“Slander.”
“Payton, they report the news.”
“It’s not real,” she shouted. A knife twisted in her gut. “What, you believe them?” She felt completely and utterly betrayed. After all her father had done for Alex, he could believe that?
“No, I don’t.” He spoke calmly to her. She noted he was rubbing her arms up and down in a soothing gesture. If she wasn’t feeling in such a hostile mood, she’d laugh at the irony that she’d comforted him similarly only a few minutes ago.
But she wouldn’t be placated. She was too irate. These people had to know they were spreading lies about her dad. He was a good man who’d served his country faithfully and with honor all these years.
“Payton, people like a good story. Real or not.”
“A kidnapping wasn’t good enough?”
“Not if they can make it even better by flipping it to him being the bad guy. I’m not saying it’s right.” He rushed on when she opened her mouth. “That’s just how the news works sometimes. Maybe Jonas and Wallace gave them the information to flush you out. Make you come back to town.”
It was plausible, but she didn’t care.
“Then I’m calling them. They need to be told the truth and remove the slander they are spreading.”
She reached for her phone, but Alex batted it away, knocking it on the floor.
“What the hell?”
“You need to think calmly and rationally. Calling the new station isn’t going to change anything.”
She reached for her phone, but Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Seriously, did the guy have a death wish? “Stay out of my way.” She pushed at his chest, but it was like hitting a concrete wall. Alex sure did eat his Wheaties in the morning.
“No, you’re not thinking clearly.” He didn’t even blink at her attack. It was like attacking a mountain lion with a cotton ball. Useless.
“Let. Me. Go.” It was his final warning.
“No.” His hands wrapped around her biceps like steel bands.
Fine, if he wanted a fight, she would give him one. And she wasn’t going to play nice.
Payton brought up her knee for his groin. Alex anticipated the move and arched away before she could make contact. Guess that was a typical first move to use on a guy. Time to up her game.
She spun low out of his grip. He released her, not wanting to hurt her. That was going to be his downfall. In mid-spin, she mule kicked back at him. Solid hit. Alex grunted, but he remained standing where he was. Damn, the man really was made of steel.
She swung a fist, aimed for his carotid artery, but he batted her hand away as if she were no more than a pesky fly.
Payton knew she was taking on an impossible task. Taking a Delta Force operative on face to face. It might even be considered suicidal, but she wanted justice for her dad, and he was keeping her from it.
She wasn’t willing to give up though. Faking going to the right, she spun kicked from the left.
Alex caught her leg and hooked her other leg with his foot and pulled. Her knee buckled, and she dropped; Alex followed her to the ground. He twisted them at the last second so he took the brunt of the impact on the hardwood floor. Once on the ground, he flipped them over so he was on top. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered in her ear.
“Good, then just let me get to my phone and we’ll be good.” Payton thrust her hips up as she hooked one his legs with hers and flipped them so she was on top. She almost immediately regretted the decision when her legs splayed open and she felt a bulge under her.
Don’t focus on the fact Alex Grant is under you. Get to your phone.
Payton scrambled up his chest to reach for her phone. She misjudged the distance and was smashing her chest in his face to reach for it.
Alex’s hands turned to claws, gripping her hips. That would probably leave a bruise later, but she didn’t care. She bit her lip to hold back the groan.
Alex pulled her down his body so she wasn’t suffocating him with her boobs anymore and flipped them back over so he was on top. Most of his weight was on his hands while he dropped his lower body weight to her, effectively pinning her. “I can’t. Even your dad would agree. Think about the bigger picture. Finding your dad. That should be your focus, not them.” He tilted his head toward the television.
She hated admitting it, but Alex was right. Whatever the news said shouldn’t affect her finding her dad. She’d just been so blinded by her anger that anyone could say a bad thing about him.