Page 80 of Under the Lies

But it’s too soon.

As Dickie exhales, leaning against the wall in a false security, Noah rams his face into the drywall, smashing his nose. Blood smears on the paint. A Jackson Pollock of the bloody variety.

“We don’t disrespect women in my home.” Noah’s voice is cold, barely in control. I’ve never seen him like this.

So ravaged, hungry for punishment. But he still looks put together, the same Noah. His tie is straight, no hair out of place. Even his glasses sit perfectly straight on his nose.

Physically, Noah moves with precision and purpose, a man on autopilot. His face is no different than his usual exterior aside from the hard set of his jaw, it clenches in anger.

He’s the eye of the storm, calm as he causes chaos.

“I didn’t do anything!” Dickie wails, the words muffled by his lips being squished against the wall, fighting to get free.

“And I didn’t do this.” Noah rams his fist into Dick’s kidneys, who wails in agony.

A hand touches my arm and I jump. Thea stands next to me, her focus on me while Reeve and Gabe have their eyes trained on Noah. The two don’t look as concerned as they do entertained.

“Do something!” I shout at them, waving my hand at the wailing going on behind me. I get ignored.

My stomach twists as I hear another grunt from Dickie, fists beating flesh.

“Thea,” I plead, looking into her warm, brown eyes. Only to be met with disappointment.

Thea shakes her head. “I can’t, Sayer.”

“Why?” Glancing behind me, I see that Dickie’s face is becoming more unrecognizable with each hit. His lip is busted, and his nose is crooked, blood flowing like a waterfall from it. Sucking in a breath, I look back at Thea, my eyes now begging.

But Thea is strong, shaking her head. “Noah needs to get this out.”

I stare at her, hoping my ears deceive me and that what she said wasn’t just crazy. “He’s going to kill Dickie!

Thea rolls her eyes like I’m being dramatic, but I know I’m not. Not as I turn around and watch as Dickie falls to the floor, crawling backward like a drunk crab to escape Noah’s slow, leisurely pursuit.

He’s going to kill him. There’s a menacing glint in those depthless blues as he prowls toward Dickie, the smile that brings chills to my skin grows as Dick’s back collides with the wall.

It’s a promise. It’s a threat. It’s a kiss of death.

I glance at Noah’s friends, but they still don’t seem concerned. Reeve and Gabe wear almost matching grins to Noah. Thea is the only one who seems to have a slightly somber expression, but there’s something calculated in her dark brown eyes.

I can’t let Noah do this. I’m watching with piercing horror as he closes in on Dickie, one of his hands wraps around Dick’s neck, slamming his head into the wall. The only sound in the penthouse is the crack the contact makes. Sharp and thunderous.

I suck in a tight breath. I don’t like this. I don’t like the look on Noah’s face. I could give a shit about Dickie, I’m barely paying attention to him. My entire focus is on Noah.

The stone coldness, it’s a stranger on the face of a man I’m just beginning to get to know again. I know he has a temper, I know I was already putting him in a mood by having this party, but I never intended for this to happen.

Not that it’s my fault Dickie doesn’t understand the word no. I don’t feel responsible for his actions in the slightest.

I just don’t want to be a character witness to a murder.

Noah lands a punch to Dickie’s nose, blood splattering on the wall. My entire body recoils. I’m not a fan of violence. With each blow Noah lands, the more sick I feel. I can’t keep watching this. I refuse.

Without a second thought, my feet take off and I’m catapulting myself onto Noah’s back, locking around him like a spider monkey as he’s gearing up for another punch. The second my skin touches his, his entire body locks up. Dickie stares at us with wild and dazed bruising eyes.

“Sayer,” I feel Noah say more than hear, his chest moving under my palms. “Get off me.” He’s coiled so tight, tense with a need to fight.

“Can’t do that,” I tell him with all sincerity. “I have this fear of blood and you’re splattering it around the apartment.”

Noah’s silent, his body still geared in his fighting stance while his hand is still wrapped tightly around Dickie’s neck, but his attention is on me. Listening.

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