Orion starts stripping the bed, and I am forced to move. Getting up, I flick to the contacts and see all their numbers, and Lana’s has already been put in it along with Amara’s and Thaddeus’ parents and Lisa’s. “How did you get Lisa’s number?”
“She gave it to me,” Orion smirks. I shake my head; of course, she did.
I send her a text to let her know it is from me. I don’t know if she will reply after what happened, but I will wait and see. I also send one to Lana, letting her know I have a phone now and she can call me.
“Can I ask you a question?” says Thaddeus, making me look up at him. Orion has placed fresh sheets on the bed and picked up Amara’s room, which I am sure is most of her normal mess. “What did April say to you yesterday? Ryland and Orion said she said something that upset you.”
“It was nothing,” I tell him. My heart rate spikes up as I remember what she said.
“By your reaction, it was something,” Thaddeus says, walking over and gripping my chin, making me look up at him.
“It doesn’t matter, Thaddeus. I am fine,” I tell him, and he examines me carefully.
“Then you won’t mind telling me then,” he states, and I shake my head.
“Evelyn,” Ryland warns, making my eyes snap to his, and I roll my eyes at his tone.
“It’s fine, and I don’t want you stopping me from seeing Lana because of something she said,” I tell him, getting up, but Thaddeus grips my arms, and I feel fog wash over me.
“What did April say to you?” Thaddeus asks again, his eyes sparkling brightly, and I can’t help but answer from his mind control.
“I know what you did whore; and you will pay for what you did to my husband,” I find myself saying.
Thaddeus growls loudly, letting me go, and his eyes go pitch black, the fog lifts off me, and I gasp at what he just forced me to do.
“You said you wouldn’t use that on me,” I tell him.
“I had no choice; you wouldn’t tell us. And you’re right; you won’t be going near her again,” Thaddeus growls, his hands clenched into fists by his side.
“You can’t do that! You can’t keep me away from Lana, Thaddeus!”
The ground shakes violently, and the air becomes electrified as Thaddeus’ anger increases. Ryland tugs me away from him. The movement doesn’t go unnoticed by Thaddeus as his eyes snap to him, and Thaddeus snatches me back off him. Orion and Ryland are moving simultaneously, and I can sense their fear of him in this state, especially with me so close to him.
Thaddeus growls and dips his face into my neck. The floor stops shaking; his anger fades as he inhales my scent. I wrap my arms around his waist, and he calms down just as Imogen and Theo burst through the door.
Thaddeus calms down completely, hugging me back. He then kisses the top of my head, and Ryland and Orion relax, stepping away. Imogen lets out a breath seeing him calm.
“I’m fine, mom,” Thaddeus says, cupping my face with his hand.
Imogen nods and her eyes dart to me, “You’re okay, Evelyn?”
“I’m fine; he just got upset at something I said,” I tell her.
My hand moves to Thaddeus’ face; he leans into it, relaxing more, and I can feel Imogen and Theo’s eyes watching us, watching their son’s reaction to me. Theo smiles softly when Thaddeus kisses my palm. Orion and Ryland both step away from me and go back to cleaning the room.
“Orion, you don’t need to clean her room; Amara can do it herself,” Theo tells him, but Orion just shrugs, picking up some dirty laundry and throwing it in the basket.
“Come inside; your father has made breakfast. Amara said you are leaving already,” Thaddeus nods.
“Yes, mom, but you can visit,” Thaddeus tells her, and her eyes light up.
“Meet us inside,” Theo tells us, and we agree as they walk back to the main house.
“Come on, we should head inside,” Thaddeus says, grabbing my hand. Ryland and Orion follow us.
Evelyn
We have breakfast before Thaddeus rushes our goodbyes, wanting to head home as quickly as possible. Orion is driving, and Thaddeus is in the back with Ryland, who is asleep. Thaddeus is staring blankly ahead. My phone rings so loudly it makes me jump, as I retrieve it from the center console. Turning the screen on, I see Lana has sent a message asking if I can meet her.
“Who is it?” Thaddeus asks, leaning forward and peering over my shoulder.
He growls softly when he sees her name pop up. “You aren’t going anywhere without us, Evelyn. Tell her no.”
“You can’t blame her for something April said,” I tell him, but he leans forward and steals my phone, which he puts in his pocket.
I cross my arms across my chest and lean against the window, annoyed. Orion places his hand on my thigh, but I ignore his attempt to comfort me. The drive feels like it is dragging on, and the silence is becoming deafening as everyone is either asleep or off in their little world inside their heads.
Orion pulls down a hidden driveway amongst the trees. The trees create a canopy above it as he continues to drive for another half an hour until he finally pulls up at the front of the house.
As I get out of the car and close the door, Thaddeus wraps his arm around my waist, lifting me off the ground and crushing me against his chest. “I’m not blaming her, love. I just don’t want you to get hurt,” he says as he maneuvers me and carries me bridal style into the house.
Stepping over the threshold, he places me on my feet, and I run upstairs and flop on their bed. Their bed is huge and so comfy. Orion walks in, lying next to me, looking at the ceiling. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out my phone. I glance at him right as he puts a finger to his lips and gives me a wink. He hands it to me, and I put it on silent, placing it in Orion’s sock drawer beside the bed.
“He will notice, though,” I tell him, and Orion shrugs, pulling me on his chest.
“Got to find it first,” he whispers, sitting up with me on his lap so I am straddling him.