Page 74 of Shades of Loyalty

---

I smirk, but it’s only a distraction from the thunder roaming inside of me. “Jealous?”

“Hell yeah. It’s been months since I had pussy.”

I chuckle. “Try two years.”

Hayden’s head snaps toward me. “Twoyears? You’re messing with me. I thought you got freaky already.”

My smirk is slow. “Not yet, man.”

His eyes glint as he turns the keys. “Dude, you’re losing your edge.”

I lean back, smirk fading as my gaze hardens. “Patience, Hayden. Always patience. Pussy is like alcohol.”

“Tastes good?”, he wonders jokingly.

“Better with time”, I grin.

Hayden scoffs. “Hell, no.”

I sigh as we slide into silence, both of us sinking into our own thoughts as we drive through the streets of Chicago.

It’s beautiful at night. Usually, I’d enjoy the view. But tonight, all I want is to take a shower, fall into my bed and sleep. Preferably for 20 hours straight.

The thought of almost dying still lingers in the back of my mind for the whole drive to the mansion.

I hesitate, my fingers resting on my thigh.

“Hayden.”

He looks at me, ignoring the fact that the traffic light turned green again. “Yes, Dan?”

“Can I trust you?”

“With my life,” he says without hesitation. “You have my full loyalty. Always. As your right hand—and your friend.”

I look at him. We usually have a always-joking kind of friendship. But tonight, after both of us realized how fast life can change, it feels different. Raw. Real.

I swallow hard, my voice low.

“…I love you, dude.”

“Yeah, I know. Love you too, man.”

I grin. “The traffic light is green, you know.”

Hayden laughs at me before he starts driving. “You killed the mood.”

I grin, sinking back into my seat. “That’s right. I’m the killer here. Nobody else gets to killme.”

Chapter Thirty

Daniel

I get out of the bathroom and walk towards the bed, in which my girl's still sleeping. It's better that way.

I tried my best not to wake her when refreshing. I needed that shower. Not just to clean my body, but also my mind.

The second I sit down next to her and watch her; her eyes flutter open. Her blue eyes search for mine instantly.

---