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Oz wasted no time getting the meeting started. Charley expected some type of segue or explanation why they were all gathered there. It would’ve certainly been helpful to her.

“Since you were so eager to enlighten us all of the grave dangers Charley was bringing to the organization, I see it only fitting that you repeat them back to her. This way there are no discrepancies.”

Oz lifted his hand, gesturing to the only other woman on the balcony. “Noelle?”

Charley inspected the beautiful, dark-haired woman. She couldn’t recall meeting her, but there was something vaguely familiar about her.

“I was outside the Bowery, and I overheard her and Keely speaking about her brother’s dealer harassing her.”

Oz furrowed his brows. “Remind me who Keely is?”

Charley cleared her throat. “My friend.”

“She works for us at the Bowery,” Trey said.

Rogue scoffed, taking a drag from his cigarette. “Can we really call what she does working? Half the time I see her she’s fucking around or on break.”

Charley flattened her lips, resisting the urge to smile. Sounds like Keely.

“Let’s stay focused, Rogue,” Oz said then turned to Noelle. “Continue.”

“They were talking about their concern that Zeke was harassing her.”

Charley nodded. Noelle wasn’t wrong. Charley recalled the conversation and it was exactly what happened. But there was one particular detail no one should’ve known, especially overhearing her conversation with Keely. Charley straightened in her chair and looked over at Noelle.

“How did you know it was Zeke?”

Noelle shifted her gaze. “That’s what you told Keely.”

Uh, no. Charley was shaking her head before Noelle finished. That was a lie. Charley never used Zeke’s name with Keely as a way of protecting her. The last thing she wanted was to get her friend involved. Charley specifically and purposely never told her his name.

“I never said his name.”

“Yes, you did.” Noelle doubled down with so much confidence, she was very convincing. But she’s lying.

Charley shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I was careful not to say his name, because I didn’t want Keely to get involved.”

But Noelle knew. The room was drowned in silence, and she glanced up at Nash, who was scowling at Noelle. The only people who would know about her connection to Zeke was her brother, the officers, and anyone who had seen them together.

Her stomach dropped, and she slowly looked up, meeting Noelle’s stare. It was you.

“The night I dropped off my car.” Charley angled her head, pointing at Noelle. “You were outside the Bowery, right? By the edge of the entrance to the lot. That was you.”

Noelle had no reaction, but she noticed her body stiffen slightly.

“What night?” Nash asked.

Charley kept her eyes on Noelle. “I was walking to the apartment after dropping my car off. Elle called me because she was looking for something at the store and couldn’t find it.

I told her I’d come in, and as I hung up with her, Zeke came out of nowhere.

He was threatening me to tell him where his stuff was, and when I told him I didn’t know, he pushed me against the fence and grabbed me by the throat.

” And you watched. “I managed to get away and run to the apartment. He didn’t come on the property. ”

“Yeah, he fucking knows better. You don’t step on Inez’s property unless you’ve been invited or you live there, otherwise you run the risk of a bullet to your fucking head.” Rogue snorted, then gestured to Noelle. “But what the fuck does that have to do with her?”

“There was a woman standing at the edge of the club. She watched it all go down. And I thought it was strange that she wasn’t even calling for help.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “To help me.”

She could feel all the eyes in the room on her but kept her gaze on Noelle.

“You saw him attack me?” Charley paused, staring back at Noelle and whispered, “And you just watched?”

Charley wouldn’t expect a stranger to put themselves in danger for her. But at the very least, Noelle could’ve called for help.

“Is that true?” Oz asked.

Noelle sighed and grabbed her hips, shaking her head.

“Before you consider lying, I’d like to remind you that we have cameras everywhere, Noelle.” Trey cocked his brow. “I can make one call to Jared and have the footage sent over in less than five minutes.”

Noelle dropped her gaze to the floor, as if contemplating her next move. There was a long stretch of silence.

“I saw the incident between her and Zeke.”

“The attack.” Nash growled, taking a step forward. “Not the incident, the fucking attack on her. You are hired security, and you stood by and watched her fight off Zeke?”

“I’m not her security, I’m Dahlia’s.” Noelle’s venomous tone struck even Charley, sending her back into her chair.

The tension in the room was thick. Even Rogue, who hadn’t seemed invested in this discussion, turned in his seat, scowling at Noelle. In fact, as Charley looked around, all the men including Caine, Ridge, and Cyrus, were aiming glares at her.

Oz stood abruptly. He straightened his jacket and rested his hand on the back of her chair.

“Get up.”

Charley stood, and Oz rounded her back, waving his finger. “Follow me.”

