Chapter 25 – Evelyn
EVELYN
Dominic had been called back to Washington, so he wasn’t able to meet until Sunday.
So that left me with a full day of nothing to do, because the guys refused to let me work on Saturday.
It was killing me not to do anything, but I knew this was bigger than us.
I didn’t want to make a move too early and risk these assholes getting away and hurting more women.
I would be patient, even if it killed me.
To keep me busy, Marcus took me to the hospital that morning, so I could check in with Izzy and Danny. Grace still hadn’t woken yet, though the doctors said she was being slowly weaned off sedation and that it could happen any day now. Her body had been through hell, and it needed time.
I understood that.
But damn if I didn’t need her right now.
On the way home, Marcus took me to one of my favorite coffee shops, Chocolate Chasings, and got me an orange mocha. I was savoring every sip so much that I almost didn’t notice when he missed the exit back to the penthouse.
“I thought we were going home?” I frowned. The guys said we were having a lazy day this afternoon.
“We are,” Marcus smiled.
“The penthouse is that way?” I pointed behind us.
“I know.”
I frowned at him. “Are you kidnapping me? Because you said I couldn’t get kidnapped anymore.”
He barked out a surprised laugh. “I’m not kidnapping you. At least, not really. It’s a surprise.”
“I hate surprises,” I grumbled.
“We know. Because you’re so used to bad surprises. But this is a good surprise. Promise.”
My muscles tightened on reflex. Surprises usually meant failure, injuries, or loss. But Marcus was right, and that softened something tight in my chest. These men understood me. They’d learned my edges and were slowly proving that surprises could mean care instead of chaos. I had to trust that.
“Besides,” he continued, “you’ll recognize where we’re going soon enough.”
A couple of turns later, and I did recognize where we were going, although we were taking a roundabout way to get there.
“What about the FIA tail?” I asked, turning in my seat to scan the road behind us. I didn’t want anyone besides us knowing where this place was.
“Adrian talked to Dominic, and Dominic said they weren’t tailing us anymore. I still double-checked, though. No one tailed us to the hospital or from it, so we’re good. Liam and Sebastian have also been keeping an eye on the traffic cams as we traveled, and there’s no one there either.”
My heart warmed that they were taking such care to keep my secret. We pulled into the winding driveway of my safe haven.
“I missed this place,” I murmured.
“We know.” Marcus placed his hand on my leg and squeezed softly.
The old brick manor looked exactly as I had left it.
Glowing softly in the setting sunlight, the chipped brick and worn interior looked like the house was slumbering.
It was always my intention to restore it, but that required time and money.
And both were always in short supply. I didn’t take a paycheck from the Archers, although I made sure my lieutenants did.
Instead, all my money went back into helping the people we saved get back on their feet.
I had been able to do some projects at the manor over the years, and Danny helped me with the landscaping, but I couldn’t wait to see what it looked like fully restored.
Adrian was waiting on the steps of the manor, leaning against the brick exterior.
Dressed in black jeans and a dark green henley, he looked devastatingly handsome in his casual clothes.
He straightened as we pulled in and walked down the steps to meet us.
He opened my car door and extended his hand.
“Such a gentleman.” I smirked at him.
He chuckled, pulling my hand until I fell into him. He ran his hand up my back to cup my neck, lowering his head to give me a filthy kiss that had my knees buckling. “Probably more like a ruffian,” he said, pulling back and smirking at the dazed look in my eyes.
I rolled my eyes but leaned into him, pressing my forehead into his chest as he rubbed my back.
“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you inside.”
The interior of the house seemed warmer and brighter, although I hadn’t been able to complete any more of the renovations in the last few months.
The weathered and worn wood floors creaked under my feet, but the interior smelled of lemon cleaner, and the handrail on the staircase was surprisingly dust free.
The dining room to the right of the foyer was set with a light blue linen tablecloth with a multi-candle centerpiece I didn’t remember owning.
The table was set for five people with place settings I definitely didn’t own.
