CHAPTER TEN

Noah

One Week Later

It's hard to define how my mind has been racing this last week. I never thought that taking a chance and stepping into Sadie's place last week for a fucking spa day would turn into this.

For the last year, I have wanted Rhyan. Hung back and watched her, thinking my stupid ass was no good for her. That there was absolutely zero chance she'd be interested in me.

All it took was for me to take that first step.

Do what Maverick suggested and be her friend.

If it took getting fucking nail polish on my damn toes for her to be into me, then I'd do that shit over and over again—every day of the week if she wanted me to.

This past week, I've been tending to my prospect duties during the day while Rhyan is doing her coursework. But at night, we spend time in her room, getting to know each other.

As I told her, I'm in no rush.

I want to do it right.

But it's getting harder to hold myself back.

The fact Dutch is keeping a close eye on us—as if we're untrustworthy damn teenagers—isn't getting past me. He's become a constant in the back of my mind, and I have to wonder if that was his plan all along. Not that I need the reminder. I want to do right by Rhyan, no matter what it takes.

It's gotten heated between us, much like in her bedroom last week.

Just thinking about last night has me adjusting myself.

I slipped my hands into the waistband of her panties, sliding them down her toned legs. For a moment, I glanced up to find Rhyan's gaze locked on me, watching each move I made. Her breathing was shaky as if she was anticipating what I would do next, and I smiled. Knowing I could work her up like that is something I could never have dreamed of, and I'm glad because the reality is so much fucking better.

Breaking eye contact, I watched my fingers slip between her lips and found her already soaking. I had to grit my teeth, fighting to stay in control.

"Jesus, Rhy." I groaned, pulling my fingers free and sliding them into my mouth for a taste. "Mmm, delicious." My cock throbbed, wanting nothing more than to be buried deep inside her.

"Noah…" she whimpered.

I leaned on one arm, bracing myself over her. Watching her has become my new addiction. I slipped my hand back between her legs, making sure to graze my fingers over her clit. Her hips bucked at the contact, giving me the perfect angle to sink my fingers inside. "You're so fucking tight," I told her, leaning down to devour her lips. Dropping to my elbow, my body half on hers, our tongues fought for control, and I ground against her hip, needing friction of my own.

My cock was painfully hard, and if she didn't come soon, I might have just beat her to it.

The sound of her arousal echoed through the room as my fingers worked her up. Her tight walls squeezed my fingers as if trying to pull me deeper, and I changed my angle, tapping against her G-spot. She moaned into my mouth, and I growled, loving the way she sounded as I worked her up.

When I slid my thumb over her clit, I pressed firmly, and she broke our kiss, gasping for breath, thrusting her hips off the bed. The movement pressed against my cock, and like a dam, she broke, leaving me no choice but to follow her, making a complete mess of my jeans.

A commotion in the kitchen snaps me out of my memories, and I shake my head, cursing under my breath. Thankfully, everyone is too busy with their tasks to notice I spaced out and am now having to adjust my incredibly uncomfortable hard-on.

To be honest, I don't mind, though. Memories of heated moments like that between Rhyan and me make the days more exciting. But with today being Saturday, Rhyan is at the clubhouse for the day instead of at class like she is during the week. I wish I could be spending my time with her today, seeing as we're both here, but she's hanging out with the girls while Hayes, Wes, and I have been moving product into the kitchen for Sadie to get to work cooking up a storm.

If Rhyan and I are both missing all the time, it's going to get obvious real quick what we're up to. And while I am really fucking loving taking the heat level up a notch, I know Dutch won't approve.

So for today, it's prospecting duty for me, and I will dream about Rhyan in my spare time. I glance over at Rip while he hangs back, being the patched member in charge of the crops. He stands, watching the prospects handling the goods that make money for the club, ensuring it all goes smoothly. He chuckles, folding his bulging arms over his chest. "You Barnies totally have this pumping. Like, I don't even need to be here. I could be off catching a mad wave right now, and this would for sure be running smooth as, bruh."

Smirking, I hoist another bag of weed onto the counter in the kitchen, then shrug. "You could. But, if you left us to it, and a bag went missing because Hayes ran off with it to smoke behind the farm, then you'd be the asshole who got in the shit."

Rip nods. "Totally, totally… I should definitely put that bag of weed I took back into stock then, yeah?"

Snorting out a laugh, I shrug. "Or blame it on Hayes. Everyone suspects the prospects," I joke as Hayes walks in carrying another bag.

Rip cackles when Hayes glances at me and then at Rip while Wes follows behind him with another bag.

"We all good?" Wes asks.

"We all good?" I turn to Rip in question, and he yanks the bag of weed from his pocket, throwing it on the table with a hefty laugh.

