnormalanymore,” I bite out. “None of this is. And the second you start acting like it is, that’s when they get you.” I huff. "Come on, Noelle, be smarter than that. You're a reporter; I know you've read these stories before.”
“God,” she mutters, turning away. “Fucking hypocrite. Youarethe story.”
I exhale, trying to steady myself as I see her shoulders bunch. “You don’t understand what they’re capable of.”
