“Wow,” he managed to gasp out as his head lolled down to look at her, “Are the Lions finally asking for a favor from us?”
Ray’s smile widened, and his laugh sobered.Got you.
“Not from the organization. Fromyou.”She drawled and saw his gaze narrow, his lips turning downwards as she continued, “I’ve seen the way you handle business, Noah. I’m offering a partnership.”
Noah’s eyes glinted in the sunlight, “You want me to do what the Krafts did for you.” He stated and Ray shrugged,
“That. And some more.”
“Why?” he asked, but Ray had been expecting his questions. She sighed, tilting her head as she blinked innocently,
“I think it’s time you took the reins in your hands, that’s all.”
A dangerous,loadedstatement.
But even as Noah’s eyes sharpened, she saw the gleam of greed shine in his eyes. She hid her grin. Everyone knew about the Hassans,especiallyNoah’s father who hadn’t yet given up the reins of his business and retired. Instead, he remained, a fucking boulder that kept pressurizing their business when it was Noah who did all the work. Kian Hassan was everything like Angel’s father andworse.
“I think you’re treading a very dangerous line, Raylene Walker.” Noah carefully drawled, his eyes snapping behind her, “And tell your shadow tofuckoff, or she’s going to die.”
Ray chuckled but signaled Verana to take a step away. She’d noticed the other girl following her miles back but had let her.If Verana had her suspicions, she might as well dissolve them here.Ray focused on Noah, at the shimmering rage in his eyes,
“I’m just offering you a hand Noah,” she said, a smile on her face even as her tone dropped an octave. Even Ira shivered beside her as Noah’s lips bared in a show of thatrage,“Think about it. You become the Lion’s pillar and we lend you a hand in getting your business afloat.”
In getting the business, period.
Noah’s eyes shone in curiosity. In a show of thought as he crossed his arms and leaned back. She let him ponder over it, knew she didn’t have to explain what he had to do for the Lions. Ray turned to Ira then, watched her fidget with the blue bracelet on her wrist and peer out the window to look at the beach.
“What makes this concrete?” Noah’s question flew with the wind, making Ray’s eyes snap back to his, “What’s thecatch?”
Ray smiled, shaking her hair off her face gently as she let out a soft breath, “You’ll get the contract we offered the Krafts with an added clause.”
She started and saw him hum in thought as she continued, “You can define your conditions there. And we will offer them if they are within our bounds.”
“How diplomatic.” Noah joked, but she saw his shoulders soften at her words, “I hope we’d met during different conditions Raylene Walker.” He added after a brief pause, “Then I wouldn’t be worried about mixing business with pleasure.”
Accepted.
Ray grinned, extending her hand for Noah to take just as Ira’s soft voice flooded through their ears.
“Gross.” She whispered and Ray’s brows rose in her direction. Noah’s laugh boomed through the half-empty restaurant as he shook her hand and nodded,
“Nice doing business with you Walker.” He said and swiped a hand through his hair as he moved to get up from his seat. Noah’s body shifted as he leaned to one side and Ray saw him smile dangerously and wave,
“Nice knowing you Verana, you fuckingstalker!” he said in ease just as Ray remained seated, Ira tucked at her side. Verana’s hiss was audible to all of them as Noah tipped an invisible hat in her direction. He was about to say something when Ray let a small smile grace her lips as she slumped lazily in her seat,
“Oh, and Noah?” she started, her voice sweet and innocent. Still, she knew his shoulders stiffened. Her lips tipped, “The Lions don’t ask forfavors.” Her head turned over her shoulder, catching the brief flash in his eyes.
“We make deals. Contracts, nothing less, nothing more.” Her smile turned further, and a lethal glint entered his gaze as she continued softly,
“Remember that.”
Noah remained rooted in his spot for a moment. Only a moment, and then Hassan’s lips were breaking into a malicious grin as he wove his hands through his hair and snapped his gaze in her direction.
“Until next time Walker.” He said in response and Ray raised her hand as she turned back around in her seat and sighed.
Heard him walk out of the restaurant without a backward glance.
Ray sighed in relief and slumped back down in her seat, letting her exhaustion show as she slumped in her chair. Her eyes shut just as Ira slid down as well and they both heard an angry pair of footsteps near them. Ray couldn’t help her groan as Verana pulled a chair in front with a loudscreechand sat on it,