"You're lucky I like you, Hayes. There's a reason us surfers call sharks, Noah. I mean, technically, it's because shark rhymes with ark, and Noah built the ark, but in this case, Noah is the shark between all you prospects. He's totally gunning for that patch. You Barnies better pull up your boardies and start paddling harder if you wanna reach that crest."

Hayes glances from Rip to me, then back to Rip. "Brother, I have no fucking clue what you just said."

Wes and I chuckle as Rip grips Hayes on the shoulder and nods. "And that is why it's taking you so long to get your patch, Prospect..." Rip grins, looking up at the newest prospect on our team. "Wes?"

"Yeah?" Wes replies.

"Do you think Hayes is cut out for this club, bruh?" Rip asks.

Wes smirks, grinning wide. "Hey, I patched in from the Steel Serpents. The shit we do here is child's play to the fucked-up crap I had to endure in that shithole. As for Hayes… he's doing all right."

"What is this? Am I being hazed right now?" Hayes asks, clearly confused.

Poor kid. I do wonder if he has what it takes.

Rip laughs, waving his hand through the air. He grabs a joint and lights it up, inhaling deeply. "We're messing with you, Hayes. You need to harden up your cajónes , bruh. If you want that patch, you need to be able to take the shit talk without panicking."

Hayes nods, taking everything in. "Got it. Loosen the fuck up. I'm hearing you loud and clear."

A shadow outside the kitchen catches my attention as Rip offers Hayes a puff of his joint, and Hayes shrugs. "Okay, yeah, fuck it! Why not?"

He takes it from Rip and inhales right when Alpha enters the kitchen, his eyes wide. "Prospect, what the fuck are you doing toking on the job? You should be working your ass off helping, not getting fucking high. Put that shit out, and get back to work!"

Hayes coughs dramatically, butting the joint out on the island counter. "Fuck! Sorry, Pres. I'll go grab the last of the product for Sadie now." He drops his head and rushes out of the kitchen with his tail between his legs. Alpha smirks while Hayes practically runs for the farm.

Rip bursts out laughing, gripping Alpha on the shoulder. "Damn, Pres, the kid is gonna wipe out for real if we keep hounding him like this."

Alpha chuckles, glancing from Wes to me. "The difference is, though, Rip, you knew I was outside the kitchen, didn't you?"

Rip snorts out a laugh. "Yeah, bruh, why do you think I offered him the joint?" He laughs again. "To see if he saw you there or not."

Alpha glances up at Wes and me, as if to ask the same question. "Yeah, Pres. I knew you were there," I answer his unspoken question.

Wes chuckles with a shrug. "Same."

"That's my point, you all knew, but Hayes didn't. He lacks awareness of his surroundings. He needs to up his game if he wants his patch." Alpha exhales, shaking his head. "Anyway, good work. Rip, you keep going with Hayes. Try and teach him some shit that needs to be taught. You can't focus on him with all three of the prospects under your care. Wes, Noah, you have the rest of the afternoon off so Rip can put time into Hayes."

Widening my eyes, I smile. So does Wes.

"Thanks, Pres," I reply.

"Yeah, thanks, Alpha," Wes relays the same sentiment.

Alpha narrows his glare on me. "But I don't want you going off and doing fucking stupid shit with your free time. I don't need to bail you out again. Understand?"

Smirking, I nod. "Understood. I'll behave."

Alpha exhales like he doesn't believe me, his eyes shifting to Rip. "And Rip, stop taking bags of weed for your personal use, for fuck's sake. You're supposed to be setting an example here."

Rip grins. "My bad. I'll totally throw some cash in the safe for the weed."

Alpha raises his brow. "Brother, you think I don't know how many bags you've smoked from our crops since you've taken over running the farm? You'd need to put a fuckton of cash in that safe if you were to pay for it all. I don't give a shit if you smoke it. Just remember, it's the club's profits you're eating into. So you need to compensate for that."

Rip's grin is wide. "Righteous. You got it, Pres."

"We good to go, Pres?" Wes asks.

"Yeah, and Noah?" He narrows in on me again.

Exhaling, I nod. "Yeah, Pres?"

"We're still looking into Atlas. Has there been any developments on your end?"

Rolling my shoulders, I sigh. "I saw him briefly while I was out with Rhyan last week. He saw me through a shop window. Didn't make any attempt to talk to me or make any threatening kind of actions, so I let it slide. I was more interested in Rhyan's safety than worrying about Atlas at the time."

Alpha huffs. "You should have come and told me. But, the good thing is there's been nothing since. Maybe he isn't gonna be a problem. We'll keep our eyes on him."

"Thanks, Pres."

Alpha dips his chin. "All right, fuck off. Go do whatever it is you wanna do for the rest of the damn day. I got shit to do."