The voices from the kitchen beckoned me forward. Alexander was pulling my favorite dish, lasagna, out of the oven, while Sebastian was pouring wine into five glasses.
“Evie,” Sebastian greeted warmly, the only person who could call me that. He abandoned the wine and kissed me. For the second time in a few minutes, my knees went weak as he pressed me back into the doorframe.
“Stop hogging her,” Alexander scolded gently, shouldering Sebastian out of the way so he could lay his own devastating kiss on my lips.
“Hi, baby girl,” he murmured. “Go sit. I just need to finish the garlic bread.”
“What’s the occasion?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the fancy table setup.
“Just spoiling our girl.” Marcus’s strong arms wrapped around me from behind, and he pulled me back into his chest, squeezing gently before guiding me to a seat.
Dinner was amazing. I didn’t know what Alexander put in the lasagna to make it so much better than anything I’ve ever had before, but it was delicious.
He had also firmly declared at the start of dinner that this was a no work-talk evening.
Nothing about active operations for the Archers or SDS was allowed.
Afterward, the guys refused to let me clean up.
Sebastian tugged me over to the sitting room.
The comfy sectional that had mysteriously appeared after the guys first moved in beckoned me, and I sank into the corner.
Sebastian handed me my wineglass and then flopped down on the ottoman in front of me, skipping through channels on the massive TV.
Marcus appeared next, a beer in hand, as he took the seat next to me. I leaned back into the side of the couch, swinging my legs over his lap as I stretched out. Apparently, this was what he meant by a lazy day.
“Comfortable?” Marcus arched an eyebrow at me. He leaned forward and put his beer down, then grabbed my feet and massaged them.
I groaned and sank deeper into the plush cushions. “Very,” I moaned.
“Evie.” Sebastian popped up next to me. If I hadn’t been so relaxed, I would have jumped. “You can’t make sounds like that.”
“Fuck off, Sebastian.” Marcus shoved him back gently. “She can do whatever she wants.”
It was hard to believe he had been the most resistant of all my boyfriends. Whatever I wanted? That could be dangerous.
Sebastian’s eyes gleamed, and I knew he was about to push back at Marcus, so I booped his nose.
“Did you just boop him?” Alexander’s voice came from over my shoulder. He and Adrian stood in the doorway. Adrian chuckled and leaned forward to press a kiss on my forehead.
“I’m sure he deserved it,” he said, settling into the comfy armchair next to the couch.
“Marcus said I could do whatever I wanted,” I said primly.
Sebastian stared at me, brow furrowed. “So you wanted to boop my nose?”
“No, I wanted to run my fingers through your hair, but I had to get your attention.”
Sebastian turned and plopped down in front of me so fast that I jolted. “Fuck, Evie, boop my nose every day if that’s how this ends.”
I laughed but gave into the urge to run my hand through his curls. They were softer than they looked. He groaned, and I blushed but didn’t stop.
“How long have you wanted to do that?” Adrian grinned at me.
“I’ll never tell.” I winked at him.
They all laughed, and my chest warmed. “Are we watching a movie or playing a board game?” Alexander gestured towards the stack of board games on the side table.
“I don’t really want to move,” I confessed. “But we can play a board game if y’all want.”
“It’s whatever you want to do,” Marcus reminded me. “I’m fine just sitting here.”
“Me too,” Sebastian purred. “I don’t want to move either.”
“I can’t remember the last time we relaxed like this, so a movie works,” Adrian agreed.
“Movie it is.” Alexander found an action movie to put on but kept it on low so we could still chat if we wanted.
I sighed, burrowing into the couch more.
The wine spread a pleasant warmth throughout my body, and Marcus’s massage on my feet and calves had me feeling boneless.
I never imagined I would be here like this with them.
Was this what the future could look like?
Us unwinding after long days at work? Could I really have it all?
I wasn’t sure, but even as relaxation seeped into my bones, determination also filled me. I didn’t know what was waiting for us tomorrow, but I was willing to burn the city down for the chance to make nights like this our normal.