chapter 144 Forty-Two

Evelyn's POV

Orion came and picked me up, Imogen must have called him because I know I didn't. Getting in

the car.

“Are you okay?" he asks but I could tell he missed Thaddeus just as much as I did, he was

simply better hiding it, yet I could feel how badly he wanted him through the bond.

“Where is Ryland?” I ask instead of answering I know he already know I don't feel okay.

“Went looking for him” Orion answers and I turn to the window. Ryland did come home till late

that night, waking me as he climbed into bed. The warmth of his skin pressed against mine. Rolling

over, I nestle into his chest inhaling his scent as he wrapped his arms around me pulling me closer.

“You didn't find anything?” he says nothing just pulls me closer resting his chin on my head.

Orion hops out of the shower, I hadn't even realised he was gone from the bed, his side always

felt colder. Pulling the covers back he hops in his cold hands making me shiver, not even the heat

from the shower cold making him warm. He props himself up on his elbow looking at Ryland.

“Nothing?” I feel Ryland nod and Orion sighs before going to roll away when I feel Ryland's

hand move. He grabs Orion's chin pulling him towards him before kissing him. I loved seeing them

together, loved the feeling through the bond.

“I will find him” Ryland tells him and Orion nods before laying back down.

“We should go to bed; you still want to see Lana in the morning?” Orion asks.

“Yes, I promised I would meet her” I tell him, and he leans over, turning off the lamp before

laying back down and snuggling against me. All night I tossed and turned I even heard Ryland grunt

when I kicked him in my sleep, and he sat up.

“Do I need to restrain you?” he asks, and I yawn fighting to stay awake. I heard Orion chuckle

behind me Before climbing over me and hopping in the middle.

Ryland hops back in bed muttering something when I hear his phone ring on the nightstand.

Sitting up I rub my eyes yawning. He answers it before walking out of the room.

“Where did he go?” I yawn before dropping my head in Orion's lap and wrapping my arms

around his waist.

“He will be back; he just went inside to see Amara,” he says.

“Did something happen?” I ask.

“Go back to sleep, Evelyn” Orion tells me, and I feel the fog creep over me, but I was too tired

to fight it instead giving in and going to sleep.

Waking up early, I got dressed. Ryland and Orion must have got up early because neither of

them were in the bed. Walking inside, they weren't their either. Imogen was the only one home.

“You're up?” she says, and I nod.

“Where is everyone?” The last thing I remember is Ryland's phone ringing and him walking out

leaving me with Orion, but even he was gone when I woke up this morning.

“Work and Ryland and Orion got a lead on Thaddeus, so they went to check it out” Looking at

the clock, I was meant to meet Lana in half an hour.

“What sort of lead?”

“It's probably nothing, I am sure they will tell you when they get back” Imogen says but I could

tell she was hiding something. Something she wasn't sure she was allowed to tell me. Knowing I

won't get answers from her I give up. I didn't want her to get in trouble for telling me and I know

she is right; they will tell me if they find anything.

“Can you give me a lift in town" I ask, and she turns around from doing dishes.

“Where do you want to go?” she asks.

“To see Lana, I am meant to meet her at the park,” I tell her, and she nods.

“I can give you my keys if you want to go by yourself,” I nod wondering if I should message

Ryland and Orion to let them know. Deciding I should, I quickly pull my phone out.

“I will just message Ryland and see if I can go by myself, don't feel like the argument if he says

no."

Imogen nods and I quickly message Ryland his reply is quick, telling me to ring if I need them.

“He said it's fine” I tell her, and she walks over to microwave and grabs the keys from the bowl!

before tossing them to me.

The trip into the City didn’t take long. Once I got there though I received a message from Lana

asking to meet her at her house. I try ringing her, but she doesn't answer, checking Facebook I can

see she hasn't been online for a few hours but remember she sent her address on messenger. She

probably put her phone down.

Typing the address into Google Maps I see her house is only ten minutes away just outside the

city. Driving toward the address I have to cross a bridge over a river, she wasn't wrong when she

said it was peaceful out here. I hadn't driven past a single house and most of the road was dirt. In

fact, it actually wasn't that far from Imogen’s house instead of turning at the intersection you just

kept going straight. After driving for another twenty minutes, I finally pull up to a house. It looked

more like a cabin. Had a porch out the front and heaps of gardens. April loved gardening so I wasn't

surprised to see it had cottage style gardens everywhere, though it was going to wreak havoc on my

hay fever. The place was secluded and from the road you wouldn't even be able to see the property

because it was surrounded by trees. A tyre swing hung from the tree beside the house.

Getting out of the car all I could smell was plants and the smell of fertilizer. Closing the door, I

walk toward the house and April walks out.

“Hey Evie, she is inside” she tells me a bright smile on her face.

“Sorry took me a while to find the place” I tell her and nods.

“Yes, I like the privacy out here, Lana was a bit under the weather today, so thought it best she

stayed inside, she is in the loungeroom down the hall” she says pointing in the direction. The house

was nicely decorated but as I moved further into the house, my stomach dropped everywhere on

the walls and furniture were pictures of Derrick, there wasn't a single wall or surface that didn’t have

a picture of that vile man. I thought I would never have to see his face again, yet the house looked

like a shrine, photos of their wedding, photos of them together looking like the perfect couple and I

felt sick when I saw a huge photo of the day Lana and I came to live with them. Stopping, I look at

the photo. That was the happiest day. I finally thought I found somewhere we could call home, little

did we know when we took that photo with Derricks arms draped over both our shoulders, that was

the beginning of the worst year of my life.

“That was Lana's Favourite, thank god for google pictures, I thought we lost all our memories”

April says, I nod feeling bile rise in my throat. I follow the hallway to the end but don’t see her.

Stepping in, I find the room dark the curtains closed, the TV was off. The house was actually eerily

quiet and cold considering the temperature outside. Something felt off. Really off and I felt

goosebumps rise on my arms and legs.

“Where is she, she isn't in here,” I call out to April before turning back towards the hall when I

feel a pinch in my neck. My hand going to my neck before feeling a needle stuck in my skin. I pull it

out and look up just in time to see her swing a wooden object at me, my head snapping to the side

by the force of it when she cracks me in the head. My vision turning blurry, and I feel blood trickle

down my face from my temple. My head is instantly pounding and my ears ringing before I see the

ground rush toward my face before seeing darkness.00