Wes and I head for the exit. Wes turns, making his way for the bar, and I glance around the club rooms, looking for Rhyan. I can't see her inside anywhere. So I head for the back door, resting my arm on the doorframe as I peer outside and spot her sitting at the entrance to the farm, playing with Doughnut, the club's goat. The happiness lighting her face as the goat leaps about makes me chuckle while Rhyan sits back, talking to Doughnut like they're best friends.

He nudges into her leg, and she pets his head as a dragonfly buzzes around the top of Rhyan's head, but she does nothing to shoo it away. She simply glances at it, her smile widening like she is delighted to see it there. This shit is like some fucking Disney Princess attracting all the animals to her kingdom. I swear if we all break out into song, I will seriously lose my shit.

Movement to my side has me glancing to my right, and I spot Ellie, Rhyan's mother, smirking beside me. She raises her brow, taking in Rhyan as she continues to play with Doughnut, oblivious to being watched by us.

"She's always loved the animals at the clubhouse. She and Poppy would play with the pigs and that freaking goat for hours until Poppy was taken, that is…" She trails off for a moment, and I raise my brow. "When we thought the cartel killed Poppy, Rhyan didn't spend as much time with the animals. So it is nice to see her venturing back out there now that Poppy is home."

"I never knew that."

Ellie turns to face me with a soft shrug. "Poppy being taken was before your time. But seeing the way Rhy lights up around you, Noah, it reminds me of the girl she was before… before Poppy was taken. Rhy always feels like she let Alpha and Livvy down when it comes to Poppy."

Furrowing my brows, I fold my arms over my chest, leaning against the doorframe. "I don't understand. What does Rhy have to do with Poppy and the cartel?"

Ellie glances from me to Rhyan, then back to me. "Rhyan was babysitting Poppy when the cartel kidnapped her. She feels responsible because she believes she let them take Poppy, and then, of course, we all thought Poppy was dead."

Rubbing the back of my neck, I exhale. "Jesus."

"It's the entire reason Rhyan went into forensic trauma cleaning. It's her weird way of going to the place of death and figuring out what happened to the victim, even if she is cleaning up the scene. Rhyan wants to know every detail that happened because she feels responsible for Poppy."

Ellie sighs. "Rhyan doesn't talk about it. She hardly talks to Poppy. It's why she is so reserved and unwilling to go out of her comfort zone. She feels she made a huge mistake, and it cost Poppy two years in an assassin training facility, and it cost Alpha and Livvy's marriage. But the thing Rhyan forgets is that Poppy is alive and an amazing young girl now. And Livvy and Alpha were never going to make their marriage work long-term. We all knew that."

A tense silence hangs in the air as Ellie's words settle, each word becoming harder to say. "And if this never happened, we wouldn't have Haven . Everything happens for a reason… just like I believe, even if my husband doesn't, that he found you and brought you to this club. That was also meant to be. And now, I suspect that reason is to help our daughter come back to life."

Ellie looks into my eyes, an unmistakable kindness in them. "And you're doing it, Noah. I mean, look at her," she states joyfully, then points.

My eyes follow her finger, and I glance back out at Rhyan, who is jumping around in the dirt with Doughnut, the dragonfly still following her. I can't wipe the smile from my face. "The thing is, though, Ellie. You think I'm bringing Rhyan to life, but she is the one bringing me back to life." Smiling, I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "I can't even explain what it is about her, but she makes me want to be better. She makes me want to try. And that's not something I have cared about for a long time."

Ellie sniffles back her emotions. "I see that in you. As long as you treat her right, I am happy that you two are spending time together. But I wanted you to know the full picture of what you're dealing with because I know she won't tell you."

"Appreciate it, Ellie. It explains some quirks of hers a little more."

She nods in understanding. "She's a wonderful girl. She has so much to give… all I ask is that you don't break her any more than she's already broken."

"The last thing I ever want to do is hurt her. I can promise you that."

Ellie grips my shoulder. "I trust you… plus, she has a dragonfly hanging around her. She always seems to have a dragonfly buzzing around her when she's in a good mood, and if you can put her in one of her dragonfly moods, then I know you must really be great for her."

Raising my brow, I smirk. "Is that really a thing? The dragonflies?"

Ellie smirks. "Stick around with her long enough, and you'll see. It's strange, but it's been happening all her life."

Snorting out a laugh, I can't fight the smile forming on my lips. "Of course it has. Rhy is special. Even animals can sense it."

Ellie lets out a small sigh and spins as if she is going to walk off, but she looks at me one last time. "You're good for her, Noah. Don't doubt that fact."

"Thanks… for not treating me like I'm some wayward dickhead like everyone else thinks I am."

She leans in, her eyes pinned on mine. "Prove. Them. Wrong." She winks, then spins on her heel, taking off back toward the bar with a pep in her step.

