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“Do I need to do anything?” she asked as she adjusted the bracelet, though it fit well so it was more of an anxious movement than anything.
“No. It’s all set to go. You got this.”
She had her doubts, but there was no turning back. When she drove through the gates of the mansion Darrian lived in, she knew she was stuck. At least until she took him down.
He opened the door before she even took one step toward it from her car. She couldn’t determine whether that was because someone had been following her all the way from Minnesota—and if that were the case she was screwed—or if he had simply seen her drive up from the cameras at the front gate.
“You’re home, Evelyn. I’m so glad to have you back. I do hope we can put our past behind us and move on. As a family.”
His smarmy smile did nothing to ease the worries swimming in her gut. Though for prying eyes and ears, she returned a smile as if she agreed.
“Leave your stuff. The staff will unpack it. Let’s have a drink.”
She stiffened when he threw an arm around her in a friendly gesture, but she didn’t try to remove it. She wouldn’t have witnesses saying she wasn’t showing kindness in the beginning. Everything had to go down with him attacking her for no reason. Which wouldn’t be a problem. He’d done it so many times before.
They settled into the parlor with Darrian pouring them both a glass of wine. It wasn’t even lunch, but she wouldn’t refuse it. The glass would help with her nerves.
They made idle chit-chat as if they hadn’t been to court a week earlier with an order of protection between them.
“I know you still need to settle in, but tomorrow, at the very least, we should talk business.”
The hard glint in his eyes said he’d be doing all the talking, she’d be listening only.
“Of course. I can’t wait to have a more active role.”
He merely smiled.
Darrian excused himself, stating a meeting would need his attention for the remainder of the afternoon. Eve went to her room, not surprised to see her belongings already there. There wasn’t much to unpack, and though it pained her, she hung up her clothes as if she planned to stay.
The day moved slowly with her sitting on pins and needles waiting for Darrian to corner her somewhere. Do what he always did.
But, like she suspected, he was on his best behavior. Supper was pleasant, and she feigned tiredness after, retreating to her room. She debated for a second whether to lock her bedroom door, resisting the urge. She wouldn’t sleep well anyway. The sooner he tried something, the sooner she could leave.
Except, nothing happened. The next day, they drove to the office together where a board meeting was held. Business as usual. This time, she had a voice. She was able to offer suggestions without retaliation.
This went on for a full week. For the first time in her life, she lived in a home with pleasant conversation and normal smiles. She went to work, feeling like a part of the company for once. And Darrian was a gentleman through it all. She was waiting for the moment when he would lash out, and he wasn’t giving it to her.
Was this her new hell? Living, waiting, pining for her freedom and he would never give it to her.
After almost two weeks away from Griffin, as she sat in bed, holding her phone, telling herself not to call him, she feared this was Darrian’s plan.
To make her sweat. To make her wait. To make her wonder and worry when it would all go back to the nightmare she used to live in.
19
The knockon the door had him looking up from the paperwork sprawled on his desk. The distraction was needed. He hadn’t been doing anything productive anyway.
Juliet smiled as she closed the door and took a seat across from him.
“You look terrible.”
Griffin wouldn’t disagree. He showered and put clean clothes on, but he hadn’t shaved in two weeks, so he had more than just stubble growing. He ran his hand through his hair so many times throughout the day that it looked as if he hadn’t combed it in weeks.
Two long weeks of not seeing Eve. No call. No text. No sign that Darrian intended to hurt her. Which he knew was bound to happen sooner or later. Once a monster, always a monster.
“Are you looking for me to disagree?”
“I’d like to say talk to me, but…” Juliet shrugged. “I get why you don’t want to. I don’t like it either about certain things. She’s safe. We’re safe.”
