Page 8 of Single Greatest Threat (Atlantic City’s Most Wanted #6)

It turned out going to Haven’s house was exactly what Shaw needed.

From the moment they walked through the door, the pressure eased in his chest. His smiles turned genuine.

The knots left his shoulders. By two hours in, they were in their pjs and eating cookies like they were five and it wasn’t lunchtime.

Joesph visibly swung between relaxed and embarrassed.

Shaw couldn’t look away. It was almost a relief when Joesph disappeared inside the bathroom, giving his heart a rest.

“Thank you for bringing him to me. I don’t get to see him often any longer and never for long. You somehow talked him into staying a few days.”

Shaw couldn’t let Haven think it was him. “Actually, he brought me to you. I had a falling out with my dad this morning. We’re in hiding while I decide what to do. Plus, he knew I needed to be reminded good parents exist.”

Haven’s expression changed. At the kitchen table where they sat, she moved her chair closer and set her hand on his forearm. Her blue eyes were a mirror image of Joesph’s, making her even harder to resist. “What happened?”

As much as Shaw didn’t want to talk about it, he was enraged and didn’t know what to do. “I noticed our secretary has been skimming off the books. So I went to Dad to see how he wanted me to handle things. Turns out, he knew all along. It was his way of keeping their affair quiet.”

Haven’s shoulders fell. “Oh no.” She chewed her bottom lip for a second, as if biting back all the words.

They obviously beat her. “What a bastard. I hope you plan to let your mom know. If it were me, I’d definitely want to know so I could take him for everything.

Plus, if she finds out and then learns you knew and didn’t tell her, she’ll never forgive you. ”

“Yeah. That’s what I figured.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple. “No matter what I do, I’ll lose. If I stay quiet, I could lose my mom. If I say anything, I’ll definitely lose my dad, job, and Joesph’s job.”

“I’ve already told you not to worry about me,” Joesph said, returning from the bathroom. He sat. “Don’t factor me at all. Just focus on what your heart tells you to do.”

Exasperated didn’t begin to cover his feelings. “Of course I have to consider you. You can’t take less money somewhere else. In fact, you deserve more than you make now.”

Haven patted his arm. “You’ll do what’s right. I’ll let you two figure it out.” She walked away, leaving them alone in the kitchen.

They waited until she was gone.

Joesph jumped in first. “Look, I won’t be in any less debt by taking less money. In fact, I might finally qualify for bankruptcy. That won’t clear my student loans, but at least I’ll be out from underneath my medical bills. Don’t worry about me.”

“You still have student loans?” Shaw had no idea why that was what popped out.

“Yes. Do you have any idea how much it costs to go to law school? I didn’t have parents paying my way.” Joesph looked ready to bite off his own tongue. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so bitter.”

He was right to be bitter. It was ridiculous for him to still owe money on the degree needed to work. That was nuts. “Let me know how much it is and I’ll pay it off. That’s something Dad should’ve done when he hired you. It pisses me off that he didn’t.”

Joesph looked beyond frustrated. “Stop. We’re supposed to be talking about you. I don’t want your money.”

Aggravation made Shaw’s decision for him.

“We are talking about me. I’m starting my own firm.

You’re my first hire. As part of your sign-on bonus, I’ll cover any student loans.

” The bravado left him as soon as the words did.

“That is, if you trust me to make a go of things without Dad’s backing.

It’s possible our clients won’t follow me. ”

A bright smile exploded across Joesph’s face.

“They’ll follow you and so will I. There’s no one better than you.

In fact, let’s ease your mind now and put you out of your misery.

” Joesph grabbed his phone, turned it on, and clicked around.

He left it face up and put it on speaker as ringing filled the air.

“You’ve reached the residence of His Royal Highness, Prince Noir. How may I direct your call?”

“This is Joesph Drake from Howe’s Law firm. Is Noir available? I have business.”

“Hold, please.”

Elevator music filled the air, proving it was likely a service that handled his calls.

Prince Noir was the firm’s biggest client.

All Shaw’s clients were based on Noir because Noir was the drug lord of Atlantic City.

His lackeys relied on Shaw to keep them out of prison.

If Noir didn’t want to leave Shaw’s father’s practice, this venture was dead in the water before it began.

