Page 62 of Rolling 75 (The Noire Brothers #1)

Wells rubs his jaw, his own frustration shining through.

He doesn’t appear to be a man who appreciates not having all the answers.

“Could be tomorrow. Could be a year from now. They seem invested in involving Ryker, but didn’t make a move while you were gone.

Then two moves about a week apart. There’s also the seemingly connected issue of Theo Trafton’s death, so the escalation suggests it will come to a head soon, but that’s never a sure thing.

We’re dealing with a similar unknown, so I empathize. ”

“Speaking of Trafton,” Axel begins, pouring himself and Wells a bit more scotch, “we aren’t finding anything out of the ordinary with the people Mercy has had contact with since she’s returned. Any luck with the list we provided?”

“Unfortunately, everyone here is mixed up in shady shit.” Ty checks his phone in the middle of his response, smiling to himself before tucking it away, which leads me to believe his wife is finally on her way up.

“And half of New Orleans has some connection to Dalton. He was well known in the community, so that’s a challenging factor to isolate.

The suspect list is larger than we’d like, but we’ll get there. ”

“Then we carry on as usual.” I rise, resolved to embrace another day, which will start by visiting with Rena and getting to know her new family. “Remy won’t leave the resort, and I won’t leave often. But I’m not going to play dead for another three years while some psychopath waits me out.”

Before Ryker can object, I fling my arm toward their private garage.

“You had ten guards on me when we left last time. That should be good. Bryce seemed like he knew something about Trafton, so this might uncover information like you originally thought. You already managed to get the case with Judge Nicholson, and the proceedings are closed, so we know it will be quick and easy, and Hadyn can come as co-counsel. And I’m not going to miss out on Emma’s dress shopping or lock myself up when Christmas in the French Quarter is going on ten minutes away. I’ll wear a tracker—”

“You already are.” Ryker is pissed, so that response is smug as he casually rolls his odd-shaped dice around his palm.

“Of course I am.” I scan my body, the trespassing device immediately illuminated. “My La Lune Noire–access bracelet?”

His dimple heckles me. “And your phone.”

That’s not surprising, but I’m annoyed all the same.

A petulant huff flies out of my mouth. “When were you going to inform me of this violation of privacy?”

“I just did,” he drawls, blues as chilly as the Arctic Ocean, sparkling with challenge. “Maybe now is a good time to point out that if you try to ditch the bracelet, I’ll put a tracker under your skin.”

His haughty coolness is both infuriatingly sexy and just plain infuriating. And his galling threat heats every inch of my flesh.

“Got it. And that is a full-circle route to ending this discussion. We share information only when absolutely necessary, which is precisely why you were informed of the decision I made to take on a client when I decided it was worth filling you in.”

Before he can retort, Remy squeals, “Blue!” so we all turn to find Jax, Rena, and the other couple strutting in.

Gage I remember. He’s a presence—bald, broody, muscular, and tatted. Hard to forget. I never met his girl, but she’s got a similar formidable aura. Daunting.

Rena beelines for me as I’m dashing toward her. Her hair is pink and blonde, and she’s all grown up. She still has the edgy style she had as a teen, but there’s a maturity about her that wasn’t there before I left. And it nearly does me in.

She was pretty young when I returned from college, and though she pushed Axel and Ryker every chance she got, she had a heart of gold and a spirit that couldn’t be tamed. She was the little sister I’d always dreamed of having.

Without a word, she throws her arms around me, tears trickling down her cheeks and leaking onto my neck.

“I thought maybe I’d never see you again.

” She weeps, clutching me, her words barely a whisper in my ear.

“I’m so glad you’re finally home. For good.

I missed you so much. We all did. But Ryker?

He was lost without you, Mercy. So broken. ”

She obviously grew up to fill her Noire shoes. That is love, compassion, and a warning, all wrapped up in one. I adore her for it. Ryker gave up a lot to raise her, so it’s heartwarming to see she’s just as protective.

“I’m glad to be home too,” I assure her with a squeeze. “We were both broken, but we’re healing together . And you’re married.”

She pulls back, wiping some tears away. Her wistful hazels coast to her man with a heap of dreamy reverence. “Can you believe it? To Ty? He’s perfect, huh?”

“I honestly couldn’t have chosen anyone better for you.”

She beams at that before shifting her focus to Remy with a whoop and rushing toward him. “I have been waiting to hug my nephew.”

