Noah 36
NOAH
An unexpected noise jolts me from sleep, and I suck in a strangled breath. Launching to a seated position, I blink, eyes unaccustomed to the haze of predawn darkness. Something isn’t right. The peaceful calm I’d felt when Sage and I climbed into bed last night has been broken.
Then, I hear it again—the crunch of slow-moving tires chewing up gravel.
My entire body goes numb, the mere thought of what that sound could mean sends apprehension rippling down my spine.
Because that isn’t the boys. Rhett’s been in contact to let us know everything had gone to plan.
They won’t be home until late afternoon at the earliest. My nerves prickle with warning.
I spare only a glance at Sage sleeping peacefully beside me before slipping out of bed. Quickly crossing to the window that’s situated over the porch, I peek outside. A sleek, black SUV approaches. The kind only rich pricks like my husband drive.
“Sage.” My hand gently nudges her shoulder. “I hate to wake you, but I think we’ve got trouble.” She stirs, stretching at first, but I can plainly see the second the meaning behind my words sink in.
Her eyes widen, and she sits up. “What’s going on?” Voice thick with sleep, she peers at me, concern shadowing her features.
Under my breath, I murmur, “There may or may not be a lunatic rapist coming our way. We’ve gotta move.
Fast.” I shove my feet into jeans and yank them up.
“I’m going downstairs to make sure the doors are locked.
” My eyes meet hers. “The rifle is in the safe in Rhett’s bedroom.
” My heart tugs the same way it did when he gave me the code.
March 12 was the date Rhett and I shared our first kiss, back when neither of us knew what the hell we were doing. “It’s zero three one two.”
“I’m on it.” There’s not a trace of nerves in my friend’s voice. “Hope you remember how to shoot, city girl.”
“Couldn’t take the country outta me.” A second later, we part ways as she goes after the gun, and I fly down the stairs, my feet hardly touching a single step.
When I get to the bottom, headlights bounce throughout the first floor of the house as the SUV rolls to a stop in the front yard. My stomach knots angrily as I begin to check the doors and windows.
In my pocket, my phone vibrates, and when I pull it out, Jo flashes on the screen.
I answer, but before I can say anything, Josie’s no-nonsense voice greets me.
“Baby doll, I hate to tell you this, but trouble’s come callin’.
I got an alert from that fancy camera app Jace set up for me.
Saw Bradley snoopin’ around. By the time I got out there, he’d already headed in your direction. ”
My eyes flick toward the front window as a car door slams. “We heard him pull up the lane. Doors are locked, and Sage is getting the rifle.” I swallow, hearing keys jangle and footsteps echoing on the other end of the line.
“Hang tight, dolls,” she commands, voice clipped. “I’m leavin’ now. I’ve got Big Berta’s double barrel with me. Don’t confront his sorry ass.”
My heart thuds loudly in my ears as footsteps sound on the porch, the boards creaking as Bradley stalks closer. In an effort to calm myself, I tug Rhett’s shirt more tightly around me and creep to the glass panel beside the door to have a quick look outside.
Bradley’s face is a mask of snarling fury, the set of his shoulders rigid, fists clenched tight.
A shuddering exhale escapes my lips. With every step he takes, I come face to face with the memory of what he did to me.
Hasn’t he already done enough damage? What does he think he’s going to gain from coming here?
This is all about control, so he and Hemstock Holdings remain untarnished.
To protect his image, he needs access to country superstar Noah Lane.
A moment later, Bradley hammers against the front door. “Noah! You can’t run from me! I own you!”
As I move into view, a battle cry rips from my chest. “Get fucked, rapist!”
He throws his head back, a manic laugh spilling from his lips.
“Get over yourself, Noah. Do you really think anyone will believe you if you say your husband raped you? On your wedding night?” His cackle ricochets through the hardwood. “Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
I drag in a breath and use the door to block Bradley’s view. Glancing over my shoulder I see Sage at the top of the stairs, her eyes trained on me. I shake my head in silent warning, holding a finger to my lips. Bradley can’t know she’s here, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he hurt her.
I’m barely breathing when a heavy fist pounds on the wood again. The door shakes and hinges rattle at the abuse. “Open up, bitch!” he shouts. “You think you’re fucking clever sending your hillbilly cowboy after me?”
Temper flaring, I step to the window and raise my voice, certain he can hear every word.
“I’m not going anywhere with you, you abusive fuck.
” His head whips toward me, staring with beady anger-filled eyes.
I swallow down my fear and spit, “Get the fuck out of here before I tell the entire world every bit of what you did to me. The deal is off. You made sure of that when you invited your friends to the party.”
His jaw twitches with wild rage. The next thing I know, glass shatters inward, shards dancing violently at my feet.
A gasp is torn from my lips as I stumble backward.
Shock and surprise roll over me in a wave as he slips an arm through the broken window and flips the lock.
I don’t even have time to take a breath before the door slams open, catching me in the shoulder.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” My hands shove at his chest. “Get the fuck out of my house!”
Ignoring me, Bradley grabs my elbow and hooks his arm around my neck.
Tripping over my feet when his grip tightens, he yanks me viciously against his chest. Slightly aware of Sage making her way down the stairs, I can’t focus on anything.
Something cold presses against my temple, and terror races along my veins as I realize it’s the muzzle of a pistol.
“Put the gun down, asshole!” Sage shouts from the bottom step.
My frantic eyes dart to her where she has the rifle at the ready but doesn’t have a clear shot because the man who’s been controlling me for years is using me as a human fucking shield. We both know she won’t risk hitting me.
“Coward,” I grit out as I claw at his arm, kicking and squirming in an effort to get him to drop me.
