Tangled In Lies (Tangled & Torn #1)

15. Phoenix

Chapter 15

Phoenix

E vangeline rests her head on my chest and stays quiet.

I take in the room, careful to avoid the broken glass on the floor on my way to the door.

Fuck.

I’ve never seen her like this before.

I adjust my grip, and she winces.

“Are you hurt?” I peer down at her, noticing for the first time that she’s cradling her hand to her chest.

She opens it, and I stare at her red palm that’s dripping blood.

“I think I cut my hand.” The words are barely a whisper, her voice devoid of emotion.

Holden sprints up the stairs when I step into the hallway. “Is she okay?”

Although I know what he’s asking, I want to snort at how complex of a question those three words are at this point.

“She cut her hand.” My mouth is dry, and the pitch of my voice is all wrong.

“I was worried she got hurt.” His gaze goes back and forth between Evangeline’s slouched form in my arms and my face. “I already called the doc.”

“Thanks.”

He dips his head. “You bet. Anything else?”

I’m back to walking, and he falls in step beside me. “My door, please. And could you get a washcloth or towel from the bathroom for her hand?”

“Of course.” He swings the door open and steps aside so I can walk in sideways, careful not to bang Evangeline against the doorframe. He mumbles, “Be right back,” before he runs off and meets me at the bed with a washcloth.

He puts it on the nightstand and says, “I’ll wait outside.”

“Thank you.”

The door shuts with a quiet click, and I place Evangeline on my bed as gently as I can while she stares at me through half-lidded eyes.

Her hair has fallen into her face, and I brush the strands off her forehead. She doesn’t say a word the entire time, just silently tracks my movements.

She shivers, and I realize her dress is pooling around her hips, exposing her nude underwear. It must have slipped up while I was carrying her.

My cock twitches.

What’s wrong with you? This is not the right time to think about her pussy.

I clench my hands into fists and take a step back.

It’s never the right time because I’m not interested in her pussy.

Sure, keep telling yourself that, man. You wanted it back then, and you still want it now despite what happened.

Shit .

I can’t deal with this right now.

After a few tugs and pulls, I free the blanket from under her body and drape it over her legs. With her underwear successfully hidden, I take a step toward the head of the bed and carefully take her hand to examine her palm. The bleeding seems to have slowed down already, and since I can’t see any glass shards in the wound, I gently wrap the washcloth around it.

She smacks her lips. The motion is slow, like the movement takes up all the energy in her body.

“Do you want something to drink?”

She gives me a little nod. “Please.”

“One sec.” I walk to the fridge I keep in the corner to grab a bottle of water.

Back by her side, I unscrew it and place a hand by her nape to help her up enough to drink.

“Small sips.” I watch her like a hawk, satisfied she listens. “Good girl.”

At the words, her eyes flicker to mine lazily before dropping to the bed.

She makes a humming sound to indicate she’s done, and I put the bottle on the bedside table. She looks exhausted, like whatever just happened in the music room zapped all the energy right out of her. “Rest. The doctor will be here soon.”

To my surprise, she listens again and closes her eyes. Her breaths even out, nothing like the erratic breaths when I first found her.

I don’t know how long I just stand here, staring at this woman in my bed, who is as much of a stranger as she’s familiar. However, I can’t shake the feeling the needle has unwittingly swung to familiarity after tonight. Our lives are so tangled, I was conceited to think I could bind her to me without our past interfering.

In this relaxed state, she seems so much like her younger self.

What a fool I am, indeed.

After a while, a knock sounds on the door, and I quickly cross the room, slipping outside quietly to not disturb Evangeline.

My best friend peeks past me through the gap in the doorway I left open. “Doc should be here soon. Is she okay? I saw her on the camera feed, man. One second she was fine, and the next she just lost it.”

I blow out a breath and shrug. “She didn’t really say anything.”

“Nothing?”

“No.”

We stare at each other for a long beat until Holden shakes his head.

“I don’t like this. There’s so much not adding up, and things just . . . I don’t know.” He rubs a hand over his beard. “They just don’t feel right.”

I sigh and push a hand through my hair for the hundredth time tonight. “I hear ya.”

“You know, I’m all about revenge and people getting what they deserve, but is there any chance it wasn’t her on the recording?”

My breath stalls for a moment before I shake my head. “No, it’s her one-hundred-percent. She didn’t deny it either.”

Holden crosses his massive arms in front of his chest, his biceps bulging. “Then something else is going on that we aren’t aware of. She’s hiding something. I can feel it in my gut. I’ve met many despicable people and have seen them do all sorts of nasty things to others. But they all have that dark spark in their eyes because they enjoy it to their very core. It makes them happy, smug even.”

His gaze flickers through the open door to a sleeping Evangeline. “She’s as far away from being happy as she could be. And I’m not just saying that about the whole engagement thing. She’s sad, Phoenix. Like deeply to the bone. My guess is she has been for years.”

“She lost her sister.”

