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warn you."
The Angel of 13th Street - 86
"Warn me of what?"
"He plans to take out Willie and make an example of your boyfriend."
Jeremy didn't bother correcting Eddie. Noah for a boyfriend was just wishful thinking. "Willie's
surrounded by his enforcers," he pointed out. "Trent can't touch him."
"Trent owns his enforcers," the slim blond replied. Like Jeremy, Eddie had drawn attention for
his boyish looks and carried a forged ID card from a local high school. He'd turned twenty a few
weeks ago. "Anyway, I wanted to warn you, 'cause he says that with Willie and Noah out of the
picture, he's coming for you."
Jeremy's blood froze. Putting down the shirt he was folding, he turned wary eyes to the door, as
if the man in question might suddenly appear like the night his life had dramatically changed. He
realized now how foolish it had been to think that Noah could offer protection. Instead, by hiding
here, he'd put the big man in danger.
"You know you can't stay here, right?" Jeremy asked, knowing what Trent would do if he
suspected betrayal.
"Don't worry about me," Eddie assured him, "I decided to take your advice. I've got a brother in
Philly and my bus leaves at eight. I just came here to warn you... and say goodbye."
Grabbing Jeremy by the hand, Eddie pulled him to the back of the room behind a bank of dryers.
"I wanted to thank you properly," he said.
"Thank me for what?"
"For seeing me as more than a guy who sells his ass for money, for being my friend, for helping
me to realize I can be more than this." Eddie leaned in and captured Jeremy's lips, planting a
chaste kiss. In his surprise, Jeremy didn't fight back. The kiss ended and they stared at each other
a long moment. Finally, Eddie said, "I know you have a boyfriend. If you didn't, I'd be begging
you to come to Philly with me." With a sly smile he added, "Umm... you wouldn't consider
coming with me anyway, would you?"
Even though it would be taken the wrong way, Jeremy replied honestly, "I couldn't leave Noah."
Eddie's smile fell. "That's what I thought. Anyway, take care of yourself, and when the shit hits
the fan, you know where you have a friend if you need one." A slip of paper was pushed into his
hand, and without looking, Jeremy knew it had to be Eddie's brother's number.
With a final brushing of lips, Eddie said, "I heard them say that it all goes down Thursday night.
Make sure you and The Angel are as far away from here as you can get by then."
Jeremy watched his friend leave, heart pounding from both the kiss and the unwelcome news.
Finally, through a haze of shock, Eddie's words sank in. Noah! They were after Noah! He took
The Angel of 13th Street - 87
off running. It was illegal, but this was an emergency. He ran into the bar, intent on finding and
warning the man he loved.
Mary glanced up from wiping the counter. "Jeremy?" She looked ready to start scolding.
"Not now, Mary! I have to find Noah."
She pointed toward a closed door at the back of the bar. "He's in his office."
Pausing just long enough to knock, Jeremy ran inside, nearly slamming into Noah, who looked
strangely... guilty. "Jeremy! You know you're not supposed to be here! What are you trying to do,
get me closed down?"
Fear turning to anger at Noah's unexpected reaction, Jeremy yelled, "We need to talk, damn it --
NOW! It's about Trent!"
Noah's expression softened, then he nodded and said more calmly, "Go upstairs, I'll be right
there."
Ignoring Mary's questions, Jeremy ran back through the nearly empty bar. He never noticed the
young men sitting in the corner, wearing sunglasses indoors. The one facing the door nodded to
his two companions, who stood and slipped quietly from the room to follow.
***
Trent sipped his beer, smiling in satisfaction. Soon, the rope and tape he'd left in the trunk would
be put to good use. His plans were coming together and, by this time next week, he'd be where
he should have been all along -- on top. The office door opened a few minutes later and Noah
walked out, striding purposefully outside. Trent barely hid a smirk. If the self-righteous do-
gooder was going to meet his lover, he had a long wait ahead of him, because even now Jeremy
should be on the way to a carefully prepared new home -- on Ramsey Street.
***
Noah rounded the corner, trying to think of what to say to Jeremy. How embarrassing! He'd
nearly been caught in the act! It was pathetic; here he was, thirty years old, hiding in the office to
jack off because he was afraid to admit to wanting a man twelve years younger. However,
Jeremy wasn't your normal twelve-years-younger man. No, Jeremy was smart and deserved to
make up his own mind. Noah decided to start by voicing interest and see where it went from
there.
He looked up as tires squealed from the parking lot. "Kids," he muttered, eyeing the late model,
white Chevy speeding down Thirteenth Street. If that's how they normally drove, then it was no
wonder the back quarter panel was rumpled, traces of blue paint visible even from a distance.
Dismissing it as inconsequential, his thoughts turned back to the interrupted conversation in the
Tub of Suds, and where it was leading.
The Angel of 13th Street - 88
It wasn't surprising that Jeremy had come to the bar with news involving Trent. The asshole had
probably recruited some new kid Jeremy wanted to save, which was fine with Noah. After laying
himself open about his mission, he'd found an ally that the street kids were willing to talk to who
was more their age. It was just one of many things to like about the one he'd decided was worth
risking his heart for.
Noah smiled, taking the stairs two at a time. Mary had been right all along; he and Jeremy just
needed to talk, and if their conversation went well, maybe tonight he'd have a date to take
someplace special.
His heart lurched when he climbed onto the landing, and he knew without looking that Jeremy
wasn't there. The four deadbolts had provided little security -- the door was smashed into
splinters, and what remained hung precariously by one hinge. The trunk used for a coffee table
bore the imprint of a body.
He flattened himself against the wall, peering inside and listening for movement. All was quiet.
A small Christmas tree lay on its side, homemade ornaments smashed against the floor. Broken
pieces from a wooden chair were spread around it. Noah could just imagine Jeremy pushing it
against the door in an attempt to stop the intruders. Oh, God! They had Jeremy! Suddenly, his
attention was called away from the ransacked apartment.
"Looking for someone?"
Noah turned a scathing glare down the stairs toward the mocking voice. Trent sat in a sporty
little Mustang, superior sneer telling exactly who was behind Jeremy's disappearance. Noah
wanted to beat the smug little shit until he begged for mercy.
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