Protector of Novah (Valor Knights Book 1)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “Gone? What do you mean?” Novah asked.

  “She told me she’d meet me in front and when she didn’t show, I went to make sure she was okay. She’d climbed out of the bathroom window. I couldn’t find her.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “HE’LL FIND HER, Novah. That’s the last thing you need to worry about,” Egan told her. “She couldn’t have gotten far.”

  Novah had her feet tucked up under her in the passenger seat and she forced her breathing in and out. “I know we made the right decision leaving Pao to handle the situation with Lindsay, but why would she run? I just don’t understand. Where will she go?”

  Egan scrubbed his whiskered jaw. “I hope it was her family she called and not Langley.”

  “She wouldn’t do that, Egan.”

  “And you’re sure?” He cast a quick glance across the seat.

  “Yes. No. I don’t know.” She rubbed her temples where a dull ache had started the second she saw the pictures sent to her phone. “Sometimes we can know what’s bad for us, but we can’t resist gravitating toward it.”

  “Somehow I think that’s directed toward me and I disagree highly being lumped in the same category with a man like Langley,” he sneered.

  “I’m not saying you’re anything like him.”

  “Then what are you saying?”

  Overcome with emotion, she blurted, “I was a good wife, Egan.”

  He blew out a long breath. “And you think I need to hear that because I don’t already know?”

  Where was she headed with that statement? She’d lost track for a second. “You slept with Hannah. Don’t deny the truth.”

  Glancing at her, the area between his brows were scrunched. “Okay. It was after the divorce,”

  The logical side of Novah’s brain warned her to not step any further into the emotional mine field. Jealousy could be a bomb and she was about to implode in these ridiculous feelings. Why did that needling raw pain appear again right behind her left breast? As if the breaks in her heart were cracking deeper. “ Don’t you think that’s something I should have known?”

  “No, I don’t. We weren’t married any longer and that’s in the past.”

  “Fine. I hope you can be happy.”

  “Hannah and I are just friends, Novah.”

  His words drove through her like a dozer. “Friends? Really? Does she know?”

  He rubbed his jaw as if trying to control his emotions. “My God, Novah.”

  “God didn’t get you into this situation.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Novah, I was lonely and so was she. It just happened. It was an accident.”

  “Oh, so you tripped and fell into her bed? Does Pao know?”

  “No, at least I don’t think so.”

  “I was lonely too, you know, but I didn’t try to ease my pain by sleeping with someone.”

  “I went through a time of anger as I tried to navigate all the crazy feelings going on inside me. Pao invited me to Noel Farm to take a break. Hannah became…well…” He seemed to grasp for the right words. “A comfort. Yes, we were close and at some point she thought there could be more between us. Hell, maybe I did too, then I realized I wasn’t over you and that wasn’t fair to her. We remained friends and that’s all.”

  “You didn’t tell her who I was?”

  He swiped a hand down his jaw and his palm against his whiskers sounded like the rasp of sandpaper. “She knew of you through a few conversations, but I must have never spoken your name. That was a long time ago.”

  “To you it was a long time ago, but for me it was just hours ago, and can you imagine how I feel?”

  “I’m sorry, Novah.” He reached over and took her hand. “There is something I do need to tell you.”

  She whipped her chin up and sighed. “Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like this?”

  “I didn’t come on board Langley’s security team for the reason you think.”

  Blinking, she asked, “Then why?”

  “A few months ago we’d received some information that Langley had contacts with a few undesirable people, including members of the Russian Mob, the Righteous Renegades. After digging up more dirt, I knew I needed to get the proof.”

  Stunned, it took her a long moment to gather her words. “So you came to work for Mr. Langley undercover?”

  “Yeah, kind of.”

  “Wow.”

  “My buddy Dave Banner has worked for him a long time, got me in. I was able to negotiate a spot for Pao too.”

  “Langley’s a smart man. He didn’t suspect anything?”