He nods. “I know, but I don’t think that’s all there is. I think there’s something else that’s dragging her down. Something bigger than that.”

“Like what?”

“Fuck. I don’t know, okay? That’s the whole problem.” He almost growls the words.

I lean against the wall and drop my head against it.

Holden blows out a breath, clearly frustrated by this mystery surrounding Evangeline. “Wouldn’t you be elated if she were innocent somehow?”

I pin him with a narrowed gaze but stay quiet.

He points at me. “I didn’t say anything earlier to the princess, but I saw you with her tonight. You might have entered that event with fake smiles, each of you playing your part, but don’t pretend that kiss was an act. I wouldn’t buy it for even a second.”

“Fuck.” I squeeze my hands so tightly my joints scream in protest. “I didn’t think it would be like this. You know how much I wanted to make her pay for what she did to me. That was the whole reason for this arrangement. And it was so simple: hating her, making her pay, and finally feeling better after getting my revenge. I didn’t expect to have these moments where I don’t really hate her at all. She’s fucking with my head in a way I wasn’t prepared for.”

When I became friends with Holden in prison, he told me outright there’s only one rule I need to follow with him: no lying. I lie to him, and we’re done. I’ve stood by that rule in all the years I’ve known him, and it’s given me a friendship like I’ve never had before. Growing up in this world, in a society that thrives on pretense, gossiping, and lies, it’s hard to shift gears to pure honesty. But it was worth it. Holden is the only reason I didn’t turn into a mess in prison. It truly felt like my life was over, and he’s the reason I’m alive.

He tips his chin toward the room. “You two have history. More than maybe even you realized.”

“I thought the hate was stronger than the stupid crush I had on her when we were younger. There was a reason why I didn’t act on it back then. Everything should have been easy, Hold. Especially after what happened with Connie.”

Holden opens his mouth to say something just as his phone rings in his pocket. He pulls it out and holds it up to his ear, nodding and listening. “Thanks, Mike.”

“Doc is here.”

I push off the wall and roll my shoulders. “Good.”

He claps me on the upper arm. “We’ll continue this conversation later, okay? Go back to your girl. I’ll let the doc in and bring him upstairs.”

I stare after him. Two words repeat in my head over and over.

Your girl.

Your girl .

My girl.

But she isn’t my girl. How could she be?

Instead of returning to the bedroom, I listen to the quiet voices drifting up from the foyer and meet the two men at the top of the stairs, relaying to Dr. Harvey what happened with Evangeline.

He has a friendly smile and a full head of gray hair. He used to be my grandpa’s on-call doctor, only a few years younger than my grandpa would have been now. I thought about my grandpa a lot during my prison sentence, wondering if I would have ended up there if he was still alive. After a while and lots of thinking, as one does in prison, I concluded my life would have turned out very differently if he hadn’t died when I was a young teen. He would have prevented my father from digging his rotten claws into me. But I was young and impressionable, without any well-meant guidance besides the big bad wolf himself.

Doc pushes his glasses up his nose and squeezes my arm. “Let’s check her out, shall we?”

I nod and lead him into the bedroom where Evangeline has rolled to her side, thankfully still under the blanket and with the washcloth around her hand.

The doctor moves to the foot of the bed and places his black leather bag on it.

Evangeline stirs, and I walk to her side, watching her eyes flutter open.

The corner of her mouth draws up a little the moment she sees me, and a croaky “Hey” escapes her lips.

Fuck me.

I feel like I’ve entered a time machine .

“Hey.” I clear my throat. “The doctor is here to check on you.”

Her gaze shifts around the room when she realizes other people are present.

I point at the older man putting a stethoscope around his neck. “That’s Dr. Harvey.”

The man in question steps closer and smiles at Evangeline. “How are you feeling? I heard you had a small mishap.”

As if she only now remembers what happened, Evangeline’s eyes widen. “I . . . I guess I did.”

The doctor chuckles behind me. “Phoenix, I need to actually get to Miss Caldwell if you want me to examine her.”

I stiffen. “Of course, sorry.”

Holden laugh-coughs, unable to hide his shit-eating grin when I join him a few feet away.

Evangeline pushes herself up to a sitting position and winces.

Crap. “She said she cut her hand.”

“Let’s take a look at it, shall we?” He inspects one hand, turning it over to study it from all angles, before he does the same to the other one. “Thankfully you didn’t break your skin with all of these marks, although I’m sure you might feel them for a few days. Good news is that the cut is shallow and doesn’t need stitches.”

Evangeline nods. “Okay.”

“Let’s clean the wounds and make sure there aren’t any glass pieces in there, and then we can put on some ointment and a bandage.” The doc walks to his bag to get the supplies he needs before getting started. His gaze remains on Evangeline’s hand. “Do you want to tell me what happened? ”

Her throat bobs, her gaze flickering in my direction. The doc eyes us too.

Holden is the first to take the hint. “I’ll wait outside.”