Inhaling deeply, a sense of pride swarms through me that I might have someone on my side. I spin back to face Rhyan, who is still playing with Doughnut. The dragonfly buzzes around her playfully, so I walk outside to greet her.

She glances up at me, her eyes brightening when she spots me. "Oh, hey! You finished working with the other prospects for the day?"

I move in, taking the seat beside her, Doughnut grazing my shin, begging for a pet. My hand glides over his white fur. "Rip needed some alone time with Hayes to teach him some shit. So Wes and I got the afternoon off."

Rhyan bobs her shoulders up and down. "Bonus for me. Now I get to hang out with you… unless you have other plans, of course? I don't want to assume—"

"I'm all yours, Rhy." Her gorgeous face lights up before she nudges into my side. "I had a nice conversation with your mom just now."

Her beautiful eyes widen. "Oh?"

I shift my gaze to the dragonfly still buzzing around her head. "She told me that these little guys seem to be a feature in your life when you're happy."

She snickers, looking up at the dragonfly as he lands on the side of the farm shed right behind her, fluttering its pretty wings. "It's weird, but yeah. They seem to be attracted to me. I've never understood it, but I welcome it. They're like my little guardians telling me everything is going to be okay. Shit! Is that weird? Do you think I'm weird now?"

I chuckle, sliding my hand to her knee. "Nothing about you is weird, Rhy. Everything about you makes perfect sense."

She bites down on her bottom lip, her hand moving out on top of mine, threading our fingers together. "Okay, well, now that we have established that I am a bit strange and that you have talked to my mom, can we talk a little more about your mom? I wanna know more about her because she is such an important person in your life, and what's important to you is important to me."

Craning my neck to the side, I swallow hard at the awkward direction this conversation might take. "Well, what more do you want to know?"

She spins to face me a little more, her attention fully on me now. "How often do you get to see her?"

"As often as I can, they will only allow me to visit once a month normally, but now it's been taken out to every three. I'd go every week if I could. She is a great mom, and an even better one before all the shit happened and she got taken away." A weak smile crosses my face, but I continue, "Her biggest dream was for us to go to New York and see Times Square. We would talk for hours before bed as she was tucking me in about how we were going to go to Brooklyn for a hot dog from Nathan's Famous in Coney Island. Don't tell the brothers, but my middle name is Brooklyn."

She fights back her smile. "Noah Brooklyn Drake, huh?"

Rolling my eyes, I groan. "I know, I know. The kids gave me shit about it at school. But I didn't really care because Mom really wanted to go there. Once that dream was taken from her, my middle name is like that memory of a trip we could have had together but was stolen from us, and now it lives on in my name. Does that make sense?"

Rhyan's expression falls. "I'm so fucking sorry you and your mom never got to take that trip. That really sucks, Noah."

I shrug it off. It hurts like hell, but I can do nothing about it now. "I hate that Mom will never experience anything like that. The only thing she will know is gray walls and watching her back. I fucking hate it."

Rhyan blinks away the tears forming in her eyes. "I have an idea."

My eyes meet hers, and I raise my brow. "Okay, what's going on in that cute little brain of yours?" I gently tap the side of her temple.

She hesitates but then rolls her shoulders like she's finding some inner courage for what she is about to say. "My birthday is coming up in three weeks. Why don't you, me, maybe Mav and Sadie go to New York to celebrate? We can visit Times Square, then make our way to Coney Island, get that hot dog, and take photos of everything. Then , we can take them in to show your mom!" With each new idea, her excitement level picks up a notch.

My stomach twists with mixed emotions—excitement at the idea of going with Rhyan but also apprehension, knowing I am supposed to be doing this with my mom.

However, there is also an underlying factor standing in our way. "Rhy, your dad will never let me take you nearly three thousand miles away from him and the club."

Rhyan smirks. "Yeah, he will. It will be for my twenty-first. I am sure I could convince him..." She leans back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only if you're up for it, of course?"

"You really want to spend your milestone birthday running around a city doing things that are about my childhood? That doesn't sit right with me."

Rhyan slides her arm around my neck, looking deep into my eyes. "I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing than making your childhood dream a reality. Your mom can't do this with you, Noah. Let me help make this happen. On one condition, though?"

Letting out a shocked laugh, I widen my eyes. "What's that?"

"I want to be there when you show your mom. That you were able to do what she wanted for you both."

This woman!

I can't help but be equal parts happy and sad at the same time. "I hate that she won't be there with us, but going anywhere with you will be amazing."

Rhyan's eyes widen before she sits taller as if she's just had the best idea pop into her mind. "We could get a photo and make a cutout of your mom's face and have her in every photo with us."

I pause to stare at her and shake my head. "You. Are. Stunning."

She smiles wide. "So that means we're doing this?"

"We're going to New York for your birthday, provided your dad agrees."

And with those words, calmness washes over my entire body.