“How about if we move a table closer to your vehicle?”
Nox clenched and unclenched his fists. “We don’t—”
“That would be great.” Luca dared Nox with a look to challenge him. “We’d love to sit with you.”
Nox’s expression hardened.
Isaiah spoke to his people and the big betas picked up a table and carried it to the edge of the picnic area and set it close to the van.
Luca took Nox’s hand. “I want to know what’s going on.”
“I don’t like this. He knows our names.” Nox tracked the people with his gaze as they carried over food and plates.
“That’ll be one of the questions we’ll ask.”
“We should leave.” Nox tightened his hold on Luca’s hand.
“If we go, we’ll never know why they went to the trouble to find us.”
“I’m not sure finding out would be such a good idea.”
“You told me I could talk to them. You agreed to let me come here.”
Nox’s expression fell. “I know.” He lifted Luca’s hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to his palm. “I just—” He closed his eyes.
“What?”
Nox shook his head.
“Luca?” Isaiah stood by the table, waiting with a small banquet.
“Can we?” Luca said.
It was several heartbeats before Nox nodded. “Then we leave.” He opened his eyes. “We leave them, this town, we get on the road, and we don’t stop driving.” Nox released Luca’s hand.
“Fine.” Luca exhaled hard enough to drop his shoulders. “If we don’t like what they say, we’ll go.” He led Nox to the bench and sat.
Again, Nox hesitated.
Luca patted the empty space beside him.
Slowly, Nox lowered himself to the bench, and the wood groaned under his mass.
Isaiah picked up a plate and filled it with servings from every dish. Luca started to get a plate for him and Nox but Isaiah set the one he held down in front of Luca.
“I can get my own.”
“You’re a guest.” And the way Isaiah saidguestmade it obvious Luca was so much more. Isaiah made another plate for Nox and placed it on the table.
He pushed it back. “I’m not here to eat.”
“As you like.” Isaiah fixed himself a plate. “Would you prefer water or lemonade?”
“Lemonade will be fine.” Luca reached for a plastic cup but Isaiah got there first. He set the plastic cup in front of Luca and poured a second that he put in front of Nox along with a bottle of water.
Luca drank: tart lemon, a hint of sugar.
Nox remained an unmoving mountain, flicking his gaze between Isaiah and the four big men.