Page 47 of Tangled in Vows

You’re both going to pay for what you did.

Chapter 15

Olivia

Without you as my anchor, I’m untethered. This doesn’t feel right.

“Are you sure you’re up for this? We can just skip today if you want.”

I shake my head at Evie. “I’m okay. I need the distraction.”

Now more than ever. Every day, this weird feeling of my life slowly falling apart keeps growing. All while I feel helpless and can’t do anything about it. I absolutely hate it. While I prefer things structured and predictable, I also don’t like limitations and restrictions. Yet, in the frame of a week, my controlled and reliable life has been blown to smithereens.

Except for daily walks with Stormy—and a whole security team—I don’t leave the condo anymore. Food gets delivered or picked up by one of the men, and the lack of autonomy is slowly driving me up the wall. My condo isn’t exactly small, but if this unexpected confinement continues much longer, there won’t beany of my nails left to chew on, and I might actually cut those bangs I’ve been thinking about.

Another terrible possibility is I might start talking about Holden with Evie. I already slipped a few days ago and asked her about Jo from the club.

Me: Do you know that Jo woman who hung on to Holden at the club?

Evie: Olivia Marie Parker.

Me: I don’t have a middle name.

Evie: Well, I guess it’s good Holden has one. Is it a coincidence that his middle name is your last name?

Of course she knows his middle name.

Damn it.

When it was time to change my name after our marriage, I did so as a precaution. Holden said the fewer ways people from my community could find me, the better.

Me: So, who’s Jo?

Evie: That answers my question.

Evie: Also, Jo is in a very happy relationship with Sarah, who works at the VIP bar at the club.

Me: I didn’t ask about Jo’s relationship.

Evie: Sure.

An obnoxiously loud whistle brings me back to the present, and Evie and I both look toward the entrance and the two men standing there. Since Holden wouldn’t leave my side, Archer agreed to meet him here instead of the other way around. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I’m glad Holden didn’t leave. Setting aside what happened with us in the past, and now also my incredibly inconvenient attraction for him, I feel safer with him around.

I always have, even when I want to punch him in the face.

Or jump his bones.

Evie blows out a breath and smacks her hands on her jeans. “Well, if you’re sure.”

Nodding more to myself than to her, I open my car door and am immediately greeted by Jax’s big frame, who stood guard while Holden went inside to ensure it’s safe.

The worry in his eyes is unmistakable. “You say the word, and we’re out of here.”

Maybe I should feel weird because he knows about the photo, the threat, the flowers, the naked guy in my bed, and whatever other screwed-up things have been going on in my life lately. But all I detect is relief. Relief to not be alone in this, even if the people who are here to protect me do so because they get paid for it.

I muster a small smile. “Thank you, Jax.”

Together, we walk toward the Fox Hideout, one of the five safe places for teenagers Phoenix and Holden built via their Foxhole Foundation in the last few years. Evie has told me everything about the hundreds of teens they’ve been able to help since they started their nonprofit.

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