Page 83 of Lust & Lies

NOELANI

THE SOUND VIPER MADE was a gasp and choke all at once. She stumbled back, clutching her throat, eyes wide. I didn’t give her time to recover. I closed the space between us, swinging again. But Viper was a skilled fighter.

She didn’t let a little thing like difficulty breathing hold her back. She ducked and drove her elbow toward my ribs. I twisted, caught her arm, and shoved her away. Her back hit the edge of Mr. Park’s desk. I smiled and motioned for her to bring that ass here.

“Get her,” Mr. Park yelled.

Only Viper tried to obey his order. She came at me with a growl. I swung, she ducked. Her uppercut clipped my jaw. My head jerked back, teeth snapping together hard enough to make me taste blood. Shit.

I swung again, punching her in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she sucked in air. Grabbing her by the hair, I drove her face into my knee, feeling her nose crack.

It was the most satisfying sound I’d heard in a while. I shoved her away from me, then lifted my fists, ready for more as Mr. Park yelled for Fuse and Seo-Jin to take me down. Neither male obeyed.

But Viper was determined to take me down. She rushed me again, swinging fast. I blocked her jabs. But I won’t deny that the bitch was strong. And fast. One punch caught my lip. I grabbed her wrist before she could pull back.

I twisted hard, forcing her shoulder down, and drove my knee into her ribs. She grunted but didn’t go down. Her elbow snapped back and cracked against my cheek. Pain burst behind my eyes.

I shoved her off, both of us circling, breathing hard, watching for the next move. While I was toying with her, she, on the other hand, was impatient for this ass whipping. She charged, trying to tackle me.

Dropping low, I rammed my shoulder into her stomach, then slipped on the damn rug in front of Mr. Park’s desk. We hit the floor together, with her landing on top of me, putting me at a disadvantage.

She swung. I turned my face to the side to avoid the full force of the blow. Her fist slammed into the side of my head, striking near the spot I’d hurt two weeks ago. Damn it. No more playing around. I had to get this bitch off me.

I headbutted her, ignoring the pain that sliced through my skull. While she was dazed, I punched her in the face, once, twice, until finally she rolled over to get off me. I followed, refusing to let her get up.

I gripped her throat, choking her. Her nails clawed at my arm. I caught her wrist again, pinned it to the floor, and slapped her across the face. Her head snapped to the side. I hit her again.

She spat blood, snarled, and shoved her knee between us, driving it up hard. Whoever said women getting kneed in their twat didn’t hurt as badly as men getting hit in the junk had lied. It hurt like hell. My poor clit.

Air rushed out of my lungs, but I didn’t let go, and I didn’t get off her. I yanked her by the hair and smashed her head into the floor twice. She stopped moving for half a second, long enough for me to stand and stomp her bitch ass in the ribs.

She tried to roll away from me, but I was already dragging her up by her shirt. I shoved her against the wall. Her head hit it with a sickening thud. I stepped back, chest rising and falling rapidly.

Viper slid down the wall, dazed but still breathing. For a moment, the only sound was both of us breathing hard.

Then she smiled, revealing the blood on her teeth. “That's all you got?”

I raised my fists again. “Not even close.”

I slammed my fist into her face, my knuckles sliding across the blood trickling from her nose. But that didn’t stop me from sending jab after jab into her face, my words accompanying each punch.

“This is for betraying one of your own,” I yelled, slamming my fist into her face.

“This is for trying to use Seo-Jin as a pawn that you could control,” I snapped, punching her again.

“And this is for yelling at Fuse. Comrades never mistreat each other. They never betray each other. But you’re no comrade. You’re a rogue. And rogues deserve death,” I yelled, punching her again.

She was no longer moving now, no longer fighting back, so this was no longer fun. I pushed away from her. My gaze shifted to Mr. Park, who was still seated at his desk, gripping his cane tightly as he watched me.

There was a look of sheer terror on his face that I’d never seen before. I reveled in that look. But I wanted him so scared that he pissed his pants. His weak ass had always sat behind this desk, issuing orders.

Not once had he had to fight for his life like we had. Not once had he been this up close and personal with a battle. I wanted to bring it closer to him. I wanted him to watch the life drain out of Viper’s eyes.

I wanted him to watch me kill the person he’d sent after me. With blood dripping from her nose, Viper stared up at me. Her swollen lips moved, but only a rasp that I couldn’t understand emerged.

The dead didn’t need to talk anyway. And soon, she’d be among the deceased. I gripped the front of her shirt and pulled her to her feet. She weakly attempted to push me away. I shoved her over to Mr. Park’s desk.