Nephew makes it all so real, the ring on my finger glimmering with renewed purpose.

Everything balls up in my throat. I wish so much their mother could see Rena this happy.

I wish my mother could see me this happy.

I wish she knew that all those years ago, when she and my father had made the difficult decision to let me be friends with Ryker and get to know the Noire family, it was the best thing they ever did for me. Not just for me. But for Remy too.

Rena scoops Remy up, tickling his belly and asking him all sorts of questions. He gawks at her pink hair and tells her all about his Ryker-friend , who plays with him every day and teached him how to cook. That has Rena chortling and side-eyeing her big brother.

Ryker’s rasp, rough and husky with emotion, curls around me as he swaggers to my side and splays his hand over my lower back.

“It feels complete, doesn’t it? With Rena here.

” He pauses for a minute, both of us soaking in the merry scene unfolding—Jax lit up and at peace, Axel staring on with pride, Rena at the center of two families who obviously adore her, Remy giggling and observing in awe, warmth and connection and belonging—until he finally adds, “Not as complete as if we still had everyone with us, but this … this is good.”

My eyes sting as I lay my head on his chest and loop my arms around his waist. “You always know.”

“You thrive from studying, Merce. You research things to death and love learning. There was only one subject I ever felt that way about. And that’s you. It’s been that way since I spotted you on the merry-go-round. All these years later, I know you better than you know yourself.”

Who knew he was such a romantic?

My heart practically implodes in my chest. “You never asked why I was hating boys that day, but it was because this neighborhood kid I’d been flirting with got annoyed that I spouted off one too many facts about something.

I’m not even sure what it was. He said my parents made me weird.

I didn’t really care. It was partly true.

I was kinda weird. But I was mostly mad that I’d invested any time in him. And I was lonely. Then you showed up.”

I take a breath, admiring the gathering around us before peering up at him.

“I didn’t pretend to be something I wasn’t.

I didn’t hide that I was homeschooled. You looked the part of a guy who would blow me off, but you didn’t.

We couldn’t have been more different, and yet you were the one who saw me clearest and stuck around. ”

He presses his lips to mine in a gentle reminder of how far we’ve come. “I need the name of the asshole kid who upset you.”

I stifle a laugh, concerned he’s serious, but determined to brush past it.

“That’s not the point. I rarely got upset about anyone else after that because I had you, and your opinion was the only one that mattered.

It was actually a sarcastic comment you made that inspired me to become a lawyer.

It fit. You’ve always been my breath of belonging and freedom.

” My gaze floats back to our guests, who are also enduring the stressful unknown of someone after them, yet they’re all glowing.

“I want this life with you. All of it. But you promised we’d live, so let’s do that. ”

Rena garners everyone’s attention with a goofy whistle, her eyes twinkling with mischief as Ty stands by her side.

“Mercy and Remy are beautiful additions to this family. But you aren’t the only ones with exciting news.

We actually have some of our own.” The air grows thick with anticipation. “Gage and Leigh are pregnant.”

Hoots and hollers, hugs and congratulatory cheers abound.

When the room begins to quiet, Rena’s voice slices through the dying raucous. “And so are Ty and I.”

It’s a wonder the roof doesn’t blow off from the thunderous roar the Noire men bellow.

They each take turns picking Rena up in an exuberant embrace.

Axel and Ryker both have glistening eyes.

The joy is beyond anything I’ve experienced.

Jubilation paints every corner of the game room, frightening all the dark shadows of the past and present into hiding.

After Ryker fawns over Rena and gives Ty a stern glower with some unspoken warning, followed by a brotherly clasp, Remy jumps into his arms, exhausted from all the socializing. The two of them stride toward me, pulling me into a family hug.

Ryker kisses my hair with a shuddering exhale of concession. “You can take this case, and then we’ll lie low for a while so I can figure this out. I do see you, Merce. I’ll give you everything you want, but not at the expense of protecting you. That’s nonnegotiable.”

“You drive a hard deal, Noire, but I’ll take it.”

Remy mutters something about driving his cars as Ryker offers the correction he can’t resist.

“Bargain.”

I bat innocent eyes at him. “What?”

“The saying is, drive a hard bargain .” He smirks, likely realizing I messed that one up on purpose. And as he smooths my hair away from my face, the stress in his is evident. “You win. But let’s not celebrate until the case is over and I know you’re both safe.”

“Deal.”