Joesph took a step back and swayed.
Without thinking, Salem’s arm shot out, giving him something to cling to. “I’ve got you.”
The embarrassment in Joesph’s expression tugged at Salem’s heart. “Sorry.”
Salem tried to play it off. “As someone who was not born with grace, think nothing of it.”
“I call bullshit, but thanks.”
Salem followed him inside, closing the door behind him. The living room was small with next to no furniture. It was obvious he had to keep things sparse to ensure a clear path for his wheelchair. Salem intentionally didn’t look around. He didn’t want to make Joesph any more uncomfortable than he already was. “Why?”
Joesph looked more than a little relieved once he sat. Salem joined him on the loveseat since it was the only choice. Joesphdidn’t respond until Salem was seated. “I’ve seen you several times. You’re always flawless in everything you do.”
He didn’t know what to say or how to feel. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you before that day at Shaw’s office.”
A cute smile flashed his way, making Salem want to take care of him. He looked incredibly sweet when he wasn’t enraged. “No one looks at people in wheelchairs. We’re invisible. I promise we’ve crossed paths several times.”
Again, Salem didn’t know what to say. He was kind of angry with himself. Salem liked to think he wasn’t like the society he now belonged to. Hewasn’t one of them. Salem was supposed to be better than what Joesph accused him of being.
“Don’t look like that. I don’t think it’s personal. You get used to no one seeing you.”
“Do you?” The question was out there before Salem could stop it. He knew damn well being invisible wasn’t something a person grew accustomed to.
Joesph’s light gaze swept over Salem’s face. “No. That’s why I hate these parties. It’s just several hours of reminding me of my place.”
“You won’t go unnoticed. I’ll be there.Noir will be there.”
Joesph looked away. For a moment, Joesph seemed as if he fought an internal battle. Finally, he met Salem’s stare again. “Fuck it. I don’t work for Shaw anymore. I don’t owe anyone anything. You do realize Noir pushed for this party so he can drum up more business for his drug operation, right? Like, I realize saying that could get me killed, and I have to wonder if that’s why Noir asked you to invite me, but yeah. That prince is a king here, running this entire town.”
Joesph was right. Someone like him, knowing something like that, could get him killed. Salem didn’t think it would happen, though. “Noir didn’t ask me to invite you. I’m invitingyou because I want you there. As for Noir’s drug operation, I’m fully aware of all the players in this town. Not only does my level of income buy everyone’s secrets, but JD never would’ve set me on this chess board unprepared to make a power move, if need be.”
“You don’t seem bothered.”
“I’m unbothered by a lot of things.”
“You don’t feel used?”
“I’d have to care enough, and I don’t,” Salem shot back. Exposing himself to someone like Joesph didn’t hurt his pride. “I was born in backwoods Louisiana with absolutely nothing and no hope.If I hadn’t pulled myself from that place, I would’ve died there. The people in this town have everything to lose. They have no idea what’s it like to starve.” Salem never looked away from Joesph. “To trade their body.” He needed Joesph to see his spine was steel because he forged it. “I, on the other hand, know all about those things and I’ve already survived it. They have a hell of a lot farther to fall than I do. So, let them play their games, desperately trying to feel more important than they actually are. It’s people like us they should truly fear. We can be one of them, but they could never survive being one of us. If that means they have to peddle their wares, who am I to care? I’ll be comfortably chillingwith my men while they take turns scrambling for Shaw to keep them out of jail.”
Joesph looked away. “Will Shaw be there?”
Salem recognized Joesph had intentionally turned his head to keep Salem from reading his expression. “I’m not sure. He’s invited, but I also doubt he’s in much of a hurry to see me, since I told him he should apologize to you, and worship the ground you walk on because he was too ugly inside for anyone else to love.”
Even without looking directly at him, Salem saw Joesph’s mouthlift in one corner.
Joesph looked his way. “Okay. I’ll be there. How could I miss seeing the faked shock of seeing you with yourstepsons?” Joesph threw air quotes around stepsons, but Salem still fought a wince.
“Yeah. I suppose miserable people will always find a way to see the ugliness in love.”
“So the three of you really are together?”
“Yes.” Salem had to get used to answering that question directly at some point. This seemed like a good place to start.
Joesph’s smile grew. “I guess that explains Noir’s random as hell comments on poly marriage.”
Truthfully, Salem had forgotten all about that. That discussion had gotten lost in the rest of the night. Now that Joesph reminded him, he couldn’t think about anything else. “I suppose so.” Even to Salem’s ears, he sounded distracted. Prince Noir had an uncanny way of knowing everything before anyone else. It was strange and Salem didn’tknow how to feel.
Dodge had a love-hate relationship with house parties. On one hand, JD had always ensured a night of nothing but fun. On the other, Dodge had a lot of PTSD from the nights he had been paraded past potential targets. He also didn’t completely understand why Salem wanted to do this. Not that it was uncommon for him to have no idea what was happening, but still. He knew Salem. Salem didn’t party.
