Page 89 of Ruined By Protection
Evelyn's eyes lift to study my face with a strange fervor. Her tears have stopped, replaced by a vehement look I wouldn't have expected.
"Why do you care?" she asks, eyes narrowed. "About Hazel, I mean."
The question catches me off guard. I feel Daniel and Noah both examining me now.
"We need to move," I tell Noah, ignoring Evelyn's question. "Now. If he's coordinated enough to pull this off while having someone maintain his cover at the hotel he must have more planned."
Noah nods, helping Evelyn to her feet, but she doesn't break her stare, like she's trying to read something written in small print on my face.
"Let's go," I say, turning to the door. "Daniel, you drive Evelyn's car back. Noah and Evelyn are with me."
I feel Evelyn's eyes drilling into my back as I walk out. She knows. Somehow she knows there's something between Hazel and me. But right now that's the least of my problems.
Hazel
I pace circles around the living room, unable to keep still. My heart pounds at my chest wall like it's trying to break out. This is all my fault. If I hadn't come here, if I'd just disappeared somewhere else, Elliott wouldn't have gone after Evelyn.
"Hazel, please sit down. You're making me dizzy," Lucrezia says from the couch.
"I can't." My voice sounds strange, stretched thin with panic. "Damiano said twenty minutes. It's been twenty-three."
I check my phone again—no messages.
"They'll be here any minute," Lucrezia assures me. "Noah would die before letting anything happen to Evelyn."
I cross my arms over myself, trying to hold in the guilt that threatens to tear me apart. "Elliott went after her because of me. He used her to get to me."
"No, Elliott went after her because he's a monster," Lucrezia says firmly. "This is not your fault."
I hear tires crunching gravel outside and my heart leaps into my throat. I rush to the window, pushing the heavy curtain aside to see headlights cutting through the darkness.
"They're here!" I don't wait for Lucrezia as I bolt for the front door, yanking it open and running down the steps.
The black car rolls to a stop. Noah emerges first from the driver's side, his face grim. Then the back door opens and Evelyn steps out, looking shaken but unharmed. Her hair is disheveled and there's a small tear in her sleeve, but she's standing without support.
I exhale so deeply I feel lightheaded, relief raining over me in a dizzying wave.
"Evelyn!" I throw my arms around her, holding her tight. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
She hugs me back, her body trembling slightly. "Stop that. This is not your fault, Hazel."
"He went after you because of me?—"
"No," Evelyn pulls back, gripping my shoulders. "He went after me because he's a controlling psychopath who can't stand losing what he thinks he owns."
Daniel and Matteo emerge from the car last. Matteo's face is stone-etched, his jaw chiseled as he scans the surroundings.Even in the dim light from the house I can see the treacherous glint in his eyes.
"Let's get inside," Noah says, placing a protective hand on Evelyn's back.
We move toward the house where Lucrezia waits at the door. Once inside, Damiano and Zoe join us in the foyer, their expressions concerned.
Matteo steps closer to me, his voice low and intense. "We didn't catch him. He was gone before we got there."
"But we know where he's staying," Daniel adds.
"We'll get him soon," Matteo says, his eyes diving deep into mine. "I promise you that."
His tone makes my skin crawl. I take a step back, putting distance between us.
