Page 43 of Resisting Temptation

“Noah, it was fifteen years ago. It doesn’t matter what I remember now.”

I sit up, too much anger throbbing within me to stay still. “Yes, it does. What did he look like? Any scars or tattoos? I need to know, Paisley.”

She looks me over, confused. “He had an eel slithering up his arm. I thought that was strange.”

“He played for the eels that night?” I ask, confused. I thought she said he was older.

She shakes her head. “No, he played the year you guys won. I remember he got into a fight with Parker and Brody. On the field.” My skin prickles. I know exactly who she’s talking about. Lucas Rosas. That fucker is dead.

I lift her chin so she’s looking up at me. “Baby, was the man who hurt you Lucas Rosas?”

She nods, her eyes filling with fresh tears. “Please don’t tell anyone, especially not Parker, I don’t want him to know. You have to promise me, Noah. Please.” Her sad eyes meet mine, crushing me.

I bring her lips to mine. “I won’t tell Parker.” But I will fix this for her. I wasn’t there to protect her all those years ago and neither was her brother. She was all alone. But I’m going to make the man who did this pay now.

I made promises to her three years ago, promises I have been trying to keep ever since. But back then I never could have imagined how complicated this web of lies was. Now I know everything her father was doing. How deeply he was involved in the underbelly ofthis town. She paid for his mistake, and now it’s time I get a little redemption on her behalf.

She hurries out the front door of Bay Roaster’s Café after meeting with her father. Part of me couldn’t believe she came as soon as he clicked his fingers. She hates him. But the meeting didn’t go well, from what I could hear. Daddy didn’t get what he wanted for once. And she’s in a rage, storming off down the street, her hair fanning out behind her. Sexy as hell when she’s mad, even better knowing she just severed ties with the asshole who’s been manipulating her for her whole life. Part of me wants to run after her so she can find comfort in my arms. But if I know Paisley, she needs space right now. Her father is a real piece of shit, trying to get her to turn against me. He’s running scared. He doesn’t want her anywhere near me, because I know what he’s hiding.

Three years ago, I left because of him. I didn’t know what I was up against then when he threatened her safety and destroying my career. I had seen what he was capable of with Parker years before, so I believed him when he said he had his ways of getting what he wanted. I wasn’t risking her safety till I had something to back me up. A way of knowing I could protect her from him. But now the tides have turned. He met with his daughter today to try and control her. He’s about to learn I hold all the power here now. Because with knowledge comes great power, and I know all his secrets.

I watch as Doctor Whittaker strolls across the main road toward his clinic, hands casually in his pockets. I send a text off to Kane McAllister telling him to meet me at the clinic.

The little bell above the clinic door dings as I enter. I glance at reception, but the young girl who works here must be on her break as her desk is empty. Not waiting a beat, I turn the handle on his door and stride right in like I own the place.

I take a seat across from the good doctor, smiling smugly from ear to ear. This day has been a long time coming.

“Noah,” he says, surprised. “What the fuck are you playing at? I told you to skip town. We had a deal; you never should have come back.”

I shake my head, disappointed in the old man. “We had a deal! You would keep her safe if I left. Some deal. When I left, I thought I was doing the right thing, but you don’t have the authority to keep her safe. Not with the shit you’re into and who you’re working for.”

His face hardens, lines forming on his forehead. “I don’t know what you're talking about,” he stutters, a small amount of fear creeping into his voice. He knows!

“I think you do. Prescription fraud. Illegal medical procedures. You’ve been a busy boy, haven’t you, Doc? To top it off, you had one of the Rebel Raiders take me out. Did you think I wouldn’t work out who shot me? The thug you sent wore his jacket. And I know for a fact you’re working for them. What do you think this town will make of all this? Should I contact the paper?” I ask, thinking out loud.

He shoves his chair back aggressively. Rounding the corner of his desk, he comes at me, shoving the chair I’m sitting in to the floor, sending me flying. His fist lands on my face, pain radiating through my cheekbone instantly. But I don’t move. His face reddens with fury as his hands move to my neck, squeezing. I don’t fightback. This is him, the real doctor of Deception Bay, a brutal man who will do anything to preserve his good reputation. But I don’t lay a hand on him this time.

“You fucking stay away from her. You’ve caused enough trouble. You might have worked out my secrets, but I know yours. You release one slither of information incriminating me, and I’ll make sure this town knows what you did. Murder is a very serious charge, son.”

I smirk back at him like the psycho I am for her, knowing he can’t touch me. “You don’t know anything, old man. But it must feel shitty to know I did what you were too much of a pussy to. I protected your daughter when you should have. You’re not worth the reputation the good people of this town have bestowed upon you, and when they know the truth, you will get the treatment you deserve. You kept me from my girl and destroyed my career, and now I’m going to ruin you.”

The door crashes open and Detective McAllister stands in the doorway, gun drawn.

The doctor looks toward me then back to him, knowing I’ve set him up.

Kane rushes toward us, reefing him off me. “What the hell is going on here?”

“He attacked me,” I say, looking at the doctor.

Kane places the handcuffs on him immediately. The doctor doesn’t fight him, just glares back at me as he’s read the Miranda rights.

A searing pain lances through my head and chest from the injuries he’s inflicted on me, but I sneer back smugly, feeling satisfied he’s finally getting what was coming to him. Even if it is fifteen years too late. He’s a piece of shit for letting his daughter believe shewas to blame for what happened to her. It was his fault. She paid for his mistakes. I read all about it in my father’s journals. According to my father’s notes, Doctor Whittaker didn’t do the job they paid him to and let the leader of the Rebel Raiders bleed out and die on the operating table after he got shot. That’s why she was raped. It was a warning for him not to fuck up again. And now he will rot in jail for his involvement. I’m going to make sure of it.

Chapter 25

Paisley

I’m still a little shaken from the altercation with my father, but I have work to do, so instead of heading home after my shift at the flower shop like I wanted to, I’m here at city hall with Beckett stuffing swag packs. The only positive with being so busy is I don’t have time to think about Noah. Well, not really anyway. I saw him watching me through his bedroom window again this morning; he didn’t even hide how creepy he was being. Apparently now he’s blatantly observing me every chance he gets. The thing that worries me the most is the fact I kind of like it. I find myself looking for him, wondering if he’s home, if he might start texting me again. After what happened between us the other night, all I can think about is how much I want his eyes on me. And I’m not sure how messed up that makes me, but I know it’s not normal.

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