You Can Run

Three Months Later

"Your Two O’Clock is here.” Noah heard his administrative assistant say through the phone. He hit the button.

"Thank you. Send him in.”

He was curious. A new client had requested a last-minute meeting. Normally he wouldn’t agree, but they were offering a lot of money for his time. And if he was honest, he really was avoiding going back to his penthouse. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"That always has been your tell when you’re stressed Freckles.”

Noah looked up to see Lilith smirking at him. It had been three months since he’d seen her, and she looked as beautiful as ever. Her curly hair draped around her face, she smiled brightly at him.

"You’re my two o’clock appointment?” He stammered out.

"I am. Sorry about misrepresenting myself, it was Liam’s idea.” Lilith watched him eye her, and she shook her head in amusement. "It’s nice to see you too Noah.”

He stood and beckoned her to sit. He cleared his throat. "So how are you?”

"I’m good…you?”

"I’m good as well”

That was a bit of an overstatement, but he was going to ruin their reunion by bringing up his poor decisions. Lilith crossed one leg over the other and her lips parted slightly. She hated that he was still so attractive to her. That he still looked so innocent until the moment the thoughts of all the sinful things he’d done to her body replayed in her head.

"So I want to hire you, to help me with the hotel.” She said, blocking her thoughts.

"What exactly do you need me to do?” He saw her face etch with concern. Standing, Noah walked over to the door and shut it. "What's wrong?”

She inhaled deeply, and reached into her purse, handing him two envelopes. "The first one showed up two months ago. It creeped me out, and I should have told someone, but I-I didn’t.“

Noah read the first. " You’re still as beautiful as you were the night I first laid eyes on you. The night my hands caressed every part of your body and you did things to me, I would never forget….I’ll never forget Lilith. I’ll never forget the way you made me feel.”

She bit the side of her nail. "Then…the second one came a few weeks later.”

Seeing her face, Noah quickly opened the second. "I’ve loved you for so long Lilith and you ignore me! Do you not know the amount of pain I can inflict on you? The way my love can quickly turn to hate? I’m trying to save you but If I can’t have you…then I’ll take everything away. How do you think the world will react knowing what you are? Knowing that you, my beautiful succubus have blood on your hands?” Lilith watched Noah’s face change into pure anger. "Goddamit! Why wouldn’t you tell anybody about these Lilith?!”

She shook her head. "I-I don’t know. I figured that they would just stop. I admit it was stupid. Trust me, I’ve been getting a lot of flack about it from the guys.” Lilith folded her arms to her chest and her face grew deathly serious. "I think-I know whoever this is, is supernatural.”

"How?”

She looked at him coldly. "A few weeks ago. A succubus-Tamera disappeared after a blind date. Then yesterday, she just turned up and collapsed in the lobby of the hotel. Jayden took care of her but she almost didn’t make it and he told me that she’d been drained of all her sexual energy…and that she was asking for me because she had a message. Tamera said her attacker told her to tell me…that she didn’t taste as good as me..but that she was lucky because he let her live so she could show me what he could do and that-“ Noah saw her lip quiver as she tried to keep under control. "He’d drain every one of them until I have nothing left if it meant he’d finally get to have me again.”

Noah felt a chill go up his spine. The words harsh on his chest. The idea of Lilith being taken and the other ladies being killed. Before he could process it, Noah pulled her in his arms. Lilith exhaled. Smelling his cologne and feeling his muscular body against hers brought back so many memories. He held her tightly, and for a moment, he felt her relax against him before quickly pulling away.

"I didn’t come here to rehash old wounds Noah. I came here because I need help and the guys still trust you.”

"And you?”

"I-“ She looked down at his hand and stared at the gold band on his finger. Her eyes widened and folding her arms to her chest, Noah saw her demeanor shift. Noah saw a quick glint of pain in her eyes as she looked at him, and then she turned her face.

“Lilith..” He started but she shook her head making him stop. "Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.”

Lilith walked to her purse and pulled out more papers. Placing them on the desk, she pointed. "I need something like this.”

He looked at them. "You drew these?” She nodded and he arched his brow. "These are really good.”

His compliment made her stomach flip. She hated that he still had such an effect on her, but she needed his help. And though she’d never trust him near her heart again, she did trust he would help keep everyone safe.

"Would this part be underground?” Noah asked.

"Yes. Everyone is terrified and wants to stay together. I figured if we built something this large, it could be private enough that everyone has their own space, but is still protected. I’m not entirely sure of the details, but that’s what I’m hiring you for.”

Noah looked at the lines of the sketches, his own forming in his head. Taking a pencil from behind his ear, he sketched over top. Lilith watched him work, his eyes focused, his jaw tightened. She inhaled shaking off the feelings before speaking.