  . “The trick is to only lie when it’s absolutely necessary. VK handles security so it wasn’t over the top that I wanted to take on a substantial contract with a company like Langley Industries, and with Banner’s backing, it became pretty easy.”

  “So only lying when it’s necessary. That is supposed to make me feel better how?” She lifted a brow.

  “Novah, Langley’s a crook. Don’t start feeling sorry for him. Not when the asshat sent you the pictures as a threat,” he growled.

  “I’m not feeling sorry for him, but I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner.” Why did she feel like she was on a roller coaster going a hundred miles per hour?

  “I didn’t feel there was reason to tell you until I knew more, but then all this went down.”

  She tried clearing a path in her tired brain. “Does Banner know what you were doing?”

  “No.”

  “Wouldn’t that put your friendship at risk?”

  “I don’t want to believe it, but a part of me suspects he knows of the underbelly of Langley’s activity.” His fingers tightened on the wheel and she could see the white under his skin.

  “It’s hard to know who to trust.” “Do you think Lindsay still loves Langley.”

  “No, I don’t. I think she’s angry with him because she feels betrayed. He told her at one point he was going to leave ShyAnne to be with her. She said she didn’t want that.”

  “When we were sitting at the table discussing her best interest what I saw in her expression was exactly what I saw in you countless times while we were married. All those times we argued over the same issues, all those little problems that took us farther and deeper away from the true backbone of the conundrum. I always felt like I was betraying you when I left to go overseas.”

  “I’m sorry that you felt that way. It wasn’t fair for you to feel that way when you had to face the turmoil over there.”

  “I can only say I’m sorry so many times for the man I am.” He blew out a long breath and they approached a small town. He flipped on the turn signal and pulled into the cracked asphalt of a gas station. “I’m grabbing a coffee. Can I get you anything?”

  “No, I’m fine.” She watched him enter through the glass doors and she grabbed her purse, shuffling through the contents looking for her lip balm. Instead, she found a folded piece of paper. Holding it up she saw her name was written on the outside. Unfolding it, she saw that it was a letter from Lindsay.

  The driver’s door came open and Egan was back. He slid into the driver’s side, looking at her curiously. “You okay?”

  “Please turn on the interior light.”

  “Sure.”

  Once she could see the words written in neat handwriting, she swallowed at the realization of what she held. “Egan, I found this letter from Lindsay in my purse.”

  “What does it say?”

  “I’ll read it aloud…”

  “Novah,

  By the time you read this letter I should be far enough away. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye after all that you have done for me, but this is for the best. I called Peter and told him I was leaving. I explained to him that he’d never see me or the baby again and all that I ask is that he forgets I existed. If he cared for me at all, he’ll let me go, safely. Please understand why I had to do this. Best wishes,

  Lindsay.”

  “Will he let her go?
” Novah met Egan’s gaze.

  “I don’t know,” he said quietly, started the engine, and pulled out of the lot.

