Noah 38
NOAH
Sage and I have been camped out in front of the television all morning.
The sound of Grandma Jo puttering around the kitchen has brought a sense of normalcy that I very much need and appreciate.
She’s getting a meal sorted for everyone, though I don’t know if I can stomach eating anytime soon.
My skin crawls at the idea that Bradley is so close by. I just want this to all be over.
I swallow as my stomach churns, tilt my head against Sage’s shoulder, and let out a sigh, the burden of everything that’s happened weighing heavily on my mind. “I don’t have a clue why we’ve bothered to put the TV on. I can’t concentrate on anything,” I mutter.
Patting my leg, Sage practically reaches into my head, plucks out my thoughts, and responds to what she knows I’m worrying over. “They’re doing what they feel is necessary, Noah. Try not to think about it.”
“I know. I’m trying.” Rhett has shielded me from everything since they got home yesterday. He hasn’t told me what’s going on out there in the slaughterhouse, and I haven’t asked. My imagination is a scary enough place right now.
The side door opens, and I lean forward on the couch, catching a glimpse of Rhett, Jace, and Cole as they enter the kitchen. “Where’s Noah?” There’s an edge to Rhett’s voice that has my nerves dancing under my skin.
“In the den with Sage,” Jo informs him, and a moment later, all three brothers duck into the room, eyeing me warily.
Jace lifts a hand in a quick wave, then Cole greets, “Hey, Noah.” I shoot a brief smile their way as a feeling of foreboding washes through my body. Oh no. What’s going on now? I can already tell whatever they’ve come to say has the potential to knock the breath from my lungs.
Rhett rubs a hand over his face and picks up the remote to turn off the TV before sitting down on the coffee table in front of me.
My palms have already begun to sweat before he opens his mouth.
“Jace and Cole have discovered something you need to know about.” I stare at him, waiting for the bomb to drop.
“It’ll be your call what we do with the information. ”
I exchange a glance with Sage before nodding. “Please just tell me.”
“You already know the twins were able to hack into every last bit of Bradley’s life.
” The tension in Rhett’s jaw is so tight it might snap at the slightest provocation.
He eyes his brothers. “Apparently, they were poking around a bit more and uncovered a few hidden folders.” In his eyes, there’s a sort of anguish that can’t even be classified or quantified.
“There was an entire folder dedicated to you, Noah.”
Sage stiffens at my side as my throat goes bone dry.
I let those words sink in, then blink rapidly in an attempt at staving off the tears that threaten to run down my face.
A keening sound erupts from somewhere deep in my chest. My voice is clipped and harsh when I bite out, “Do you mean to say that fucking bastard recorded the depraved things he did to me?” Rage, hot and thick blooms inside my chest. “He kept a memento? He kept goddamn proof?” Outrage fills me so fully, I’m shouting.
Eyes unfocused, I look around the room, taking in their reactions.
The twins shift uncomfortably, the hardwood floor beneath their boots creaking. “We’re so sorry, Noah,” Jace mutters.
Cole continues, “We swear we shut the recording off the second we knew what it was.”
Rhett exhales harshly, but the anger vibrating up his spine isn’t directed at me. “It gets worse.”
Shock electrifies every one of my nerve endings. Sick bastard. I’m unable to stop the trembling racking my limbs. “Excuse me?” I swallow hard, searching his face for an explanation I’m positive I don’t want. “What are you talking about?”
“It looks as though he’s been recording you for quite some time.
Years, possibly.” A second later his strong hands are wrapped around my biceps, holding me steady as my body descends into chaos, shaking violently.
“From what I saw, he has cameras all over your penthouse, including your bedroom and bathroom.”
“What was in the other folders, Rhett?” The question rattles off my tongue. I need to know the answer.
“Different artists. He’s done this before. To other people signed to the Hemstock label.”
“What. The. Fuck?” I drag in a disturbed breath. Blinking, I shake my head in disbelief, though I don’t know why I’m surprised by the audacity of it all, given my experience with Bradley.
Rhett exhales hard, then lifts his hand to wipe away the rogue tears I hadn’t even realized have spilled over my cheeks.
“Noah, I know this isn’t good news.” He presses his lips together.
“What it is, though … is leverage. Think about that.” He’s calm.
Too calm. And I know then, it’s all a facade.
“We’ve also gotta have a look online. Apparently”—he glances at Jace—“shit is already starting to hit the news networks. You’ll want to read it all for yourself.
People are questioning what’s happened to you.
It’s all over social media that you’re missing. ”
A grimace comes from Cole. “The police are searching for Bradley, too. After Paulie and Marcus’s unfortunate departure from this world, their deaths were classified as suspicious. According to news sources, Bradley is their main suspect.”
