Page 147 of Tangled In Lies

Evangeline

Despite still feeling lousy, I go rigid the moment my brain registers not just the words spoken behind me but also the voice. On the outside, I’m utterly paralyzed. On the inside, fear threatens to squash my chest in a tight fist. My heart is rapping against my ribs so violently, it’s ringing in my ears.

My breaths come in quick, rasping inhales, and I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping against all odds when I open them again, I’m at home tucked away safely in Phoenix’s arms where he’ll hold me the entire time I tell him about my nightmare.

But when I blink them open again, nothing has changed. Phoenix is now sitting behind me but still tied to the bed like an animal. Just like me. He’s giving me the saddest look I’ve ever seen, as if he knows what I just did in my head, and he’s devastated for me. With me. Because, surely, he doesn’t want to be here anymore than I do.

A metallic sound vibrates at the bottom of the bed. Iflinch, snapping my gaze toward the noise. I immediately wish I hadn’t.

Tyler,myTyler, stands mere feet away from me, watching us with a broad smile and unmistakable glee in his eyes.

“Evie, I’m so happy you’re awake. Sorry about the circumstances, but we’re all finally together. At last.” He paces the length of the bed, never taking his gaze off us once.

I track him with my eyes like he does, and his smile widens.

Am I hallucinating? This cannot be real. No. I . . . no.

My brain is trying to make sense of this, but I’ve got nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“Ty, what’s going on? Let us go, please. Whatever it is you want, you’ll get it. Anything. Please?” My voice isn’t as strong as I’d like, but who am I kidding? I barely got the words through my trembling lips.

Phoenix stiffens at my words, and I’m unsure if it’s because I said anything at all or because of what I said.

Tyler stops and regards me with pouty lips. “Aww, Evie, thank you for asking so nicely. But I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

The backs of my eyes burn at his reply.

Never in a million years would I have thought this guy, my friend, would do anything to me.

Not just your friend, but your friends. Plural.

I’m not even remotely stable enough to think about Ruby right now, and I’m glad she’s not with him at this moment.

I try to focus on Phoenix’s breathing to get my own under control. He’s glaring daggers at Tyler, which I’m sure isn’t helping our situation, but I can’t blame him either. It’s notevery day you get kidnapped by people you considered your friends for years. Well, for me, at least. They’re my friends, not Phoenix’s.

I drag my attention away from my fiancé and focus on the real problem, trying to keep the panic at bay that wants to creep up my chest. “Why are you doing this, Ty? What do you want?”

“What do I want?” Tyler repeats my question in a mocking tone. He drags a chair across the floor and sits. “There are so many things I want. Most importantly, I want you to suffer. You both deserve everything that’s been happening to you.”

The sluggishness caused from the injection is still lingering, but my brain is fighting to catch up. A beat later, the word he says finally sets in. “You called . . . you called me?—”

Tyler chuckles. “Ah, yes. I called you pet.”

“No . . . no. That’s impossible.” The puzzle pieces rearrange in my brain until they form one really messy and horrifying picture. Even though I don’t want to, I let go of Phoenix and push into a sitting position. I need at least a little bit of control. Even if it’s nothing more than an illusion at best. “You’rebehind all the messages? All the . . . all the . . .”

“I will fucking kill you.” Phoenix growls next to me and yanks at his chain.

My lungs struggle for air, but there’s no oxygen. Soon after, it all sinks in, and I can’t hold back the violent tremors that shake my entire body. “You . . . you killed my sister.”

My breaths come too fast. Inhale, inhale, inhale.

Phoenix rattles the entire bed frame so hard, I shift on the mattress several times.

Tyler watches us with an amused smile.

I bite back the sobs that want to break free because Tyler doesn’t deserve the satisfaction of watching me break down. He won’t take more from me than he already has.

My sister.

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