Heading out, I only have one option—to call in a favor that I didn’t want to use, but I will. It’s important that I get this nipped in the bud before I continue my relationship with Othella.
Chapter Thirteen
Time passesby slowly when you’re waiting for someone to come back to you. It’s funny, I never would have thought that I would have fallen for Noah.
A smile breaks out on my face as I wash the potatoes. I’m going to make him baked potato soup for lunch. Biting my lip, I turn on my Spotify playlist and rock out. There’s nothing like a good metal song to dance to and rage with.
Thoughts of Noah dancing with me to something slower and more intimate makes me smile. Would he dance with me? Doubt starts to creep in again as I think about how everyone I know sees me. I don’t want to be weak or come off as needy. Maybe I shouldn’t ask him to dance.
The battling conversation I am having comes to a stop when I feel an arm wrap around me, causing me to drop the knife I was using to peel the potatoes with. I get a whiff of the cologne and freeze.
“You stupid bitch. Your mother told you to get out of town, didn’t she?”
As Clyde kisses my ear, nausea hits me. I use my right elbow and knock him in the stomach. It does nothing but make him laugh at my attempt to dislodge him. My elbow throbs as I feel the fear washing through my body.Don’t panic, Othella.
“You’ll have to try harder than that,” he whispers in my ear. Repulsion makes me tongue tied as he tries to pull me against him.
Struggling, I stomp on his foot, but my bare heel does nothing to his work boots. “Stop fighting me.” Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I twist and push against him, but he grinds into me, forcing me to the counter.
“Mm. Yeah, keep doing that. It makes me horny.” Clyde cackles, but I’m let go as I hear a thunk on the floor. I turn around to see Clyde sprawled out on the floor and a massive man standing behind him.
“Are you hurt?” he questions, and I sink backward, trying to not shake. I’m not sure if he’s friendly or not. He may have taken out Clyde, but that doesn’t equate to him not trying to do something to me.
“I ain’t gonna hurt you, lady. Noah Vincardi sent me over here to watch over you. Good thing too. Looks like we got a varmint to take out.”
Taking a deep, unsettled breath in, I let it out and look at him. “I’m… Ugh…”
My words are gone from me. Then again, I was about…No! Don’t think about it. You are safe. Noah trusts this man. You can count on that.My brain tries to soothe me.
“I’m going to stand guard while you call Noah. Tell him to come get this dumbass bastard before I cut him up and eat him.”
Oh God. “Right. Right on it, Sir.” I move to get my phone and realize I don’t have Noah’s phone number. The man doesn’t smirk. He doesn’t even smile as he hands me his phone with Noah’s number already pulled up.
“Thanks,” I mutter and run to the bedroom. I close the door and stumble to the bed. My God, my mother sent Clyde to get me. She knew I wasn’t gone. I tremble as I call Noah.
“What’s going on, Bruiser?”
“It’s… it’s Othella.” I gulp, trying to keep the panic down.
“Othella. Ladybug, are you alright?” His concern is my undoing. I begin to feel the wobbly emotions piling up, but I don’t dare cry. No. I’m stronger than that.
“Yes,” I whisper. The quiet between us is deafening. “Bruiser got to me in time.”
“Thank God. I’ll be home within fifteen minutes. Do not let Bruiser kill Clyde. But don’t go near them either.”
He makes me laugh. I can’t help it as the thought of Noah pacing back and forth, giving orders, and looking at me with concern enters my mind. “I’m not sure I could stop him from hurting Clyde. As it is, Clyde’s knocked out. Thank you, Noah, for sending him here to help me.”
“Anytime, ladybug. Anytime.” We hang up after he checks one last time to make sure I’m alright.
I peek out of the bedroom, and Bruiser is standing in the hallway, guarding the area. “Go on back to the room, ma’am. Nothing for you to see out here.”
“Alright, thank you Bruiser.” He grunts but nods his head to me as I hand him his phone before heading back to the room.
Shutting the door, I sit back down on the bed and think about my future. There is no way I want to go back to Florida without Noah. Then again, his home is here.
Noah clearly feels strongly about me, there is no doubting that. But can I trust that he won’t hurt me in the end? I bite my lip and try to think about how much I love Noah. My mind stops and my mouth pops open.Love.Blinking, I shake. Love. Oh man, I’m in love with him. Completely and utterly head overheels. Fuck, what if he is doing this simply out of duty to his badge?
By the timeNoah gets here, I’m in a tizzy. I know with every fiber in my being I want him, but I don’t know if he wants me. Plus, I’m not one to confront people about feelings. It’s stupid. No point in setting yourself up for heartache.
