Unhinged (Necessary Evils, #1)

by Onley James

“I don’t want to kill him,” Noah said. When Gary’s shoulders sagged with relief, Noah tacked on, “Yet.” “Well, we don’t have a lot of time.” Noah aimed at Gary’s left knee cap and pulled the trigger, the man’s screams washing over him. “That’s for everything you fucking monsters did to me.” He took aim at Gary’s right kneecap, firing without hesitation. “That’s for everything you did to the others.” He pointed the gun between Gary’s legs, a grim satisfaction filling him as Gary started to shake his head. But it was too late. Noah fired. “And that’s just because.”

“Did you mean it?” Noah tried to think back to the million things he could have meant. “Mean what?” Adam put the car in park and then turned in the seat to look at Noah. “The text message. Did you mean it?” Noah could feel himself flushing. “Which part?” he hedged. Adam grinned. “The part where you said you loved me?” Noah’s gaze dropped to his lap, his heart pounding. He clutched his hands together to stop them from shaking. How was that question more stressful than murder? “I don’t know. Maybe?” Adam chucked his finger under Noah’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. “You maybe love me?” Noah wanted to say it. He did. He wanted to say he loved Adam, but the words wouldn’t come. So, he just nodded. Adam’s grin widened. “Well, I maybe love you, too.” Noah’s chest tightened, his face twisting into a grimace. “Don’t say that. Especially if you don’t mean it.” Adam frowned. “I do mean it. I mean, I think I do.” “You think you do?” Noah echoed. Adam nodded earnestly. “Like, I don’t know what love feels like, but I know that whatever I feel for you, I’ve never felt for another person—ever. So, who’s to say that’s not love?” “I don’t know,” Noah said. “Maybe it is.” “So, maybe I love you.” Noah shook his head, a stupid grin forming on his face as he leaned across the console until they were nose to nose. “Then maybe I love you back.”

“Just thinking about your family.” Adam dropped down to his forearms until they were nose to nose. “I just fucked you into a blackout and you’re thinking about my brothers… Some guys might find that insulting.” Noah rolled his eyes, giving Adam a playful shove until he toppled over onto his back. Noah rolled off the other side before Adam could find another excuse to drag him back to bed. “Good thing you’re not ‘some guy.’” Adam hopped to his feet, coming around to where Noah stood, wrapping his arms around him. “I’m not?” Noah scoffed. “You know you’re not. Why do we have to play these games?” Adam ignored him. “So, what am I?” “The guy whose father is going to kill me if I don’t get in the shower right fucking now,” Noah said, looking at the clock on the wall. “But I don’t want you to go,” Adam whined. “Yes, both me and my ass are very aware of that.” Adam cupped said ass. “I’m not letting you shower until you say it.” “Say what?” Noah asked, blinking up at him with mock innocence. “You know what.” Adam gave him the big, sad puppy dog eyes. “Please?” They were so contrived, yet they worked every fucking time. “Fine.” Noah flushed. It was such a stupid, embarrassingly sweet ritual they’d created. One that would make Noah cringe if he saw it in a book or movie. Hell, he would probably murder to keep it quiet because it was just too precious for two twenty-something-year-old killers. But Adam loved hearing it. And often. Noah didn’t know exactly why. Still, he sighed. “I ma...