Page 68 of Evolve

Stone

Iamjustfinishingup the tech setup in the new downstairs Communications room when Gage walks in with Maddox on his heels.

“How’s it going? Almost done?” Gage asks before dropping down onto one of the leather club chairs.

The room is a bit smaller than the one upstairs but we’ve made it work. The long couch is placed under the window with a small coffee table in front of it. Across from that, the large desk sits in the middle of the room, with two club chairs opposite the desk. This desk holds our regular computer with two monitors that we use for business mostly.

The wall directly across from the one with windows was previously bare but is now covered in our surveillance equipment. Ten screens, each with a different view, line the wall. Some from our home monitoring system, the rest for our businesses. The camera angles change in a continuous loop, so we are always able to see what is happening.

I nod as I stand up from plugging in the last cables and brush my hands down my black jeans. This room needs thorough cleaning after all of the moving over the last few days.

“Yep, just finished. Everything fits well in here. This room will work just fine for our needs,” I respond, sitting down on the couch and kicking my feet up onto the coffee table to stretch out my sore legs. I swear, being 24 hurts sometimes. “What’s up? Are you still going toRushwith Isabella tonight?”

Maddox huffs an irritated sound as he drops haphazardly onto the desk chair and begins to spin in circles. “Nope,” he grunts. My brow shoots up as I look to Gage for further information.

“For one, it wasn’t just us that was supposed to take her. She wanted all of us to go, and for two, Maddox, Nyxon, and I have to go to the Diablos clubhouse to handle some bullshit drama. Normally, I would want you to come as well but I need someone to stay with Ella and I figured it might be a good opportunity for you guys to talk.” Gage eyes me while speaking, gauging how I’ll take this information, knowing my cues are more likely to be non-verbal than explosive like Madd or Nyx.

My heart races at the thought of being alone with her, especially after this afternoon. No, correction, after the last few days. It’s all been a lot, to say the least.

“What’s going on at the clubhouse?” I ask instead, deflecting and giving myself a moment to think. Gage shakes his head and chuckles knowingly.

“Apparently some of the guys caught a few of Matteo’s men sniffing around where they didn’t belong. Supposedly, they need to be questioned.” Gage sighs and rolls his eyes skyward, knowing that questioning means killing. They may get interrogated first, but they will die tonight, no matter who they are. Outsiders don’t see the inside of the Diablos clubhouse, especially the kill room, and live to tell the tale.

I nod in understanding before speaking again. “I was going to go toThe Dentonight to do some updates on our software. Think she’d like to come? I’m sure she’s bummed to not be able to go out tonight. It’s not a club, but it might satisfy her a bit.”

“Gage hasn’t even told her we’re not going out yet. He’s too much of a pussy,” Madd laughs, finally coming to a stop in the chair. Pulling one of his switchblades out of his pocket, he begins to open and close it, focusing on theflickandclick, probably to keep himself from spinning in the chair again. His ADHD is always worse when he's pissed off of feeling some sort of heightened emotions. Gage scowls and glares at his brother, making Maddox laugh harder. I grin at both of them.

“I don’t see you running upstairs to inform her,brother,” Gage growls. They stay in an angry stare-down for a moment before simultaneously smirking and looking at me.

“Oh fuck no. You guys are her literal boyfriends, it’s your job to do that shit,” I grunt, shaking my head defiantly, but the two assholes are already standing and baking out of the room. “Seriously? You’re not even going to tell her goodbye?”

“Sorry man, it’s urgent Diablos business,” Madd says with a fake apologetic look on his face.

Nyx suddenly appears out of nowhere grunting something about being ready before all three men dash out together. “You guys are seriously fucking cowards!” I call out after them seconds before hearing thepingof the elevator.

Fucking Christ.

I take a few minutes to get my thoughts straight before going upstairs to break the news to Ella about her spoiled evening plans and shitty boyfriends.

When I get to the door of her new bedroom, I find it wide open. She’s sitting on the floor, her legs tucked underneath her while she folds clothing being pulled out of various boxes. I lean on the doorframe, cross my arms and watch her for a moment, enjoying the sight ofherin my home.

I have still yet to wrap my head around this situation. After years and years, this girl, my best friend, someone I knew as well as myself, even if she did have her secrets, is here. I’m finding it difficult it rectify my past feelings with the present.

I loved her. She meant everything to me. In a time when I needed a friend who was objective and not from my world, she was there. She simply accepted me as I was and never questioned a thing. Our bond, friendship, instant connection. We both just dove in and embraced it for all it was: a lifeline, companionship, and eventually,love.Childhood love, but love nonetheless.

Do I still love her? I don’t know.

Looking at her now, it feels like looking at a stranger wearing someone else’s face. Like looking at the girl you loved and lost’s twin sister. Her twin that you have never met, who didn’t even know about your existence.

Her face, her eyes, and her freckles send a pang of awareness straight to my heart every time I see her. They force memories that I’ve buried deep to resurface. But the lack of recognition on her part dims it all. My soul recognizes her,Mi Cielo,but that’s where the connection ends.

“Hey,” I murmur when the mental spiral threatens to take me down a dangerous path.

“Oh shit! You scared me!” she screeches, dropping the shirt she was folding and bringing her hands to her chest.

I chuckle and walk a few steps into the room, taking in all that she’s accomplished in here over the last couple of hours.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” I say softly, bringing my eyes back to her right as she tries to tuck something under her leg. Her face stays on me, her expression blank as though she’s hiding something. I drop my eyes down to her hands that are still slowly stuffing something under her. I try not to release the laugh sitting on my tongue.

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