Tangled In Lies (Tangled & Torn #1)

10. Phoenix

Chapter 10

Phoenix

I stare at Evangeline, and then I laugh.

And then I laugh some more.

It’s way louder and longer than would be considered socially acceptable.

This woman.

This damn woman.

What the fuck is wrong with her?

Once I’m calm enough to continue this ridiculous conversation, I lower myself back in my office chair, the leather squeaking when I put my whole weight into it.

Are you just going to let her get away without getting any more information?

She’s playing you for a fool.

Don’t be weak, Son.

I inhale deeply and push the suffocating thoughts aside, especially when they come in the form of my dad’s voice.

Sure, I could use my dad’s techniques and torture the answers out of her. Eventually, she would give them to me because everyone has a breaking point. Even my fallen angel does. But to what avail? That she’d be broken and bloodied and never able to act the part I need her to play?

Not worth it.

I want answers, yes. But I also want to get my new business endeavor off the ground, and I need her for that. In one piece.

So, I nod and say, “Yes, there are rules, and I expect you to follow them.”

She stares at me, clearly waiting for me to lay them out so she can leave. To get away from me as fast as possible, just like she continues to do.

“When we’re both home, I expect you to eat with me in the dining room. For all intents and purposes, we will present this as a real marriage, and I will not tolerate anyone questioning the integrity of it, inside my home or otherwise.”

“Just remember, I told you I won’t sleep with you.”

Her voice is almost friendly, and I’m taken aback by it. What game is she playing now?

I focus back on the conversation and her ludicrous sex statement. “Yes, you’re unwilling to have sex with me. Got that loud and clear. I also remember telling you I don’t take women without their consent. It’s truly not my thing.”

“No sharing a bedroom either.”

I thought about that one for a long time. I know it would drive her crazy if I made her share a bed with me, but then I came to one conclusion: I don’t think I could handle it either. I’d probably end up killing her in my sleep one night, which would be incredibly inconvenient.

I nod but stay quiet as she continues.

“I’d also appreciate it if you could keep your affairs low-key and out of the press. ”

So matter of fact, as if we’re discussing the weather.

I know some of this is how we grew up and how particular manners and expectations were drilled into us. It’s like this neutral to slightly friendly state is her norm, and real emotions are slipups, like when she was lost to something in her mind earlier.

The more time I spend with her, the less anything about her or what happened makes sense.

It’s also crystal clear she’s not the same girl I used to know.

If I didn’t see her sitting in front of me with my own two eyes, I’d swear she’s an imposter.

I got a few real glimpses of her old self in the past few days when that fire I was so used to sparked in her eyes. That version seems years away from who’s sitting in front of me now. This person is a cheap copy of her. A robot. The urge to ask her, “Who are you?” is strong, but what’s the point?

I clear my throat. “We will start attending events together this weekend, and I expect you to act appropriately. Pretending is your specialty, so you shouldn’t have any problem with that.”

“I need to know what events and when they occur to prepare accordingly and see if it works for me.”

Leaning back, I steeple my fingers in front of me. “Evangeline, let me make one thing very clear. I don’t give a fuck about your social calendar. You’re mine now, and you will do as I say. If I tell you to be somewhere, you better be there.”

Her jaw flexing is the only outward sign she isn’t happy about this. “I’m going to marry you because I have to, but I’m not your property. I have my own life and engagements I will continue. ”

The control she has over most of her emotions is strangely fascinating. If I had to guess, she’s ready to scratch out my eyes with her fingernails. She must be.

She shifts in her seat, uncrossing and crossing her legs. “I also need keys and access codes to the house.”

I smile at her. “You don’t need them. Someone will drive you and be with you at all times.”

This time, her eyes flash. “That’s ridiculous. I’m a big girl, and I can drive myself.”

I shrug. “You’re my responsibility now, and I’ll provide you with everything you need, but my rules are nonnegotiable.”

She throws her arms in the air. “Fine, if you want to punish me, I’ll let someone chauffeur me around.”

Punish her?

Punish her?

Punish. Her.

Images of me balls-deep inside her and spanking her pink pussy while she moans my name race through my mind.

Fuck.

No.

Where did that come from?

I barely manage to refrain from adjusting my already hard cock.

I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t do non-consent, and I won’t break my rules, especially for her.

Her glare pulls me out of my head, and I want to wrap my hand around her neck once more and squeeze.

Watch that fear slither into her irises and darken them .

She deserves everything coming her way, and she’ll take it, no matter what.

She’ll take everything I will give her and say thank you.

The chair scrapes across the floor as she abruptly stands and walks toward the door.

Jumping out of my chair, I shove my hands into my shorts and ball them into fists. “Don’t test me, Evangeline. You might be used to wrapping everyone around your little finger and getting whatever you want, but I advise you not to try the same with me. It won’t end well.”

At that, she stops. She still doesn’t face me, and I watch every single one of her movements to see what she’ll do next. I thought she’d be easy to bend to my will, easy to break. Instead, she’s a total loose cannon. Utterly unpredictable, and if I’m not mistaken, also slightly broken.

I guess that will make her utter destruction that much sweeter.

Her head is tilted toward the floor, her shoulders shaking.

She’s crying.

There, finally, a more fitting response.

A sound escapes her, and I freeze.

No.

Is she fucking laughing?

My feet advance before I make the conscious decision. I stop in front of her, grab her chin between my fingers, and press her against the wall.

She gasps at the contact and blinks, a few more silent tears running down her face.

“Why are you laughing?” The words come out in a low, threatening tone .

I have no control around this woman. She pushes my buttons without even trying, and I hate it.

I hate it.

I hate her .

And I hate that this stupid act of craziness mixed with all her defiance has my cock harder than it’s been in years.

