Chapter 42Evan
Chapter Forty-Two
EVAN
U sually, I have no problem lying around like a potato with Hades. Staying in bed all day and watching TV is our favorite pastime. However, it’s hard as fuck to do when you know the man that was probably going to hurt you and tried to steal your business from you is just two floors down.
And then there are all the what-ifs.
What if I’d have been home that night he broke in? What if the guys wouldn’t have been there earlier? Would he have killed me? I’m so zoned out with my spiraling thoughts that I don’t even hear Cain come back into the room. It isn’t until I feel Hades doing his violent, happy booty wiggle on the bed that I’m pulled from my thoughts.
“True crime still?” Cain smiles while petting Hades and looking at the TV. “You don’t think you’ve experienced enough crime lately?”
“True crime documentaries are comforting. The narrator’s voice is so soothing that it can put me to sleep,” I explain. And I’m not lying. There’s something so comforting about the deep level of his voice that it just kind of lures you in. Then, the next thing you know, you wake up, and it’s 5 a.m., and the show is still playing. “How did it go with the guys?”
Cain lets out a long sigh before sitting on the bed next to me. That feeling of dread that was in my stomach earlier sinks deeper. “It went as expected. We have some stuff to do tonight. I want you to stay here. Levi will be with you.”
“Where are you going?” I don’t like that he’s not telling me the full story. I understand that I’m not allowed to know everything that goes on with the club. Club business and all that shit. I get it. I really do. What I have a problem with is being left in the dark with something that directly involves me.
“Can’t tell you that, hellcat,” Cain says softly.
“It’s unfair that this involves me, and I’m being left in the dark,” I say honestly as I cross my arms over my chest.
“I know, but you just have to trust me, okay? I’ll be back tonight after we get all of this shit taken care of. We can finally move the fuck on with our lives and not be so on edge for a moment.”
“For a moment?” My brow furrows because I feel like he’s insinuating this won’t be over.
“I’m the president of a one percenter club, hellcat. Some fucker always thinks he’s grown a pair big enough to try us. This means that there’s bound to be a problem every now and then.” He shrugs. Just shrugs like it’s not a big deal.
Just another thing I need to learn to deal with. I sigh. “I guess I can live with that. But I want to be filled in as soon as you get back. Just be careful, alright? I’m too young to pick out funeral cactuses.”
“Cactuses?”
“Because you’re prickly.” I snicker.
Cain’s eyes go soft at that. “Never had anyone care if I live or die before.” He places a light kiss on my lips. “Feels damn good that it’s you. I’ll be careful. Maybe tomorrow I’ll take you on a date.”
“A date?” I laugh because I can’t picture Cain on a date. Or dating in general.
“Yeah, a date. Since you're my first relationship, I don’t know much about romance, but I’ll figure it out along the way.”
“And you think I’m okay with being your trial run?” I have to give him a little shit for that line because, honestly.
“Yeah. Want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll be my first for everything in between.”
And there goes my heart. Who is this man, and what has he done with Cain? Part of me thinks my heart took control of my body by what I do next because my brain was not up to speed. “I love you,” I whisper.
I watch as Cain’s eyes widen, almost as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing, like no one has ever told him that they love him. That look breaks my heart almost as much as it makes it feel whole. The emotion swirling in his eyes takes over. “You can’t take that back,” he rasps out.
I frame his face with both of my hands. “I’m not taking it back. I love you. I’ve never met a man quite like you. You’ll stop at nothing to make sure I’m safe and cared for. I’ll never stop thanking Scotch for getting me to help you guys even after you were an epic fucking asshole.” It’s my turn to place a light kiss on his lips. “I don’t need to hear the words back. I just wanted you to know how I feel before you leave tonight.”
Cain swallows. “Evan?—”
“We’re ready when you are, Prez!” Hash yells through the door, cutting Cain off.
“Fuck.” He runs a hand roughly through his hair. “I feel like we’re always getting interrupted here. We’ll finish this when I get back, okay?”
“Okay.” I blink back the tears threatening to fall at how he’s leaving this.
“Hey.” His features soften again. “It won’t be bad. Nothing about the conversation will be bad. I just don’t want to start it when I have to leave.”
I can accept that for now. I did just drop a bomb on him.