My eyes shift to Rhett’s, and he grasps my hand. “I reckon you need to have a look so you can decide what your next steps are.”
Glancing at the end table where I left my phone plugged in to charge, I huff, “Sage, can you pass it over here?”
She hands it to me and squeezes my shoulder as she gets up. “I think the twins and I should give Josie a hand and let you all decide what to do next. Shout if you need anything.”
“Thanks. All of you.” I shoot them a tight grin. “I’ll let you know.”
As they leave the room, Rhett rises, turning to sit beside me, carefully collaring the back of my neck, his warm fingers massaging tense muscles as I bite the bullet and fire my phone back on.
No sooner than I do, it’s as if my phone is possessed, vibrating manically with each bit of communication that flashes on the screen. The sheer quantity of emails, voicemails, tags, and DMs is too staggering to count.
Headline after headline and post after post pop up in notifications on my phone screen, making my head spin.
NATIONWIDE MANHUNT TO COMMENCE!
Breaking news: The two men discovered in a gentlemen’s club have been identified as Bradley Hemstock’s groomsmen.
WHERE IS NOAH LANE?
Is Bradley Hemstock on the run?
MUSICIAN, NOAH LANE, HASN’T BEEN SEEN SINCE HER WEDDING TO MANAGER brADLEY HEMSTOCK.
Bradley Hemstock wanted for questioning about the suspicious deaths of lifelong friends.
THE WHEREABOUTS OF COUNTRY MUSIC’S SWEETHEART, NOAH LANE, REMAIN UNKNOWN.
Switching to my voicemail, I scan the list. “Oh, fuck.” Wide-eyed, I shift to face Rhett. “Harold has left a message.”
I put it on speaker, then hit play. “Noah. Harold Hemstock, here. What the fuck is going on? Call me. Immediately.”
Demanding and unyielding, just like always. And well, frankly, his attitude pisses me off. I press my lips together. “I’m gonna call that prick. He’s the one who forced all of this on me.” My exhale is harsh, but I look to Rhett for reassurance.
“Do what you need to do, Starlet.” Rhett inclines his head, and his lips twitch. “Just be careful what you say. Remember, you haven’t seen his son since the wedding.”
“Got it.” I take a deep breath and put the call through, and Harold picks up after two rings.
“Where’s my fucking son?”
I huff out a laugh. The balls on this guy. “I haven’t seen him, Harold. Not since the night of our wedding when he and his friends fucking raped me.” I pause, rage concaving my lungs. “FYI, I’m filing for an annulment.”
There’s silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds before he snaps, “You don’t want to do that, Noah.”
“Oh, I assure you, I do. And if you want your name kept out of this shit show, you’ll release me from the fucking contract you coerced me into signing. I want nothing more to do with your record company. My music—every melody and lyric—belongs to me.”
“I don’t do well with blackmail, Ms. Lane.” He spits my name like it’s bitter, as if it hasn’t made him millions.
My jaw goes tight as I shake my head, and lock eyes with Rhett. “Funny, Harold. Neither do I. You forced me to marry a monster. I’m sure you can imagine how fucked-up things were, since you’ve probably been covering his ass for years.”
“Don’t make accusations. Especially when it’s your word against ours. Nobody will believe you.”
My heart races wild in my chest. “It’s more than my word. I have video evidence of all the heinous crimes your son committed.”
“Doubtful.” This man is so confident, so full of contempt for me, I almost just want to release everything to the media and watch him fumble as he tries to save his empire. And maybe I still will.
“Believe whatever you’d like. Either take my threat seriously or the whole world will find out just how fucking deranged your son really is. Thirty minutes, Harold. That’s all I’m giving you. Your call. Choose wisely.” And I hang up.
“You okay?” Rhett tugs me to his side, cupping my cheek with his palm.
“I don’t know yet.”
“And that’s okay.” His brows furrow as he studies me. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he rasps.
“Bradley.” Even if he were to go to prison for everything he’s done …
it’s not enough. I wet my lips, and nod, looking him square in the eye.
All he’s waiting for is my go-ahead. “Fuck.” I look down at my hands, but he automatically lowers his head to catch my gaze. “Make him pay for what he did to me.”
“I wasn’t joking around before. I am going to kill him,” he grits out. Vengeance drips from every word, and his eyes blaze with fury.
Rhett didn’t have to ask my permission but now that he has it, he can follow through with a clear conscience. Bradley will never leave Black River.
I lean in and press my lips to his, our gazes locking as I grant him permission. “Give him hell, cowboy.”