Cord reached over and plucked the phone out of Noah’s hand. “What the hell?” He growled in the phone. “Why am I hearing this shit secondhand?” Muffled shouting came through the phone. “I don’t care that Noah is doing shit for the club. He’s my brother,” Cord argued and we all heard Johnny bark, “Then I guess your brother should have called you first instead of me.” The phone went dead and Cord tossed it back to Noah, who handed it to me. “Why she have the phone anyway?” Cord snapped, his eyes glittering as he glared at me. “She doesn’t need to be involved in our shit.”
“She doesn’t want to be,” I replied tartly. “Also, don’t take your bad mood out on me. I don’t suck your dick or wipe your ass.” Tori choked, then raised her glass to me as Cord sputtered next to her.
“She needed a phone,” Noah answered mildly. “That one was available. It’s rare I get a call. Apparently, this week is special,” he added dryly.
The door of the diner opened and both of their gazes jumped over immediately, with Cord shouting, “Get your ass over here,” when he saw who entered. The man strolled over, denim covering long legs, his black leather vest matching the one Cord wore, and he eyed me curiously when he stopped at the table.
“I’m Creed,” he introduced, his voice a deep rumble. “Creed Hayes.” Buzzing filled my ears, blocking everything else as I registered his last name. It couldn’t be….. “I see you’ve met my asshole of a brother.”
Stunned, I nodded automatically and Noah sent me a questioning glance. I shook off the realization that I might have brothers – that I’d just told one of them off, and tried to focus. “Cadence. Cadence Morgan.” Hayes, I mentally corrected, wondering if it could possibly be the truth. I’d never considered the dad I’d never known might have other kids. Mom had never looked twice at another guy, but all of the brothers were older than me.
“Nice to meet you, Cadence,” he drawled, his gaze sizing me up. “I heard you drank Hank’s whiskey.”
“Yeah, yeah, she did. She didn’t die. Did you know Clutch is headed back?” Cord demanded to know. Creed let out a low whistle, forgetting about me instantly as he turned to Cord. “Yeah, Johnny called Noah.”
Creed’s lips twitched. “And you’re pissed,” he commented with a chuckle. “Wait till I tell Sloan.”
“Jailbait will have my back,” Cord muttered, throwing himself to the side of the booth. “Join us.”
“Can’t. Grabbing take out. Sloan had a craving for the fried pickles,” Creed answered easily, nodding at Tori. “You eat the weirdest shit.”
“It is not weird,” she exclaimed, fishing out a pickle with a fork from her milkshake. “It’s delicious. Ask Sloan.”
Creed’s forehead wrinkled. “I’d rather not give her any ideas.” He nodded at me. “It’s good to meet you.” His gaze flicked to Noah. “Noah.”
Noah dipped his head, but didn’t say anything.
“Nice to meet you,” I chimed in as Cord eyed Noah. Creed walked to the counter, Tori watching as he went.
“As good going as he is coming,” she murmured, humming quietly, as Cord rolled his eyes.
“You don’t have to drool over my little brother,” he commented and she snorted.
“All the Hayes boys are gorgeous,” she told me. “Like can’t help but notice them gorgeous. It’s a little unfair, actually,” she mused.
“I’m right here.” Cord frowned at her and she shrugged.
“I included you in that statement.”
Cord shook his head and turned his attention to Noah. “What’s going on with you and Creed?”
“Nothing,” Noah denied, his gaze shifting away.
“Bullshit,” Cord declared. “Fix it.”
“It’s nothing,” Noah replied, irritation edging his words.
“I don’t care if you say it’s nothing. It’s something. I don’t like it. Fix it,” Cord ordered and Noah turned his head side to side, neck popping. “We’re family. Act like it.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” Noah grumbled. He glanced at me. “Finished?” I glanced at my plate, where my cobbler had become a soupy mess and nodded. “I’ll go get the check.”
“I’ll go to the bathroom,” I said quickly, not wanting to stay at the booth without Noah. “Nice to meet both of you.” I scooted out of the both but not before I heard Tori scolding Cord. “You scared her off.”
“Hell, no, I didn’t,” Cord muttered. “She don’t scare that easy.”
Noah pointed out the restrooms then made a beeline for the counter where Creed was still standing.
I took my time, washing my hands twice, hoping to give Noah enough time to talk to Creed – a guy that was possibly my brother. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea and suddenly the thought of staying and potentially putting these men and their families in danger sounded selfish. But leaving was its own kind of terrifying.
Blindly, I pushed the door open, my head down as I stepped out the bathroom.