Air of Seduction (Elemental Enforcers #3)

Chapter 14

Ronan

Finally. Our odds at finding Olivia just increased exponentially, provided they haven’t left the phone behind. But I’m going with the assumption that they’re still in the house.

“We’ll approach from the south. I’ll get someone else to move in from the north and from the back of the house. And someone should stay outside to keep an eye on the nearby houses just in case.” Erica clearly likes the coordinating role, and she’s good at it too.

“Sounds good.” I glance at Payton, who has her gaze fixed straight ahead. “Not long now. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

She opens her mouth, like she’s going to say something, but then she closes it and nods. Her fingers are digging into her thighs, and I just know her heart is racing, and she’s silently praying for Olivia to still be there.

Reaching out, I put my hand on top of hers. I wish I could reduce her anxiety, but I don’t believe there’s anything I can say or do at this moment to calm her. What I can do, though, is to make sure we save Olivia.

We pull into Navarino Road, and Lucas parks by the curb. The sun has gone down, but it isn’t fully dark yet.

After we exit the vehicle, we follow the sidewalk on the right side of the road until we reach the house we want. I can see Aidan, Ingrid, and Noah approaching from the north, which probably means Markus and Lyn are covering the back of the property.

I take Payton’s hand in mine when we turn into the small front yard and move toward the main entrance. Lucas and Erica are in front of us like last time, to give Lucas the opportunity to melt the metal lock and open the door for us.

There’s a basement entrance as well, and Aidan, Ingrid, and Noah will stay on the sidewalk to keep an eye on it as well as the windows. If anyone tries to leave, they will be caught.

When the main door swings open, we move silently into the hallway.

Much like we did last time, we work our way systematically through the first floor, room by room. The house was recently refurbished, and it’s evident that someone with money is living here. From what we know about him, that’s not Barry.

I hate to think what’s happened to the owners, or if they’re just out of town at the moment and don’t know that someone has spent the day at their house. There’s always the possibility the owners are vampires, but I doubt it since none of the downstairs windows have blinds to keep the sun out.

When we’re done with the first floor, I open the door to the basement. I’m well aware it’s the most likely place for a vampire to spend the day, but as was proven earlier today, there are no guarantees.

I turn on the light at the top of the stairs before moving down with measured steps. If Barry is still here, there’s no way he hasn’t heard us already. Houses creak no matter how careful you are, and a vampire’s hearing is sharper than a human’s.

The room we arrive in is empty, but there are three doors leading off it.

I’ve just opened the first door about an inch when there’s a crash from inside, and I immediately swing it open. A chair flies at my head, but I raise my arm fast enough to deflect it.

The high window to the front yard explodes in a rain of glass, and Noah rolls once on the floor before jumping to his feet.

Barry’s gaze darts between me and Noah, before he throws himself directly at my fellow enforcer, probably hoping to take him off guard.

The stupid fuck obviously doesn’t know who we are, and I don’t think he realizes the mistake he’s made before he’s crumpling to ash on the floor.

I quickly scan the room, and that’s when I see Olivia. She’s curled into a ball in the corner, on top of the remains of what I think used to be a small table. Her arms are covering her head, but I can see enough of her profile to recognize her from her picture.

I take a step in her direction, but Noah is already there with her, gathering her into his arms.

Her eyes go wide, and she lets out a startled scream as she tries to push out of his arms, but he tightens his grip on her, keeping her locked against his body.

“I’ve got you, my little water nymph. I’ve got you.” His voice is soft and soothing, so unlike him that all I can do is stare.

“Olivia.” Payton pushes me out of the way in her haste to get to her friend. “Let go of her, you asshole!”

Her command hits me like a potent drug, making me shudder with sudden desire.

Olivia lets out another scream, and Payton kicks Noah’s shin.

I snap back into action, and race forward to grab Payton. “He’s not going to hurt her. He’s with us.”

I take in the way Olivia is still fighting to get out of Noah’s arms. “Olivia, calm down. We’re here to rescue you.”

But I soon realize it was a mistake to move my attention away from Payton. She twists in my arms, and her knee connects with my balls with destructive precision.

All the air leaves my lungs on a groan as pain explodes in my groin. Sinking to my knees, I cup my bruised testicles. I know I’ll be fine in a minute or two, but right now all I know is agony.

***

Payton

Regret shoots through me as soon as I hear Ronan’s groan, and realize what I’ve done. It wasn’t my intention to hurt him. I reach out to touch him and tell him I’m sorry, but then Olivia screams behind me, and I’m reminded why I needed to get out of Ronan’s hold on me.

“Calm yourself, little nymph, or you’ll hurt yourself.”

I spin toward Noah. He’s still got Olivia locked hard against his body, the brutality of it so contradictory to his sweet voice. He’s the one I should have kneed in the groin, not Ronan. Why is he doing this to my best friend? I don’t care what Ronan said, Noah is an asshole who needs to be taken down.

My eyes narrow to slits as I close the distance to him. “Let her go, or I swear to God—”

“Put her down, Noah.” Lucas’s powerful voice comes from behind me. “Can’t you see you’re terrifying her? What’s wrong with you?”

The man in front of me frowns and seems to come to his senses. He releases his grip on my friend, and she immediately pushes away from him and falls to the floor.

Olivia’s eyes are wild with fear, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, while she crawls backward away from Noah. My friend is usually a calm and levelheaded person, but this last week has clearly left her terrified. And Noah and his strange possessive behavior might have made it worse.

I rush to Olivia and sink down next to her, gripping her upper arms. “Olivia. It’s me, Payton. You’re safe. These people are with me.”

She blinks at me, her eyes huge and uncomprehending, like she doesn’t recognize me, but she stops moving away.

“You’re safe, Olivia.” My throat clogs, and tears fill my eyes. She is safe, but will she be all right after what she’s been through?

“Payton.” My name is hardly more than a breath. Then she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around me so tightly I can hardly breathe.

Her breathing is fast and trembling, but there’s not a single sob, and when she finally lets me go, her eyes are still dry.

I don’t know what scares me the most, the fact that she doesn’t cry or the blank stare she gives me.

“I want to leave.” It comes out like a neutral statement, completely without inflection.

“Of course.” I swallow hard and force a smile. “We can leave right now.”

I help her up, but when I take a step toward the door, Olivia grabs hold of my arm and stops me. Her teeth are clenched, and she’s staring straight ahead at Noah, who’s now standing between us and the door.

“Move.” I narrow my eyes at him.

He’s not the only one in the room with us, though. It’s actually crowded. Lucas and Erica are here, as well as Aidan and Ingrid, who must have entered when they realized Barry was no longer a threat.

And then there’s Ronan, standing a little to the side with his hand strategically placed in front of his groin. His expression is unreadable, but at least he doesn’t look angry.

I give him an apologetic look, before I swing my gaze back to Noah. He hasn’t moved.

“Noah, let the woman pass.” Ronan walks over and grips the man’s arm. “Please, don’t make this worse for her.”

“But I…” Something like pain flits across Noah’s face while he keeps staring at Olivia like she’s the only thing he can see. But then he lets out a groan and follows Ronan to one side of the room.

Everyone else steps to the side, as well, and Olivia allows me to lead her out of the room and up the stairs.

She lets out a deep sigh when we walk out of the house into the night. “Thank you,” she whispers. “I just want to go home.”