Page 25 of Air of Seduction
Olivia lets out another scream, and Payton kicks Noah’s shin.
I snap back into action, and race forward to grab Payton. “He’s not going to hurt her. He’s with us.”
I take in the way Olivia is still fighting to get out of Noah’s arms. “Olivia, calm down. We’re here to rescue you.”
But I soon realize it was a mistake to move my attention away from Payton. She twists in my arms, and her knee connects with my balls with destructive precision.
All the air leaves my lungs on a groan as pain explodes in my groin. Sinking to my knees, I cup my bruised testicles. I know I’ll be fine in a minute or two, but right now all I know is agony.
***
Payton
Regret shoots through me as soon as I hear Ronan’s groan, and realize what I’ve done. It wasn’t my intention to hurt him. I reach out to touch him and tell him I’m sorry, but then Olivia screams behind me, and I’m reminded why I needed to get out of Ronan’s hold on me.
“Calm yourself, little nymph, or you’ll hurt yourself.”
I spin toward Noah. He’s still got Olivia locked hard against his body, the brutality of it so contradictory to his sweet voice. He’s the one I should have kneed in the groin, not Ronan. Why is he doing this to my best friend? I don’t care what Ronan said, Noah is an asshole who needs to be taken down.
My eyes narrow to slits as I close the distance to him. “Let her go, or I swear to God—”
“Put her down, Noah.” Lucas’s powerful voice comes from behind me. “Can’t you see you’re terrifying her? What’s wrong with you?”
The man in front of me frowns and seems to come to his senses. He releases his grip on my friend, and she immediately pushes away from him and falls to the floor.
Olivia’s eyes are wild with fear, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, while she crawls backward away from Noah. My friend is usually a calm and levelheaded person, but this lastweek has clearly left her terrified. And Noah and his strange possessive behavior might have made it worse.
I rush to Olivia and sink down next to her, gripping her upper arms. “Olivia. It’s me, Payton. You’re safe. These people are with me.”
She blinks at me, her eyes huge and uncomprehending, like she doesn’t recognize me, but she stops moving away.
“You’re safe, Olivia.” My throat clogs, and tears fill my eyes. She is safe, but will she be all right after what she’s been through?
“Payton.” My name is hardly more than a breath. Then she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around me so tightly I can hardly breathe.
Her breathing is fast and trembling, but there’s not a single sob, and when she finally lets me go, her eyes are still dry.
I don’t know what scares me the most, the fact that she doesn’t cry or the blank stare she gives me.
“I want to leave.” It comes out like a neutral statement, completely without inflection.
“Of course.” I swallow hard and force a smile. “We can leave right now.”
I help her up, but when I take a step toward the door, Olivia grabs hold of my arm and stops me. Her teeth are clenched, and she’s staring straight ahead at Noah, who’s now standing between us and the door.
“Move.” I narrow my eyes at him.
He’s not the only one in the room with us, though. It’s actually crowded. Lucas and Erica are here, as well as Aidan and Ingrid, who must have entered when they realized Barry was no longer a threat.
And then there’s Ronan, standing a little to the side with his hand strategically placed in front of his groin. His expression is unreadable, but at least he doesn’t look angry.
I give him an apologetic look, before I swing my gaze back to Noah. He hasn’t moved.
“Noah, let the woman pass.” Ronan walks over and grips the man’s arm. “Please, don’t make this worse for her.”
“But I…” Something like pain flits across Noah’s face while he keeps staring at Olivia like she’s the only thing he can see. But then he lets out a groan and follows Ronan to one side of the room.
Everyone else steps to the side, as well, and Olivia allows me to lead her out of the room and up the stairs.