  “Let’s just get to Fin. I feel tired all the way into my bones.”

  ~~~~~

  Peter Langley tugged at his tie, dragging it from his collar as the door to his office opened. He smelled her before he saw her. Breathing in the expensive perfume he bought her, he swiveled and cast his fatigued gaze on his wife. She’d been gone for most of the evening, probably visiting her lover. He wished he didn’t care—wished he could wrap his hand around her throat and choke her to death. He would if that meant he could eradicate her from his brain.

  She eased her way in like a hypnotic snare. Her grey eyes bearing into him with the weight of a wrecking ball.

  “What are you doing home so early? Did your lover toss you out of bed?” he snorted.

  The corners of her plush red lips lifted. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “No, not really.” He thought about pouring himself a scotch but decided against it. He felt sick.

  “I’m surprised you’re not on the hunt for the next flavor of the month. That’s what a man like you is good for.”

  In the last twenty years he’d perfected being a steel wall against her demeaning words. Just to think, when they first started their relationship, she’d been so sweet and kind, like heaven wrapped in a silky shell of big tits, lush hair, and a tight pussy. They would make love three times a day, so much that his dick was so raw he couldn’t walk. Then reality settled in and they became a couple focused on becoming parents. After two years of fertility clinics and scheduled sex she finally became pregnant. Then three months into the pregnancy, she miscarried, followed by a handful of more miscarriages that left a gap between them as a couple.

  They decided to put plans of having a baby aside and concentrate on something else…something bigger. Creating a place for him in politics.

  ShyAnne loved the idea and seemed to fit right in with the other political socialites. Feeling powerful looked good on her, although at times she’d been called a trophy wife in the tabloids because she’d had every beauty treatment possible.

  “Why are you here?” he snarled.

  “I thought we agreed you’d call me if you got word about the little pregnant twit?” She pushed through tight lips.

  Of course she would find out. He rubbed his forehead. “You weren’t here when her call came in.”

  “And you don’t think I’d want to know right away that she called you?”

  “Of course you’d want to know.” He dropped into his chair and unbuttoned his shirt that was suffocating. “Before you start slinging insults, this is all taken care of.”

  Her mouth twisted. “Let me be the judge of that. How?”

  “She’s agreed to leave and keep the baby a secret.”

  “What?” The word felt like a jab to his gut.

  “This is the best we’re going to get. She’s leaving and all our troubles are over.”

  “You stupid man! You can’t trust that slut! The second you get elected she’ll come crawling out of her hole with a brat, ruining everything for us.”

  “I believe her, ShyAnne. She’s not…you.”

  “Of course she’s not me. I wizened up to your tactics long ago,” she seethed.

  “You are a deceitful, bitch.” For the first time in a long time he wouldn’t shrink under his wife’s glare.

  “And you’re a weak coward with a pencil dick.” Her cheeks were red. “Take care of her in a more permanent way or I will.”

  “She’s carrying my child. No harm will come of her, or anyone. Not even Novah. I’m the one who made the mistake and I’m going to rectify things in my own way.”

  He could feel the heat from her glare. “Can you hear yourself? You still love that cunt. You’ve grown a conscious and that means you’re losing your focus.”

  Standing, he rounded his desk and looked at her, really looked at her. It made sense. She had taken the pain from miscarriages and let it fester inside. Something ripped inside of him, unlike anything he’d felt before. This was his last chance to clear the air. “Are you pissed off more because I do love her or that she got pregnant and will have my baby and you couldn’t?”

  In two quick panther-like strides she was upon him, drawing back her claw-like hand and slapping it hard against his cheek. The sting of the impact jarred him, enough that it triggered all the anger he’d locked up. All the insults, the betrayal, and swishing around in her short skirts and massive tits hanging out compiled into a volcano of emotion. He grabbed her tiny wrists in his grip and her eyes widened. She cried out as he jerked her into his chest. At six foot two he towered over her small frame, but she didn’t shy away from him. “You want to see big balls, sweetheart? I’ll show you who has balls.” He reached out and grabbed the neckline of her thin top and dragged it down, baring her breasts that spilled over the red lace.

  “Go to hell!” With her free hand, she lifted it to slap him again, but this time he was quicker and blocked the act. “You prick!”

  He leaned in and covered her mouth with his, swallowing more insults and curses. She bit his lip, and he pulled back, rage developing inside him. “So you want to play that game?” He whipped her around and bent her over the edge of the desk, pressing her upper body over folders and documents that he’d been pouring over earlier.