My feet are reluctant, but after a few moments, I follow him to the door.

“Phoenix.” My name is quiet on Evangeline’s lips.

I turn around and glance at her. Her lips are pressed tightly together, and her eyes shimmer as if she’s holding back tears.

When she doesn’t say anything, I focus on her pleading eyes. “You want me to stay?”

Her nod is almost indiscernible, but it’s there.

Why the fuck would she want me to stay? Me, of all people? At this point, I’d have expected her to pick Holden over me.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I swallow and point toward the couch. “I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you.” She exhales and shifts her focus away from me and back to the man by her bedside.

I instantly miss her eyes on me.

Calm the fuck down.

I’m too wired to sit, so I pace back and forth in front of the couch.

“What happened, Evangeline?” The doc’s voice is gentle, as if he’s talking to a wounded animal.

Her shoulders lift and drop like she’s carrying the world’s weight on them. “It’s really not a big deal. I just got a little frustrated and threw some things. At first, I thought I was going to have a panic attack, but I haven’t had one in a while, so maybe that’s why it hit me harder than usual? I don’t know. ”

He nods and grabs the ointment from the small tray he put on the bedside table with his supplies. “Have you been treated for them before?”

She casts a quick look my way before she shakes her head. “No, I . . . mmh, I didn’t have the support, so I kind of just dealt with them until life calmed down.”

Until life calmed down. Is she talking about her sister’s death? My imprisonment?

He lifts his head to study her. “It might be good for you to see someone, especially if the panic attacks return, or more of these rage attacks happen. I believe a great deal in therapy. Frankly, if it were up to me, everyone would go.”

Evangeline just nods but stays quiet while the doc finishes up wrapping her hand and checking her vitals.

He jots down a few lines in his notebook and puts everything back into his bag. “I don’t want to prescribe you any medicine right now, but please let me know if you’re having more attacks or any other symptoms arise. And please think about seeing a therapist. Mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more important sometimes. I’d be happy to give you some recommendations.”

Her mouth forms a gentle smile. “I will, thank you.”

One second, the words form in my head; the next, they are out of my mouth. “She also fainted last week.”

Evangeline and the doc both turn to stare at me before the doc focuses his attention back on his patient.

“Is that true? You fainted?”

She wrings the blanket in her lap and winces. “I did, but it was for a different reason. I had an upset stomach and couldn’t keep anything down for a while but then had to attend a meeting the next day when I should have stayed in bed. I was extremely dizzy, probably a little dehydrated, and then fainted.”

No wonder she promptly fell asleep when Holden got her later that day. She probably drank on that still-empty and upset stomach. Stubborn woman.

The concern is written all over the doc’s face. “And you’re sure you’re feeling okay?”

She nods. “I think so. My life has been a bit crazy, and a lot has happened in a really short time. Maybe a bit too much.”

“Miss Caldwell, that sounds to me like you are in dire need of a vacation.”

She chuckles like he just said something funny.

I frown.

“Think about it. I’d also feel more comfortable to get you on the schedule for a more thorough exam and some blood work as well.” He closes his bag and gestures toward me. “And please don’t hesitate to call if something changes or you need me for anything else. Phoenix has my number.”

She nods. “Thank you.”

He gives her a small head bow. “It was my pleasure, miss. Feel better soon.”

I walk him toward the door and shake hands with him. “Thanks for coming out. I appreciate it.”

“Of course.” He pats my arm and leans in. “Keep a close eye on her and make sure she gets lots of rest.”

“I will try my best.”

Holden is waiting on the other side of the door to escort the doctor to his car, so my focus zeroes back in on Evangeline .

My eyes widen when I see she’s trying to get out of bed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I rush to her side and reach for her arm, barely in time for her to stand.

She’s wobbly on her feet, but at least she’s not pushing me away. “Can you help me to my room, please?”

Before she can protest, I lift her into my arms for the second time tonight.

“Phoenix, let me down. I can walk.”

The shove at my chest is weak, and I settle her more comfortably in my arms, careful her injured hand is safe.

“Stop fighting me. I’m just going to take you to your room.”

I almost tell her to stay here in my bed, but that would be ridiculous.

It’s already bad enough that I enjoy the feel of her in my arms way more than I should.

After a moment of silence, she shifts. “Why help me? Why do any of this? You hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” Clearly, my mouth has no filter tonight. If there was any doubt about my confession to Holden earlier, here’s the confirmation I didn’t ask for.

I’m a mess over this woman.

Her earlier words rush back into my head. Sometimes, I wish I could just disappear. I bet you’d like that.

My throat tightens painfully.

Nothing is black and white anymore; it hasn’t been in a while.

Her sharp inhale is loud in the otherwise quiet house. “You should hate me. I deserve it. ”

I go rigid at her words, her statement catching me off guard.

Why would she say something like this?

Not wanting to disturb this weird calm between us, I keep my voice low and say, “Well, if it’s that important to you, I can go back to hating you tomorrow.”