“Be a good girl for Levi, and Daddy might reward you.” He smirks before planting a rough kiss on my mouth, his tongue dominating mine before he pulls away and leaves the room without another word.
It’s been about an hour since Cain and the guys left. I feel bad that I haven’t gone down to say hi to Levi yet, but damnit I’m sad. You know that feeling you get when you wish the other person would say what you want to hear, but they don’t? It just leaves you feeling… empty. Even though I know I told him he didn’t have to say anything back, it doesn’t mean I didn’t want him to. And I am feeling hungry. Maybe I can talk Levi into eating with me.
“Come on Hades. Let’s go see what Levi’s doing,” I tell him as I head to the door to go downstairs.
I find Levi lounging on the couch.
“I’m sorry you’re stuck with me.” I grimace. It can’t be fun always being on babysitting duty.
“Nah, come on. It isn’t like that,” he says while sitting up. “Plus, you’re my favorite girl.” His eyes widen at the realization of what he just said. “I, uh, didn’t mean it like that. I swear. I know you’re Prez’s girl.”
I can’t help but laugh because he literally looks scared for his life right now. “Relax, Levi. I know what you mean.” The relief on his face is instant as he slouches back into the couch. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
Perfect. A fellow foodie. “Let me look around the kitchen and see if there is anything I can whip up.” It didn’t even take me a full 30 seconds to realize there was nothing but booze and some crackers in it. How are all of these guys so fucking big if there’s no food?
“I think we’re out of luck,” I say when I return. “There’s literally no food here. What do you guys live on?”
“Uh… we usually just eat at DD’s.”
I sigh. “Of course you do.” This place is literally a giant bachelor pad. No wonder why they were all so excited for a home-cooked meal the other night. “Want to order a pizza?”
Levi looks uncomfortable again. “Yeah, I don’t know about that. Prez said to stay in.”
“We can get it delivered,” I add, seeing that he’s still hesitating. “I’ll even stay in here while you go out to meet him. And honestly, I doubt a delivery driver is going to want to kill us.” I roll my eyes. I’ve never met so many overprotected men in my life.
Levi thinks over what I just said for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. “Make sure mine has pepperoni.”
“Deal.” I smile, cheering inside my head for winning this one. Sometimes it’s the small things in life.
After the pizza is ordered, I lounge on the opposite end of the couch. He’s watching some show with a guy redoing a classic car. It’s not my cup of tea, but I find this more relaxing than being up in Cain’s room stressing over what going on. It sucks not being involved when it’s your mess.
I must have drifted off because my eyes are opening at the feeling of Levi getting off the couch.
“Pizza is here,” he says before going out to get it.
“Finally. I’m fucking starving,” I say while snuggling back into the couch. I plan on eating my food right here and never leaving from this spot.
It isn’t until the next episode of the show starts that I realize Levi didn’t come right back. It’s been what? Ten minutes? It doesn’t take that long to pay the driver.
Another five minutes go by before I start to get really worried.
“Ugh, Levi. Don’t you know not to mess with a girl when she’s hungry?” I grumble to myself as I get up and head to the door.
Hmm.
No sign of Levi or a delivery driver. I don’t even see a car. What the fuck is going on?
Just as I’m about to go back inside and call Cain, I hear a quiet moan coming from the other side of the clubhouse.
“Levi?” I call.
No answer.
My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my ears as I wait to see if I hear anything again. I’m getting flashbacks from the night I saw someone in my backyard, making that funky dreadful feeling come back times a thousand this time. You know that one you get when you’re watching a thriller and the girl is being chased, but you know she’s probably going to die? That feeling of absolute terror.
Yeah. That’s how this feels.
“Levi?” I try again. My heart feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest as I rub a hand over it, trying to get myself to calm down. It can’t hurt to just peek around the corner, right?
I quickly dash to the edge to peek my head around, and that’s when I freeze. Levi is on the ground with the pizza splattered all around him, and the box is discarded off to the side.
I rush to his side. “Oh my god. Oh my god. I’m going to get you help! Just hold on!” I frantically tell him, unsure if he can even hear me. It looks like he’s been hit in the head. There’s so much blood dripping down his face that I can't even tell where it’s coming from. I hate that he’s hurt because of me. I caused this.
I reach into my back pocket for my phone. My heart stops when a deep voice comes from behind me. “I knew you would come out eventually.”
That’s the last thing I hear before everything goes black.