Shaw wanted to beg Joesph to hang up. He thought he might be sick.

“This is Noir.” Noir sounded like the foreign prince he was.

“Hey, Noir. It’s Joesph.”

Noir’s tone changed, turning friendly. “It’s good to hear your voice. You weren’t at Salem’s last party. We were forced to play Two Dares a player short.”

Hope slammed into Shaw. He had forgotten Noir and Joesph were actual friends. He also really wanted to know what Two Dares was.

“Yeah. I was in the hospital.”

Shaw’s gaze snapped to Joesph’s face and didn’t budge. Haven had told him Joesph had been hospitalized a couple of months back. He didn’t realize he had also been hospitalized as little as a month ago. Joesph had been back working at the firm then. How had Shaw not known?

Joesph kept talking, speeding right past the topic. “I’ll be there next time. So, I just wanted to give you a quick heads-up. Shaw and I will be splitting away from Howe’s Law firm and becoming a separate practice. I wanted to make sure your people know where to call from now on.”

Damn. He was smooth.

“Of course. I assume we’ll call you directly?”

“Please? I imagine Shaw Sr. will close up shop soon, since he’s retired. The good news is, prices will go down since it turns out Senior’s secretary has been overcharging clients so she could keep the extra money.”

Shaw covered his mouth. He wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t. Joesph was so much more of everything than him, especially when it came to bravery.

“Is that so? Well, I’ll definitely leave that mess for Shaw to deal with, but there’s no sense in charging less. I’d have to call my accountant to tell him about the change, and it’s worth the extra money to me to avoid doing that. He’s very tiresome.”

Shaw had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Plus, giddiness just owned him. This was really happening. Shaw would be free.

“Okay. I’ll let Shaw know. You know you can count on him.”

“Always. I only hire the best. That includes you.” The surety in Noir’s voice had Shaw’s throat swelling.

He had always been the one to defend Noir and his bunch.

His father had already retired before they landed him as a client.

But he had needed exactly this today and Joesph had given it to him.

The truth hit him so hard, it stole his breath and made him wonder why he couldn’t see it before.

Joesph loved him. There was no other reason he would constantly put up with Shaw and still be this amazing afterward.

More than that, though. Shaw loved him too.

His refusal to accept that truth was one reason his mental health had taken such a steep decline.

Shaw had been so fucking determined to hang on to his freedom.

He had destroyed everything, including himself.

He was such a dumbass, and he didn’t deserve Joesph.

Joesph offered to go with Shaw to tell his mom everything.

Shaw had refused. The moment was too personal.

While he knew Shaw wanted him at his side, Shaw didn’t want his mom feeling any more humiliated than she already would.

He asked her to meet him at the office so he could show her proof while also avoiding his dad.

They could go home now, Joesph supposed, but Shaw had shot that down.

He had begged Joesph to stay put and wait.

So that was what Joesph did. In his mom’s guest room, sitting on the bed, he chewed the side of his nail and waited.

Shaw had been gone for hours. Joesph felt sick.

The what ifs ate him. What if Senior found out Portia planned to meet with Shaw?

What if he was already waiting when Shaw got to the office?

It was crazy, but what if Shaw got hurt?

His mind wanted to shy away from the thought.

But what if Shaw had gotten what he wanted out of Joesph with that call to Noir and now they were done again?

Obviously, they had never been more than friends, but their relationship was still very much on and off again.

Damnit. As much as Joesph hated to admit it, he really wanted to join Shaw on this new venture.

All Senior’s clients would follow Shaw. He didn’t think he would make less, even if he had to work more.

Plus, it wasn’t uncommon for firms to pay off student loans as part of their sign-on package.

Joesph would be halfway out of debt. Even if things didn’t work out, Joesph could file bankruptcy and be out from underneath everything with that loan gone.

No matter what, he would be better off. He hated the way his thoughts had turned selfish, but if Senior somehow convinced Shaw to stay, Joesph would be fucked because he would definitely be out of the job.

He had already checked his messages. Senior had fired him.

Joesph had to think negatively about Shaw’s plans.

Life never gave him a reason to feel otherwise.

The bedroom door opened. Joesph’s head shot up. His gaze locked on Shaw. His heart did some crazy flip thing that took away his breath. He was there. Shaw had come back.

“Hey. How’d it go?”