He jumped back in his seat, eyes wide as he stared from her to me. I saw the fear in his dark gaze, in the way his hand trembled. I winked at him before returning my attention to Viper. Her hands clawed at the surface of the desk as she tried to push up.

I didn’t let her. I shoved her head down, then turned her face toward Mr. Park. Gripping her hair tightly, I slammed her face against the desk again. Mr. Park sputtered as he stared down at her.

“Knife,” I called out.

Without hesitation, Seo-Jin pulled a blade from his jacket and tossed it to me.

I caught the handle mid-air, flipped it, and turned it on Viper, letting her see Seo-Jin’s dagger, wanting her to know it was his knife that would end her.

This was such poetic justice. Her eyes widened. She knew what was coming.

“The Watchdog code states that a swift death will come to all who betray one of their own,” I told her. “I have witnesses present to prove that my actions are justified. Leader, Fuse, does Viper deserve death?”

“Yes,” both men said in unison.

Mr. Park’s gaze moved between the two men. “T-this is rogue behavior,” he sputtered. “Guards,” he called out. “Guards!”

“Mr. Park,” Seo-Jin started. “You’re the biggest rogue in the Watchdogs.”

“Listen here...” Mr. Park snapped.

“Shut the fuck up while Mist punishes the rogue you tried to use against us,” Seo-Jin ordered with such authority that all Mr. Park could do was close his mouth.

“Please... Seo-Jin,” Viper pleaded. “I’ve always... liked you.”

“But I despise you,” he told her. “I could never like a woman as evil and disloyal as you. You’re exactly what’s wrong with this organization.

But that’s about to change. We’re going to clean up the ranks, starting with you.

Viper, you betrayed your own and went against the values we stand for as Watchdogs.

Today, your superior, Mist, will handle your punishment.

Rest in hell, with the rogues who’ve been sent there before you. ”

Seo-Jin nodded at me just as Viper cried out, begging for her life. I moved fast, slashing the blade across her throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across Mr. Park’s desk, his chest, and the papers in front of him.

Viper’s body jerked, blood pooling beneath her as she gurgled, choking on her own blood. I held her down as she bled out.

Mr. Park shot to his feet. “You...”

Seo-Jin moved just as fast, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and shoving him back into his seat.

“Sit down and watch,” Seo-Jin ordered coldly.

Still holding Viper down, I glanced over my shoulder when I heard movement. Behind me, Fuse had stepped aside to let the others in. Aiden entered first, followed by Tristan, Ethan, Sam, and Gertrude. The gang was all here. They fanned out, surrounding Mr. Park’s desk.

“Grandsons! Help me! Noe has gone crazy. She’s turned on us.”

Aiden’s eyes widened as he rushed to my side, taking in my appearance.

“Are you okay?” he asked, gripping my arms. “Where are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, love. Most of it is her blood,” I nodded to Viper, who had already stopped moving.

Aiden shoved her body aside, causing her to fall right in Mr. Park’s lap. With a scream, the old man shoved her dead body off him. She fell to the floor at his feet.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Aiden asked.

I nodded, smiling up at him, knowing I had to look like a psychopath with blood splattered over my face.

“I’m fine,” I told him, wiping my bloody hands on my pants.

“Let me get you a wipe,” Aiden offered, rushing around Mr. Park’s desk to open the drawer.

“I’m the one you should be worried about,” Mr. Park yelled.

Not paying him any attention, Aiden returned to my side. He placed Seo-Jin’s dagger on Mr. Park’s desk, then began cleaning my face and hands. My heart melted for this man all over again as he took care of me.

“I look a mess, don’t I?” I asked as he cleaned my enemy's blood off me.

“You look beautiful,” he told me. “My violent little butterfly.”

“Awww, Aiden,” I cooed.

“What the hell is wrong with you all?” Mr. Park yelled. “Noa has gone rogue, so have her team members. Call the guards in. Now!”

Tristan stepped forward, holding a brown envelope.

“Her name isn’t Noa,” Tristan told him. “It’s Noelani Cartwright. Daughter of Elani and Noel Cartwright.”

“You know that name has been dead and buried,” his grandfather told him.

Tristan nodded to the envelope. Mr. Park reached for it and ripped it open. He read the contents, eyes widening.

“What have you done?” he rasped.

“I’ve given Noe back something she lost because of you. I’m giving her back the name her mother and father gave her.”

Tristan snatched the papers from his grandfather and turned to me. He smiled. I couldn’t help but smile back.