Chapter 5
Chapter Five
I hate Noah Vincardi. He has my ass exactly where he wants it, but if he thinks I’m going to let him keep me here, he has another thing coming.
I grew up here. My father was the sheriff, and I know this cell has a loose locking mechanism.
All I have to do is lift the door a little and lean on it. The thing will pop right open.
Patience, my mind yells at me. My mother wasn’t kidding when she said she’d have goons on me.
Right now, being here is the safest place.
Although, I shudder to think that this is what my choice is.
Then again, thinking about what Clyde and the others did back in the day, I jolt.
My anxiety spikes and my foot taps against the cement floor.
The door to the holding block area opens, and to be honest, I’m kind of looking forward to talking to Noah again.
I hate myself for it, but he’s the only one that has ever taken an interest in me.
My excitement turns to dread as Clyde comes through the door.
He’s the only person on this planet that I hate with a passion. I wish he was dead.
“I knew it would take you only a few days to land here. You disgust me, or have you forgotten?” He sneers at me, and I tremble. My nerves are on edge, and he gets closer to me. Thank God there’s a locked cell door between us.
The way he looks at me makes me sick. I can’t stand him being near me. “You know, your mother gave me permission to do whatever the fuck I want to do with you.”
My breath hitches as he opens the cell door. How does he have a key? “Clyde, I’m willing to leave. Please, just let me go.”
I sound weak as I beg him for mercy. Something he knows nothing about. He laughs, and it feels like nails are being dragged down my spine.
“Well, damn, you must have forgotten who owns you.” He chuckles evilly as he roughly grabs me by the neck. Standing my ground, I glare at him with my chin lifted.
“You’ll never own me.” My voice gets louder with each word. He runs a hand down my stomach, and I nearly choke on the fear.
The door opens and Noah comes in. Relief washes over me. “How the hell did you get in here?” he demands. The look on his face is terrifying, and I feel safer than I ever have in my entire life.
“I’m here to take Miss Enderson home,” Clyde lies, and I notice Noah isn’t looking at him. He’s staring directly at me intently as I shake my head and try to back away. The grip on my neck tightens and my lower lip trembles.
“Sorry you didn’t get the memo, but it looks like Othella doesn’t want to go with you.” Noah comes into the cell and squares off with Clyde. “In fact, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
It’s obvious Clyde doesn’t enjoy being told what to do by the way he snarls at me and tightens his grip. I gasp.
“Unhand her, now,” Noah demands, and Clyde smirks.
“Of course, Noah. You know how she can be. So unruly.” He’s not lying, but Noah doesn’t move an inch. When Clyde lets me go, I scramble toward the wall. Noah steps right between us, protecting me. Would Noah remove Clyde forcibly?
They square off with each other for a moment before Clyde chuckles. “I’ll be back with the mayor.”
I flinch and turn away from them. The only thing that soothes me is Noah’s voice. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll be taking Othella to the airport as soon as I finish some paperwork.”
Peeking over my right shoulder, I admire Noah. He isn’t letting Clyde intimidate him or take me. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling he’s trying to get rid of me, too.
“See that you get rid of her sooner rather than later.”
The way Clyde says that makes me sick. I turn back around so Noah can’t see the stricken look on my face. The sound of Clyde’s boots thumping along the floor is the only sound heard.
As the door closes, Noah moves until he is directly behind me. “Turn around Othella.”
“No,” I whisper. My emotions are out of control, and I don’t want to be seen as weak.
“If I have to make you turn around, you won’t like what I do to you.” It’s a warning. I can tell it is.
A thrill runs down my spine, but I ignore it and turn back around. “What?”
“Thank you.” He smiles at me and takes my hand. “Knowing Clyde, he will bring your mother back. We need to move.”
My heart seems to break at the thought of Noah working for my mother and siding with her. “So, you are getting rid of me, then?” I yank my hand away from him. Glaring a hole through him, I feel betrayed and stupid at the same time for thinking he may be different.
Noah snatches my arm and forces me to him. His eyes are wild, and he looks at me with craziness written all over him. “You think I’m letting you go?” His laugh comes out sinisterly. I tremble, unsure if I should be afraid of or turned on by how possessive he sounds.
“Oh, ladybug, you do not know how badly I want to take you over my knee right now. But we can’t do that, so stop fighting me and let’s go.”
There’s a promise in his words that I’m not sure I want to play around with, but I’m not one to back down. “Unhand me and I’ll go with you.”
Damn, if everyone wants me out of their hair, maybe it’s better to just get it over with.
No point in sticking around here and getting hurt.
While I don’t think Noah would intentionally harm me, I know Clyde will.
I shiver at the thoughts my brain has at the memory of Clyde and how he hurt me. I don’t want that man anywhere near me.
Noah doesn’t unhand me, though. We stare at each other in a standoff, one I want so badly for him to lose and show me he’s not against me. Instead, he huffs and drags me out of the station.