"We’ve become more selective with Rubicon. The ladies' spouses attend-“ She smirked. “They all send their thanks for that by the way.” Noah arched his brow and she chuckled softly. “Jasmine told them what you did for her, and they worked up the courage to ask if their spouses to come as well. With everything going on, I felt it was a much safer option, not to mention that many are married to supernatural’s who are extremely protective of us.”

Noah gave her a genuine smile. "Well tell them I said they’re very welcome. I always enjoy helping stage a mutiny.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Smartass.”

"Some things don’t change.”

She sighed. "And others change too much.” There was a silence between the two, as they stared at one another. "There are things, dark things that you need to know about my world before you agree to do what I've asked. Everything isn’t sex and fun…we’re here because we don’t have a choice. A lot of us were slaughtered and if this supernatural is what I think it is…you could be in danger too.”

"An Incubus?” Noah asked watching her face shift.

Her eyes widened. "I forgot how perceptive you are.”

Noah caressed her face and repeated in a whisper. "Some things don’t change Lil.”

Feeling his touch against her made her skin prickle. She placed her hand over his and pulled it away from her face.

"And others change too much.”

Lilith grabbed her purse and headed to the door. "They guys requested that you all worked together on this project is that okay?” Noah nodded silently. Saying nothing else, Lilith left him in his office alone. He closed his eyes in anger.

Fucking hell Noah.

His cell phone rang, and he growled in irritation as he saw Katrina facetiming him. He answered and she smiled widely.

"Hi husband”

He rolled his eyes. "And who are you showing your trophy off today to Katrina? You only call me that when you’re taking me off the shelf.”

She glared at him and moved quickly to another room. "Really? Was that necessatry?”

"This entire thing is unnecessary.”

Her eyes saddened. "You’ve become so cold to me Noah. Ever since Grace die-“

"DO NOT bring our daughter into this.” He blew steam from his nose. "How long do you think that I’ll continue to let you use her as a pawn to get me to do what you want?”

Katrina matched his fury. "Until you DIE Noah or did you forget that she’s not here because of you?!” Noah exhaled sharply, the pain of her words cutting into him. "Had you not been such a workaholic, you would have noticed that she was sick! She could have gotten help in time Noah. It’s all your fault our baby girl is dead. So get off your FUCKING high horse.”

Noah tried his best to keep her words from getting to him, but the guilt ate at him constantly. Knowing him for as long as she had Katrina knew just what buttons to press. She sneered. "Look, don’t worry your pretty little head. We signed a contract and I’ll oblige it. You keep our deal quiet and help me persuade daddy that I’m still happily married until he makes me the sole beneficiary of his will. I get my money, you get your divorce and we never have to see each other again.”

Noah placed his hand to his forehead. "Why can’t you just let me pay you the money! Be done with this. Why does it always have to be about winning to you?”

She cackled. "If you think I’m going to let little Mrs. Barbie get my father’s estate you’re insane. I’M THE ONE WHOSE TAKEN CARE OF HIM! BEEN THERE! I deserve EVERYTHING! Not some whore that does nothing but lay on her back.” She sighed. "Noah, you know my family. Divorce is worse than murder. I know I can get a bit crazy, but I really am thankful that you’ve agreed to the separation for so long. All we need to do is maintain we’re in counseling for reconciliation for three more months.”

"And then?”

She waved her hand. "What we agreed upon. Daddy said he’ll sign in three months pending on seeing that we really are trying. After that, I got it all worked out. I’ll tell him that I couldn’t get over the loss of Grace and we decided to divorce.” Katrina smiled brightly. "See that way, he’ll be so concerned about my grief over her, he won’t even care that we didn’t work out.”

Noah stared at her wildly. "D-did you really just fucking say to me that you’re going to use our daughter to gain sympathy?”

"Oh please again on the high horse. I’m sure you’ve probably used the woe is me. I’m a grieving father who’s all alone and could use so-“

Noah hung up on her, and slammed his phone hard onto the table. He fumed, his face red, her words disgusting him to his core. "FUCK!” He screamed loudly enraged. His phone thrilled again at the reception of two texts. He snatched it and looked at the first.

"Can you stop past Lil’s tomorrow? Sam’s covering for her at the hotel and we want to get started on everything right away. Admittedly, we’ve been driving Lil nuts with how clingy we’ve become, so maybe you could act as a barrier before she murders us all?" -Mason

Noah chuckled and shook his head. His anger immediately returning as he opened the text from Katrina. An image of their contract next to unsigned divorce papers with a smiley face right under.