“You’re mine, Noah. I have the paper to prove it.” He chuckles darkly as he drags me backward while cutting off my air supply. Stars burst in my vision as everything gets hazy.
Bradley drags me down the porch steps as the sound of an approaching vehicle makes hope soar but also fills me with anxiety.
That’s gotta be Jo. I dig my nails in, breaking his skin, and he curses under his breath as he spins us around and releases my neck only to grab a fistful of hair at the back of my head.
The force of his grip begins to tear strands from my scalp.
It’s like being pricked by a thousand needles tipped with fire.
He jerks me around to face the oncoming beat-up farm truck as it pulls up behind his SUV.
Grandma Jo bursts into action, determination in her gaze as she strides closer, weapon clutched in her hands.
She’s still a good distance away when she stops, snapping, “Put your weapon down and let her go, Mr. Hemstock. Or don’t.
I’d love nothing more than to shoot your sorry ass. ”
Shaking his head, a chuckle spills from his lips. “Granny’s got a gun, huh?”
When he only yanks on my hair again in response, tearing a cry from my lips, Josie raises a brow, then takes the safety off. “You bet your ass I do. And unfortunately for you, I know how to use it.”
Hot tears prick my eyes as the searing pain at the back of my head increases.
Footsteps somewhere behind us give me a clue that Sage is near, but I don’t know how close.
A sob wrenches from my lips as Bradley pulls my head to the side so he can stare down at me.
“You’re mine, Noah. Always will be.” And then he licks a repulsive stripe along my jaw, smirking into my eyes as I shudder in his hold.
“I’m taking her home and you’re not going to stop me. ”
In the glare of headlights, I can see the way Jo’s back straightens and the smirk lifts one corner of her lips.
This is the first I’ve ever noticed how much Kade’s mannerisms mimic hers.
“That girl’s already home. You’re the one who doesn't belong ’round these parts.
” Her eyes connect with mine before briefly shifting to a spot right behind Bradley, then nods.
The boom of shotgun fire explodes, and my body jolts at the same time Bradley lets go of my hair, dropping his pistol in the process. Without hesitation, I kick it out of his reach and spin away from him, seeking out Sage.
“What the hell kind of backwoods shit is this?” Bradley growls. He’s too busy staring in shock at the SUV to notice what I’m doing. “You shot my tire, you crazy bitch!”
My eyes lock on Sage’s and when I get to her, she shoves the rifle into my hands. I spin around and use all the fury I feel as I bring the butt of the weapon down on the back of Bradley’s head.
Stunned, he collapses into the dirt—where his disgusting ass belongs.
It takes several seconds before he even rolls over, and when he does, he stares at me with the rifle trained on him, lips flapping like a fucking fish.
He lifts a hand to his head, and it comes away bloody.
Blinking down at the sticky wetness, he grunts out, “You hit me, you cunt.”
“Payback’s a bitch,” I snarl, lips curling. “And that’s not even close to what you deserve.”
He struggles to his feet, clearly out of it and unsteady. “That’s gonna cost you. I’ll add it to the rest of your debt.”
Standing my ground, I square my shoulders. “I don’t owe you a damn thing.”
My defiance adds fuel to Bradley’s rage, and he lunges toward me.
Josie lifts the shotgun. “Wrong move, asshole.” Her gaze catches mine, and she jerks her head, warning me to get to a safe distance. I retreat several steps, and she pulls the fuckin’ trigger.
The spray of pellets catches Bradley in the kneecap, and he shrieks, his balance buckling. On the ground, he writhes, clutching at his knee. “You shot me, you old bat!” His eyes flash to the blood oozing from his leg, his face pales, and he passes out.
Gun trained on him, Jo stalks closer, “Fuckin’ city boy. I gave him sufficient warning.” She shrugs. “I’m not a parrot, I don’t repeat myself.”
With a shaky exhale, I squeeze my eyes shut for a second just as Sage wraps her arms around me. “Fuck, you scared me.” She lifts a gentle hand to the back of my head, cradling it. “You okay?”
“It hurts like a bitch.” My eyes track over to Bradley’s still form.
Jo smiles at me, shotgun and a wary eye still trained on her target. “Good job, baby doll.”
“Thanks. You too.” I peer over at the useless piece of shit as his wounds slowly seep blood into the dirt.
Josie eyes me as she tucks a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, then heads over to check Bradley for a pulse. “That’ll do. He’s still kickin,’ but out cold.”
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Jo?” Sage gives her a curious look.
“Think we can manage to get him into the back of my pickup?” Grandma Jo shoots us a devious grin. I don’t claim to know what her plan is, but whatever hell she’s concocting can’t be good. Not for Bradley, anyway.
I look over at Sage, and she shrugs. “Let’s do it.”
It takes us a couple of minutes to heft a tied-up Bradley into the truck. He’d stirred in the middle of the process but thankfully passed out again.
Before I know it, we’re taking the side road that leads to a few outbuildings and old sheds. Following Grandma Jo’s lead, we hop out of the cab and get to work. We drag Bradley from the truck bed into the Black River Ranch slaughterhouse.
Oh god. The smell. My nose wrinkles in distaste. It’s potent. I haven’t ever been in this building before, and now that I am, I don’t know that I wanna be.
“Let’s strap him to that pillar right over there.” Josie tips her chin toward a metal beam and gestures to a coil of link chain. While we get to work, she pulls out her phone and holds it up to let us know she’s going to make a call.
I keep an ear open as she grits out, “You’re gonna want to put the pedal to the metal. I don’t know how y’all’s little Rivers boy pact works, but John fuckin’ Cena.”