Chapter[41]

Chapter[41]
CHAPTER 41

Noah.

How the hell was I supposed to react after everything that had just transpired? After hearing what Ahmet had just told me, my mind was racing. I tried to conceal my anger, to hide it behind a mask of calmness. The last thing I wanted was for Selena to notice the turmoil brewing underneath my surface. I needed to keep her safe, but I also had to be careful not to attract Steven's attention toward us. The stakes had never been higher.

If my suspicions about Steven were correct—and I was almost certain they were—I needed to take the first step before he could make his move. The uncertainty gnawed at me; I had no idea what he was hiding in his pocket. Maybe he had a contingency plan, a "Plan B" ready to spring into action at any moment. But deep down, I realized I was thinking in an unfocused, almost juvenile way—like a blind or immature kid just stepping into the criminal world. I was letting my emotions cloud my judgment, allowing love to dictate my actions.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice I had been staring blankly at Selena until she called my name, pulling me back to reality. I startled slightly, shaking off the haze as I glanced back to see her standing next to me, her eyes filled with concern. My gaze shifted to the table, where Ahmet was sitting next to Steven. But what caught my attention was the way Steven was looking at Ahmet—his gaze was just as intense as the one he had directed at Selena. That was something that definitely needed to be placed under scrutiny.

"Baby, what's wrong with you? Are you still bothered by that woman’s appearance?" Selena asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

I shook my head, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. "No, sweetheart. Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about something. How did Ahmet find you? I mean, you never mentioned your childhood or how you two got so close! How did you even find out he was gay?" I fired off the questions in quick succession, the words tumbling out before I could stop myself.

Ahmet was a nice guy, I knew that much. But Steven? I could never be too sure of his intentions. My mind was racing with possibilities, and I felt a twinge of jealousy gnawing at me, though I forced it down.

Selena placed her small hands on my chest and lightly chuckled. "Don’t tell me you’re feeling jealous of him—"

I cut her off immediately, my tone firm and insistent. "No!"

"Selena, please just answer my questions." I stared at her with an intensity that brooked no argument.

She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture I found endearing. "Well, we met when I was 17. He was really clingy and didn’t leave my side for a second. Regarding his being gay, um—I don’t know. He told me he was gay back then, and I met a few of his boyfriends casually on several occasions, but I didn’t pry. I’ve never liked interfering in anyone’s personal life," she said with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

I narrowed my eyes, my mind racing. "How did he know you were here in Italy? Did you tell him before you left your country?" I pressed her, needing more information.

She shook her head earnestly. "No, I didn’t. And I didn’t ask him. Please, Noah—he’s the only friend I have right now. Don’t push him away." Her voice was pleading, tinged with worry, and it tugged at my heart.

I leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, trying to soothe her. "I won’t, don’t worry. Just stay close to me until this storm passes. I won’t take any dangerous steps. I don’t trust anyone right now," I said, and she nodded, her acceptance bringing me a measure of relief. It felt good to know that she trusted me, perhaps even more than I trusted myself.

I excused myself from Selena to make a quick phone call. I walked to a corner of the room but kept my eyes fixed on her, unwilling to lose sight of her.

"Jacob, I’m on my way. Don’t touch the woman," I commanded him firmly before hanging up.

Returning to Selena, I leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "Sweetheart, how about joining me for a poker game? We didn’t get the chance to play together earlier. Remember?" I wanted her with me, right by my side. My instincts screamed that I couldn’t trust anyone, not even Ahmet.

She tilted her head slowly, her curiosity evident, but then she nodded. "Yes, sure." I could see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to decipher my motives, but there was no time for hesitation.

With an arm wrapped around her waist, I led her back to our table, faking a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Ahmet, Steven, I’m taking my wife now. We have to go somewhere. Thank you again for this—remarkable night," I muttered, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Both of them looked shocked, but Ahmet quickly hopped off his chair, his face a mix of concern and curiosity. "Where— I mean why so early?" he asked, searching for answers. Meanwhile, Steven bowed his head, a confident smirk playing on his lips. I couldn’t tell which of them was playing mind games and which one was genuinely confused. But Ahmet didn’t strike me as dangerous; he was just a nice guy caught in something he didn’t fully understand.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, trying to gauge the situation. "Do you want to come with us?" I asked, feigning innocence. In truth, I wanted to drag both of them along—especially Steven. This was bound to be entertaining.

Ahmet cleared his throat, gazing longingly at Selena before finally nodding. "Yes, sure. But where are we going?"

Steven blurted out, "I’m coming too." The devilish smirk that spread across my face was involuntary. What was his angle? Did he want to protect Ahmet, or was he more interested in keeping an eye on Selena? Or perhaps he was just eager to protect that woman who had stirred such chaos?

I gestured for them to follow me, ignoring their barrage of questions about our destination. Selena, sensing my need for silence, answered them instead of me, her voice calm and collected.

But it was too late; we were already in my limousine, flanked by numerous guards. We were too close to the casino for any escape. They were trapped by their own choices now.

"Stop both of you! You’re giving me a headache! We’re going to the casino to play a poker game," Selena huffed, clearly exasperated with the mounting tension.

"What? The torture room?" Steven’s eyes widened in shock, and I could see the fear creeping into his demeanor. Ahmet, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and stammered, "W-what t-torture room?" In less than a second, he was sweating as if a heavy rain had fallen on him. His reaction was strange, but maybe I was giving him more credit than he deserved. Any normal guy would feel anxious hearing about a "torture room."

I smirked sheepishly, the tension in the air wrapping around us like a thick fog. We finally arrived at our destination, and I opened the door for Selena, ensuring she stepped out first. The other two followed hesitantly, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension.

Inside, Jacob and Franco were waiting for me, but they hadn’t expected any guests. As soon as we stepped inside, Franco’s eyes went wide, and he screamed, "AHMET?!"

What the hell? Did they know each other? The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks, and my mind raced with the implications. What connections lay hidden beneath the surface, and how deep did this rabbit hole go?