Page 54 of Tell Me No Lies

While he's temporarily blinded, I finish doing what I came here for, gripping the fire alarm and yanking the release. Sirens immediately pierce the air, and flashing lights strobe on the ceiling. “Oop. Sounds like there's a fire.” I make for the door, pausing beside him as he scrubs the heels of both hands against his lids and tears run down his face. “Or maybe it's just hell coming for you.”

21

A NON-REACTION IS A REACTION

TATE

I SLAM THROUGH the door of the laundry room, blood boiling. I didn’t see the full interaction between Piper and Rick, but I saw enough to know what happened. And I’m ready to make him pay for thinking he had the right to put his hands on her.

But before I can even get close to him, Piper’s shoving my chest, pushing me back toward the hall. “Come on. We need to go.”

“You need to go.” I grab her around the waist and pull her body behind mine. “I need to make sure this piece of shit understands what happens when he fucks with what’s mine.”

“Ugh. Are you serious?” She grips the back of my shirt, yanking hard. “You can beat your chest another time, Caveman. We have boysenberry pie to bake.”

“Boysenberry pie can wait two minutes.” I twist free of her hold and stalk to where Rick is bent at the waist, both hands scrubbing at the eyes Piper unleashed an aerosol can of some sort of laundry shit into. I know he thinks he’s suffering now, but he has no idea. Grabbing the over-gelled hair on his head, I straighten him until his bloodshot eyes meet mine. Every inch of me wants to kill him. Send him straight to the hell Piper claimed was coming for him.

But I’m not willing to risk everything that’s finally within my reach for this prick, so he’s gonna get off with a few missing teeth.

I slam my fist into his face. The shift of flesh and bone under my knuckles is almost as satisfying as the scream of pain he lets out. It’s worth every bit of the bruising that will color my hand tomorrow and I smile as I let his hair go and watch him crumple to the floor.

“Are you done?” Piper’s tone is clipped. She waits until I face her and then thumbs over one shoulder. “Because we need to get the hell out of here.”

“Almost.” I sling one hard kick right at his ribs because one punch no longer feels like enough. The groan of pain is gratifying, and knowing he’ll carry the pain I gave him for days allows me to think of something besides violence. “Now I’m done.”

Piper rolls her eyes like I’m being fucking ridiculous. Like a man didn’t just try to force himself on her.

I move in close to her, looking over her face and arms. “Are you okay?”

Her brows pinch together like my question confuses her. “She motions to the door. “Just ready to get this freaking show on the road.” Piper bats at my hands as I run them over her skin, searching for a reason to give Rick another kick to the ribs. “Seriously. I’m fine.”

I go still. My earlier concerns about her non-reaction to what just happened flare back to life. “That piece of shit was going to rape you, Piper. How in the fuck can you be fine?”

She lets out a frustrated sounding groan as her head tips back, eyes pointing at the ceiling. “He’s not the first guy to try to push himself on me, Tate.” Her head drops and her gaze levels on mine. “Not by a long shot.”

There’s shouting out in the hall and Piper swings away from me. “We really need to get fucking moving or we’re going to miss our chance.” Without looking back, she storms through the door and into the crowd racing down the hall, leaving me staring after her.

I start to chase her out, but turn back and give Rick another kick, because he's a piece of shit. And because I can't kick all the other men who put Piper in that same situation so many times it doesn't even phase her now.

The door swings back open and she ducks her head in, catching me in the act. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Piper rushes at me, grabbing my arm and hauling me out with her.

There's a surprising amount of people hurrying down the halls. Usually fire alarms in hotels are pretty much ignored. Evacuating a building of this size is a huge undertaking and nine times out of ten they're nothing.

Just like this one.

But maybe since it wasn't one of the staff who pulled the alarm, they're taking it a little more seriously. I see people from the front desk herding the IGL hopefuls out of the auditorium and conference room and toward the front entrance as Piper drags me in the opposite direction. She's moving fast, not like she's simply trying to get away from Rick, but with a specific mission in mind.

I am pretty sure I know what it is, and it couldn't come at a better fucking time.

We hit the side door full force, racing out into the morning sunlight to find groups of patrons loitering around the side lot. One group in particular catches my eye.

I push Piper in their general direction as I dig the keys to the Jeep from my pocket. “Go make sure they're okay. I'll bring the car around.” I don't wait for an answer because I know she's got it handled. Better than I ever could.

Taking off at a full run, I race to the other side of the hotel where I'm parked. By the time I reach my door, I’m panting hard from pushing my body as fast as it would go. I don't want to spend another fucking second here. I won't survive it.

A few of them probably won't either.

Starting the engine, I crank up the air as I back out, driving as fast as I dare around the back, grateful for the tint of my windows as I pass a group of Rick’s friends as they search the lot like they're missing someone.

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