  “Fuck you!”

  “You always did like to fuck, didn’t you?” He grasped the material of her skirt in his tight fists and dragged it up on her ass—an ass that still enticed him although it wasn’t as firm as it once was. He swatted her behind lightly, leaving red marks across her pale skin. She bucked against him, but he held her steady, bending at his knees and nibbling the silky skin on her bottom, inhaling a strong whiff of sex and spice that made him so hard he could barely breathe. He should be repulsed knowing that another man had been there before him, but tonight he knew what needed done and he wouldn’t back down.

  Tucking his finger under the elastic of the silky thong, he pulled the string aside and dove in to lap up the juices that practically poured off her groomed pussy. She could pretend to fight, but her juicy cunt proved she wanted to be manhandled. He flicked his tongue over the warm folds, as all resistance faded, and she became a writhing needy ball of fire under his mouth. “Tell me what you want?”

  “Fuck me! Give it to me hard!” she cried out, bucking her ass against his nose

  He stood, ripped down the zipper on his slacks, grabbed his hard cock and rammed into her wet body. His own cries echoed off the book-shelved walls. With ShyAnne he never had to worry about being gentle because the harder he gave it to her the more she liked it, unlike Lindsay who had wanted to be made love to. Fisting the strands of his wife’s hair, he held her flat on the desk as he slammed in and out of her, burying himself so deep that he could feel the womb that had failed them both. The papers and folders floated to the floor along with his moral compass. He didn’t give a shit any longer. All he could think was how good she felt…how much he wanted to possess her. Wanted her to remember that he was the boss for as long as she lived.

  “Is that all you got?” A tiny, soft laugh fell off her pouty lips. “I’ve been fucked harder by my dildo.”

  Keeping his hand in her hair, he pulled out and grabbed her arm, lifting her from the desk. He met her gaze for a fleeting second before he pushed her to her knees on the floor in front of his glistening dick. “Put that mouth to good use and suck me dry!”

  With a fiery gaze he thought she might deny him that perky mouth, but instead she bent her head and wrapped her thick, collagen infused lips around his shaft. She was an expert at blowjobs and could suck a blueberry through a straw. She took him in deep, practically swallowing his head, then pulled out, using her teeth to scrape against the tip. Doing this several times, she brought him to a precipice. His balls tightened and he knew he would explode. He wanted more of her pussy, but like a dying man, he couldn’t resist tha
t one last pleasure of squirting into her mouth.

  With a final jerky thrust, he shot his wad deep into her throat.

  Sweaty and satiated, he stared down at her, his breaths coming in harsh pants. A knock came on the door and it took him a good ten seconds before he could respond, “Yes?”

  “Sir?” came Stark’s voice. “People are waiting for you.”

  Reluctantly, and with great pain, he withdrew himself, giving her one last look of pleasure before pushing his flaccid cock inside his slacks and zipping up.

  ShyAnne stood, swiped the remains of his orgasm from her lips and buttoned her stretched blouse. With a stubborn tilt of her chin, she said, “You’ll stay here and I’ll take care of her.”

  “I’m sorry, ShyAnne,” he said calmly and grabbed his jacket and tie from the chair. “You’re not going to do anything outside of following the new rules—my rules.”

  “Where are you going?” she flung at his back.

  “None of your fucking business.”

  “Bastard!” She picked up a book off the desk and flung it at his head. He ducked just in time.

  He laughed and opened the door, closing it behind him.

  The secret paneled door opened and she swung around as Mike Gammon stepped into the office. He looked like he’d suffered an electrical shock.

  “What are you staring at?” she asked as she adjusted her wrinkled skirt down over her hips.

  “You’ve lied to me,” he said quietly.

  Narrowing her gaze, she sniffed arrogantly. “What are you talking about, Mikey? Shouldn’t you be out finding that fucking bitch like I told you to?”

  He closed the door and clicked the lock.

  “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me? Go find the cunt,” she commanded upon deaf ears.

  “Mr. Langley had cameras installed in all the rooms today. He said we needed to vamp up security.” Mike didn’t look like himself. “This room included.”

  “Good for him.” Then it must have struck her what he meant because her mouth opened slightly, but she never did worry about the small stuff. “You watched us fuck, did you? Don’t get your feelings hurt. I fuck a lot of people, including my husband on rare occasion,” she snorted. “When he gets pissed off, he’s a delicious lover.”