Noah's Quest - 6. Fantôme

The next morning, I sat at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee, staring into space.

My mind kept looping back to my conversation with Chase and Shiloh’s application. Chase had suggested I actually consider it and put my personal feelings about Shiloh aside. He was absolutely right. The whole point of the scholarship was to help people who needed it, regardless of our history.

I pulled my laptop over and fired off a quick email:

To: Grace

From: Noah

Grace,

Thanks for getting the scholarship portal up and running. I want to go ahead with your idea and appoint a review board for the applications. I also want it set up as a blind review, so the panel has no idea whose file they are evaluating.

— N.

Footsteps padded up behind me, and a second later, Chase wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head.

“Mmm, good morning,” I replied, leaning back and inhaling his scent.

“We have a few minutes before you have to leave,” he said, his voice dropping into a sultry register.

I turned my head to look at him. “That sounds like fun.”

He grabbed my hand and led me upstairs. Once in the bathroom, he started the shower, then turned to me with a wicked smile. “How about you top?” Before I could even respond, he dropped to his knees.

Fuck, he was so hot and talented.

I eagerly returned the favor, losing myself in him before taking control and fucking that tight Marine hole. He absolutely loved it when I called him Marine in bed. We both climaxed just as the alarm on my phone went off, blaring a reminder that I had to hurry if I wanted to make it to work on time.

We scrambled through a rushed shower and brushed our teeth at the same time. Watching him slip into his uniform made me instantly hard again. I seriously wished we had more time.

I pulled on a pair of jeans, a polo, and my work boots, still unsure of what exactly I’d be doing at the job site today.

“Looking good, Marine,” I said, catching his eye in the mirror.

He gave me a cocky smile. “I always look good.”

“You look even better naked.”

“You need to get going so you aren’t late,” he warned, though his eyes danced with amusement. “I am not going to be the reason your attendance slips again. Pretty sure your grandmother would kill me.”

I laughed. “You aren’t actually afraid of Grandma, are you?”

“Noah, I know high-ranking people at the Pentagon who are terrified of your grandmother.”

I couldn’t help but laugh louder, knowing there was absolute truth to that statement. With a final, lingering kiss, Chase and I parted ways. We still needed to figure out a time to return the Jeep to Uncle Matt and pick up Chase’s Mustang, but that would have to wait.

Chase remained on my mind for the entire drive to the construction site. Fortunately, time was on my side today; I pulled into the lot with five minutes to spare.

I parked outside the office trailer, but when I looked around, I was surprised to see that neither Grandpa nor Jose had arrived yet. Using my key, I unlocked the door and stepped inside to get the day started. I brewed a fresh pot of coffee and cranked the AC units down to a comfortable temperature.

Checking Grandpa’s digital calendar, I noticed he and Jose were blocked out for an off-site meeting. It was strange—Grandpa usually told me about those so I could tag along and learn.

An email notification popped up from Grace. She said she thought the blind review was an excellent idea, would have the webmaster implement the change immediately, and promised a list of potential board candidates by next Wednesday.

With nothing to do, I sat back and thought about Colonel Chase Andrews. My Marine. He was so incredibly intelligent, sweet, and he never talked down to me. Someone had once told me that "Marine" stood for Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential. Whoever came up with that joke had clearly never met Chase.

An hour passed, and boredom began to set in. I noticed Grandpa’s calendar updated again, showing the offsite meeting had apparently been scheduled weeks ago. I knew for a fact that wasn't true; he was supposed to be here today to walk me through the transition from the demolition phase to site preparation.

To kill time, I scrolled through TikTok and played a few games on my phone. I was bored shitless. I couldn't text Chase while he was on duty, and Grandma was undoubtedly buried in work.

Suddenly, my phone chimed.

Unknown: Hey Noah, it me.

Noah: Who is this?

Unknown: Little B

Uncle Matt finally caved and got him a phone, I realized, quickly saving the number to my contacts.

Noah: Your dad finally got you a phone. Congratulations!

When the message sent, digital confetti exploded across my iPhone screen.

Little B: Yes. I sorry I told you the secret.

Noah: It’s ok. Do you know why?

Little B: Why I told you?

Noah: No, buddy. Why your brothers tricked Shiloh.

The typing bubbles appeared. I waited, watching them bounce, but then they vanished. Nothing.

Today must be 'Ghost Noah Day,' I thought, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

By the time lunch rolled around, there was still no sign of Grandpa. I locked up the trailer and drove down the street to Potbelly's. I ate my sandwich, pulled out my phone to people-watch, and froze.

A new message from Little B was waiting for me. It made the blood run cold in my veins.

Little B: Be careful Noah.

I immediately tried calling the number, but it went straight to voicemail. Panic fluttering in my chest, I tried calling Uncle Brody, then Uncle Matt. No response from either. They were likely tied up with work, but the ominous text left me on edge. What did Little B see? What did he mean?

Trying to shake off the anxiety, I drove back to the job site. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a strange BMW parked directly in front of the trailer. It was pristine, polished, and completely out of place amid the dirt and heavy machinery. The license plate bracket read Annapolis, so I assumed one of my uncles had bought a new car.

But when I reached the trailer, I realized the front door was hanging wide open.

“Hello?” I called out, stepping cautiously across the threshold.

Sitting at the main conference table was Jack—Grandpa’s influential friend, the Governor. And he was completely naked.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, my instincts screaming as I immediately backed toward the door.

“I always get what I want,” Jack replied. His voice wasn't the smooth, political tone I was used to; it was deeply, inherently sinister.

I swallowed hard, desperately trying to use telepathy to call out for help. Damn it, I wish I had a better grip on these powers.

I glanced over my shoulder at the exit as Jack stood up and began closing the distance between us. “You don’t want to do this, Jack.”

“No one is coming, Noah,” he snarled, a vicious look in his eyes. “I’ve got your grandfather occupied.”

Jack lunged at me. Acting on pure adrenaline, I threw my weight back and kicked hard toward his groin, praying I’d connect.

In the exact same second, the trailer door flew open, and a deafening shot rang out.

Another Chapter in the books.
It was alluded to in the last chapter that Jack was an issue. 
Things to think about:
1. Obviously, who shot Jack? 
2. Why is Little B so cryptic?
3. Why is Chase so darn adorable?
 
Tune in next time as we discover why if google the word askew the page tilts.
That and so many questions that will not be answered 
Thanks for reading.
Comments and reactions are always welcome.