Noah glances up when the hotel door slams, and he glances around the room. Its like he’s noticing for the first time since he started coming clean that we’re not alone.
“Everybody…” His voice is a low rumble, but it commands attention. “Get the hell out.”
I watch with sinking desperation as the dozen or so people that were in the suite disperse, and when I’m left alone with Noah, I turn to face him.
I’m alone. There’s no one here to help me.
But Noah…he’s my friend. Maybe he lost his way, but he’s always been my friend. Right?
“Was it you?” I ask him, blatant and accusing. “That night at Bryn’s? Did you attack me? Hurt me?” I take a step closer to him, because now my temper is blazing.
He closes his eyes briefly, and when he opens them there’s real pain there. “One of my guys was in the trees. He told me when you came outside. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Ny…”
I slap him.
Hard.
Right across the face, and the sting in my hand is nothing compared to the one in my heart.
“You asshole! I was terrified that night! And then afterward, you held me, comforted me…” I trail off, my voice trembling, my body shaking. “It was all just a lie.”
The way he pretended to care about me that night…his false concern. Looking back now, I’m horrified. The fact that he has that kind of acting ability chills me down deep. I thought he really cared, that he was worried about me.
Noah reaches toward me, stepping forward, but I throw up my hands to ward him off, stepping back. I gesture toward my phone. “Take the phone, Noah! I’m leaving.”
Whirling, I storm toward the door. My legs shake, but they manage to carry me across the room. Just before I reach it, a pair of strong arms catches me around the waist, yanking me back.
Yelping, my mouth opens for a full-on scream but Noah claps a hand over it, effectively cutting me off. He yanks me back, my heels drag across the carpeted floor. I’m fighting like a trapped animal: thrashing, kicking, and biting his hand. Anything to get him to let me go.
But he’s too strong.
“You’re not going anywhere yet, babe. I’m not done…you’re going to understand why I did what I did. You owe me that. You gave him more than that, right? It’s my turn. You like bad boys? Here I am, Ny.”
Noah’s breath is hot against my ear. He speaks through clenched teeth, holding onto me in spite of my struggling. My eyes are wild, staring toward the exit I can’t reach. And then the mechanical whir of the hotel door’s lock reaches my ears, miraculously loud despite the sounds of our scuffle.
My entire body goes limp with stark relief when Ace bursts through that door.
Twenty-Nine
ACE
I roll through that hotel room door hot, because I haven’t stopped running since I left the warehouse. When Naima sent me the text with the hotel name and then stopped responding to me, I just went faster.
But as soon as I’m through that door, the sight laid out in front of me brings me to a halt. I freeze, my eyes drinking in the scene. Naima, her hair wild and her eyes wide, kicking and trying to scream.
That animal with his hands all over her, holding her mouth so she can’t make a sound.
I see red, and all I want to do is murder him. Tear him apart like I know I can, until he bleeds. I want his blood running over my skin, and I don’t want anyone to stop me this time.
But one thing keeps me from moving forward, and that’s Naima.
My angel.
Her eyes are locked on me, and the hope in them slices me in half. She trusts me so completely to save her. And if I do this wrong, Noah could hurt her.
Or worse.
Wiping that thought from my mind, I skid to a halt and put my hands up. Showing him I’m harmless, even though I’m anything but.
Noah pulls Naima tighter against him, a pissed-off snarl on his face. “How’d you get in here?”
Keeping my eyes locked on his, I step forward. Just a tiny step. My heart thunders against my ribs; sweat drips down my temple. “Met some people coming from your party on the elevator. One of them gave me a key. Just wanted to check on my girl.”
Noah jerks her closer to him, and she squeaks. His hand is clamped so tight on her mouth; he’s probably making an imprint on her face.
Murder will happen. He won’t get away with this. Not this.
“Your girl? Your girl? You’ve known her for what...five minutes? She’s not yours and she never will be.”
I glance at Naima. “Did he hurt you, angel?”
Noah snorts. “I would never hurt her.”
Keeping my eyes on Naima, I shake my head. “No? You hurt her that night at your house, didn’t you?”
Noah jerks his head with fierce anger. “That wasn’t my fault. I wanted to make her listen…make her stay away from you.”
I lift a brow. “Yeah? How’d that work out for you?”
He shakes her, but this time she doesn’t make a sound. She’s hardening herself, tightening all her muscles, toughening up. Because I’m here.
Tough girl.
Damn. I need to calm down my mouth.
Taking another step closer, I cut my eyes to Noah. “Let her go, man. This is between you and me, right? You want what I have…my business? So let’s settle it. But not with Naima between us.”
He jerks her to the right, and she winces. “Stop walking! You think I’m stupid? No way you get to be the hero here, Wells.”
I freeze, a war erupting inside my head. I want to rush him, I want to tackle him to the floor and hit him until he’s out. Maybe past that. I’m pretty sure I can push Naima out of the way—
“Get out.” Noah’s hiss knocks me out of my own thoughts.
Shaking my
