Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 247

My voice lowered, tight and heavy with tension. “What exactly do you want?” I asked, barely able to keep the edge out of my tone.

He drew in a slow breath, relishing the moment with a smug satisfaction. “Money. Your sign-up bonus. That little nest egg everyone’s buzzing about now that you’re finally making a name for yourself. Millions, right? Well, son—” His grin sharpened, cutting like a blade. “I want my cut.”

I almost laughed, the sound bitter and incredulous. “Are you serious? The season isn’t even over. There’s no bonus yet. I don’t have a single dime to give you.”

His expression shifted subtly, just enough to signal trouble—something I’d learned to recognize all too well. The kind of look that meant someone was about to get hurt.

“Oh, but I know exactly who does have money,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “The girl. The family. Your brand-new castle in the sky. The Harts.”

He clicked his tongue, a sound dripping with disdain. “They’ll pay whatever it takes to keep things looking nice.”

A harsh laugh tore from my throat, almost choking me. “You want me to go to Lexie’s parents and beg for money? Have you lost your mind?”

He stepped closer, the sharp scent of whiskey hitting me before I even saw him move. “I don’t need you to ask. I can talk to them myself. I’ll show up tomorrow night at that fancy dinner they’re hosting. Tell them what a devoted father I’ve been. Tell them what you owe me. Tell them exactly what they’re buying.”

My stomach lurched, cold and hollow. “You wouldn’t. You wouldn’t just show up there and—”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” His voice dropped to a near whisper, almost gentle but laced with threat. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Unless you want your mother and sister somewhere safe.”

His smile vanished, replaced by something colder, harder. “Tell me, Noah—if not you, then who’s getting them out of this mess?”

Something inside me shattered. “You’re a fucking—”

Before I could finish, the shove hit me out of nowhere. It wasn’t chaotic or wild, just precise and practiced.

Part of me wanted to scream until my throat went raw. Another part just wanted to curl up on the floor and let the weight of the world crush me. But the loudest, strongest part—the part that refused to break—rose up inside me.

If my dad showed up at that dinner, everything would burn to ashes. If I went to Lexie’s family for help, I’d only be digging myself deeper into this nightmare. What I needed was Aiden—someone steady, someone who could hold me when I was falling apart.

I don’t even remember leaving the dorm. One moment I was frozen in that hallway, the next I was on my bike, the engine trembling beneath me like my own shaking hands. By the time I rolled into Aiden’s driveway, my chest felt too tight, like my lungs couldn’t expand unless I saw him.

The house was dark. No lights, no sounds—just a heavy, quiet stillness settling over everything. I slipped inside with the key he’d given me. The familiar scent hit me immediately—warmth, cedar, something solid and comforting. It nearly broke me right then and there.

I kicked off my shoes and left my jacket draped over a chair. My footsteps softened instinctively as I moved down the hallway, drawn to the one place I wanted to be more than anywhere else. My heart pounded—not fast, but hard, like each beat was trying to break free from my ribs. Every fiber of me ached for him—for his hands, his voice, the simple safety of being held, even if only for a moment.

I reached the bedroom door.