Charley followed Oz through the silent room. She glanced over at Nash, whose gaze was laser focused on her. When security stepped in behind her, Oz jerked his head and lifted his chin.

“Stay here.”

A shiver ran down her spine from his command. They walked down the hall in silence. She wasn’t sure what was happening. She expected him to take her back into his office, but Oz came to a halt at the end of the hallway.

“When you go back out there, you will not say a word.”

“Okay,” she muttered.

“You will do exactly what I say.”

Charley nodded.

“And you are going to remember every single detail of what I am about to share with you. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” She whispered.

****

Nash stood at the edge of the bar with his back to the wall. Rogue had dismissed the extra security. They’d been sent downstairs, leaving Caine, Ridge, and Cyrus the only members on the balcony.

Noelle stood by herself, scanning the room occasionally.

Nash made a point not to look at her too often.

It only enraged him further. It appeared Trey had the same sentiment.

After Oz and Charley had left the balcony, she’d tried to approach him.

Trey immediately shut her down. Noelle hadn’t realized by not assisting Charley, she’d shown her true character.

Caine, who was standing near the elevators, looked down the hall toward the offices and straightened. It was a telltale sign Oz and Charley were coming back out.

Nash was surprised to see Charley steps ahead of Oz. They walked over to the table and sat, which had everyone else moving closer.

Oz looked over at Noelle. “The only reason you’re here is because of Nash. I value his opinion. He’s rarely wrong. But in regards to you” —Oz pointed at Noelle— “he was. A lapse in judgement on his part.”

“I would like to…”

“You don’t speak.” Oz’s harsh tone was sending his message loud and clear. “You are under Rogue, and specifically, Trey’s charge. They’ll do what they see fit. As for your security duties in your position, they do not affect Charley or Elodie. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you?” Oz growled, hardening his gaze.

“Yes, sir,” Noelle said.

“You don’t mind if I add some insurance to your word, do you?

” Oz slowly turned to Charley and leaned toward her, whispering something in her ear.

His voice was too low to hear, but Nash kept his eyes locked on Charley.

She was staring down at the floor, and he caught a faint nod.

Her brows dipped swiftly, but she recovered and slowly lifted her gaze, staring up at Noelle.

The corners of her mouth spread into a smile as she continued to stare at Noelle.

It only lasted a few seconds before Noelle dropped her gaze to the floor, and her shoulders sagged. She’d lost a bit of her confidence.

Nash steeled his features, fighting against his smile. Noelle was clueless to the move, but he’d been around Oz long enough to know it was his own personal mindfuck. And Charley had pulled it off, flawlessly. Well done, kitten.

Oz pulled away from Charley and sat back in his chair, eyeing Noelle.

“To ensure this won’t be an issue in the future, I’ve given Charley her own collateral, which she’s been told she can use at her discretion.” Oz stared back at Noelle. “I’ve also given her access to the proof, if needed.”

Noelle’s face instantly paled. Nash didn’t know exactly what Oz was referring to or the information he’d given Charley. It could’ve been anything. Everyone in the Underground had skeletons, a past they’d like to escape and actions that could lead them into dangerous territory.

“And if she chooses to use the intel she’s been given, you are no longer affiliated with or under the protection of the Underground.”

Noelle had a lot to fear from a disassociation with the Underground. There was only one way out. A few exceptions had been made in the past, but that wouldn’t extend to Noelle unless someone bargained for it. That won’t be me. Charley literally held Noelle’s fate in her hands.

Noelle cleared her throat. “I understand, and I’d like to apologize…”

“No,” Oz snapped, hardened his gaze, and stood. “We’re beyond apologies.”

As soon as he walked away, Nash moved to Charley, who met him halfway across the balcony.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close.

This wasn’t over. Not for them. But she was safe.

Probably the safest she’d ever been in her life.

Charley was now under the protection of the entire Underground. Untouchable.

“Can you take me home?” she whispered.

“Yes.” Nash didn’t slow his steps, making his way to the elevators.

His home. It was exactly where he’d take her, and where she’d stay.

“Nash?”

Oh, fuck no. He wouldn’t entertain anything Noelle had to say. When he felt her hand on his arm, he yanked away from her touch and turned, sending a seething scowl.

She held up her hands. “I messed up. I’m sorry.”

To quote Oz, we’re beyond apologies . There was nothing she could say or do that would ever put her in his good graces.

“The irony. Your compassion got you exiled, initially. This time your lack of compassion could’ve gotten her killed.” He looked over at Trey, who was watching their exchange. “You might want to reevaluate Dahlia’s protective duty. It seems Noelle picks and chooses who she keeps safe.”

When the doors opened, he walked Charley into the elevator.

And never looked back.