Page 170 of A Quick Buck

It wasn’t simply about being able to pick out his own clothes, though that certainly played a big part, but it was also being able to regain a sense of control over his life and win some semblance of normalcy back. It was weird not having anything of his own on hand, and he wanted something familiar to help anchor him in the new life Alistair was creating for him.

Though the immediate danger seemed to have passed, Alistair’s employees still kept watch over them around the clock. It was usually Crybaby and Erasmus standing guard, switching out with Mace and some other men Noah didn’t know but Alistair assured him were trustworthy. Noah didn’t see Junior at all that week, and Alistair said he was busy doing other things.

He suspected Junior’s absence was part of a punishment for almost getting him killed, but he didn’t pry.

The days ticked by without incident, and Noah spent his time by Alistair’s side watching movies, learning to cook new meals, and falling asleep in his bed each night. Sex was frequent, awesome, and Noah was never left wanting.

It was surreal; Noah’s dreams were horrible whenever he closed his eyes, but every waking moment was the happiest he’d ever been.

Well, while still being worried that someone was going to murder him and he had no idea why.

Other thanthat, everything was peachy.

Erasmus was there to drive them back to the house when the time came, explaining the bulk of volunteers had left, but the rest of the usual crew would be there to help out and keep an eye on things.

Noah was nervous when he saw the house looming in the distance. He’d been so eager to get his things, but actually being back was making him anxious. Nightmares aside, being at Alistair’s had made it easy to forget what had happened. Seeing the house made it all very real, and Noah had zero intention of staying here any longer than he had to.

He wanted to get in and get out as quickly as possible. His plan was to make a mad dash upstairs, grab his crap, and haul ass back to the car. The idea of lingering in the very room where Medina had tried to kill him was not a pleasant one.

Erasmus parked the car up front once they’d pulled up to the house, and he walked around to open the back door to let Noah and Alistair out.

Noah was looking at the unfamiliar vehicles by the garage and wondering if they belonged to the volunteers when he saw something.

No, not just something, butsomeone.

Someone he knew.

Uncle Patrick.

“Hey!” Noah gasped. “Wait!”

“What?” Alistair frowned.

“Come on!” As soon as Noah’s feet touched the ground, he walked hurriedly toward the garage.

“Where are you going?” Alistair demanded.

“I thought I saw somebody!” Noah kept charging. “Come on already!”

Maybe Patrick had finally come back to clear his name and got scared when he saw all the strange and heavily armed men here. Noah couldn’t blame him for running, but he was determined to get to him first.

“Mr. Star?” Erasmus called politely. “Do you want me to come with you, sir?”

“Go on, we’ll be right in. Let everyone know we’re here.” Alistair followed Noah, complaining, “My sweet boy, it is very likely that there are still some volunteers patrolling the grounds. Who exactly do you think that you saw that requires such a hasty expedition?”

“I swear it was…” Noah skidded to a stop when he rounded the corner of the garage. He could smell something sour, and the mulch was turned up like someone had been digging.

No,definitelydigging, as there was a shovel and big blue tarp lying on the grass a few feet away.

It was the same spot Noah recalled seeing the mulch disturbed when he was cleaning up after the party. He’d forgotten all about it, and now he spotted something pale peeking out from the dark ground.

Heart pounding, Noah kneeled and dug around the pale thing. When it was finally uncovered, he reeled back, gagging from the realization of what he was looking at.

It was a rotten human hand with a big gaudy watch he recognized immediately.

“Uncle Patrick…?” Noah gasped. “Oh,no.”

Wait.