She ignores the firm grip I have on her and wrinkles her nose to sniffle.

After a deep inhale, she fixes her tear-streaked gaze on mine. “You just said something funny, that’s all.”

Her cheeks are lined with dark mascara, and I can only stare at her.

One corner of her mouth twitches, and she directs her gaze downward. “You might want to take care of that, it feels painful.”

She’d be a vision on her knees choking on my dick.

I let go of her as if she burned me and stalk over to the window, giving her my back.

Her reflection in the glass is almost as clear as looking in a mirror. She takes my reaction for what it is and leaves, light filtering in from the bright hallway.

Closing my eyes, I get myself under control until heavy footsteps enter and the door clicks shut.

Holden snorts. “You made the princess cry again, huh?”

I continue to stare outside at the darkening sky.

The gray clouds are almost black now, slowly gearing up for the rain promised in the next few days.

How fitting.

Holden comes up next to me, and I face him.

He hisses. “That bad, huh?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “You have no idea. ”

Going back to the desk, I plop into my chair while he takes the one Evangeline just vacated.

My fiancée.

My soon-to-be wife.

Fuck.

I thought this was going to be an easy transition.

I expected her to balk at marrying me, and to try and convince her father that merging families with an ex-convict was a terrible idea.

I even wondered if she’d run away.

What I didn’t expect was for her to accept this. I know she’s not happy about it, but part of the time, she doesn’t act like it’s the life-destroying event I wanted it to be for her either.

Holden gets something black out of his pocket and extends it my way. “Conveniently, she forgot her phone today, and I took advantage of that while you guys were having your little tête-à-tête.”

I grab the sleek phone from him and unlock the screen, staring at a picture of Evangeline with her friends Ruby and Mason. The three of them all smile at the camera.

A genuine smile that’s reflected in Evangeline’s eyes.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen one of those on her face. Not in a long time.

“Phoenix, could you hand me some water, please?”

I glance up from the outdoor fridge to stare at a smiling Evangeline in the pool and nod.

She’s turning sixteen in a week, and her parents left Alex in charge of watching his sister. Alongside the staff, of course. To Alex, that means cockblocking since he has extreme feelings about either of his sisters becoming teen moms. That would be an utter disgrace to the family. Any scandal would be. Alex has done the same with Constance for years, and since she’s starting her first year of college with us in a few weeks, I guess he has been successful with her so far. And there is no doubt the guys in Evangeline’s friend group want to fuck her. But none of them are good enough for her.

“. . . you wanted.”

I blink at Holden, who tilts his head to the side to study me.

Clearing my throat, I focus back on him. “Sorry, what?”

He stays silent for another beat before answering. “I said everything is done the way you wanted.”

“Good, thank you.”

“I added the camera feed from her room to the others so you can access it from your phone and computer.”

Turning toward my computer, I log in and pull up the security cameras. Holden stands beside me to point out the added screen in the large quadrant of video feeds.

Evangeline is lying on her bed, phone in her hand.

And just like magic, the phone in my hand vibrates, mirroring what she’s doing on hers.

Tyler

You didn’t stop by this morning. Everything okay?

Evie

Yeah, all good. I thought it might be better to avoid coffee with my upset stomach, you know? But I’ll pop in tomorrow.

A grunt erupts from my throat just as another message pops up.

Tyler

Deal :)

She exits the conversation and opens the group chat with Ruby and Mason. Several dots in different colors dance across the bottom of the screen.

Ruby

Evangeline Caldwell. You’re in so much trouble ghosting us all day. How dare you? Next time, at least let us know you’re not lying in a ditch somewhere.

Evie

Sorry, I got sick last night and passed out. And then I forgot my phone today and just got back.

Mason

Are you okay?

Evie

Yeah, I’m good.

Ruby

I swear to you, if Phoenix or The Thing lays a hand on you, I’ll murder them. I know people who can make bodies disappear.

Holden snorts behind me, reading over my shoulder. “The Thing? I like it.”

Mason

I’ll help.

Evie

No, everything’s fine, guys.

Ruby

I don’t care if Phoenix looks like a Greek god with tattoos, or if he has this whole bad-boy vibe down to a T, he will not get to keep you there against your will and force you to throw away your future to marry him.

Evie

He’s not that bad, I promise. This is new, so it’ll take some getting used to, but I’m sure it’ll all turn out okay.

“What the fuck?” Holden says.

My sentiment exactly.

I read Evangeline’s message repeatedly until my stomach churns, then stare over my shoulder at Holden. “They don’t know what she did.”

He scrubs a hand over his face and blows out a breath. “You think she didn’t tell them?”

Another message pops up.

Mason

Ruby, weren’t you the one who tried to get Evie to make a move on Phoenix when we were younger?

Ruby

Well, yeah. And I still stand by the fact they’d make the prettiest babies, but a lot of shit happened. We liked him back then, and now we don’t. Right?

When Evangeline doesn’t answer right away, I check the computer. She’s still lying on her bed, but now she’s pressing her face into the pillow. After a few seconds, she picks up her phone again.

Evie

Maybe he’s not the bad guy after all, so let’s give him a chance. And please, guys, let’s keep everything that’s going on between Phoenix and me between the three of us. No one else.

Mason

Fine.

Ruby

You got it.

Evie

Thank you! Okay, guys, I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m exhausted and off to bed now. Love you.

Holden huffs. “Fuck. That was a plot twist I didn’t see coming. If she didn’t even tell her best friends, does that mean she kept this a secret from everyone?”

I stare at the computer monitor and follow Evangeline’s every move as she puts her phone away and gets off the bed to walk to the bathroom.

What other secrets are you keeping, my fallen angel?