Page 79 of Severed Heart (The Ravenhood Legacy #2)

“Yes,” Tyler responds as I dig into the back of my closet for the first time in decades.

“I do. Honestly, I do, T, but then again, you have no fucking idea what fielding the shit that’s gone down this summer has been like!

No fucking clue because I’ve protected you from it!

I’ve literally killed myself, and so has Dom, as well as every inked bird to keep you from the brunt of the weight of it!

... Look, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now, and it’s warranted.

I’m not denying that, but it’s your reaction now, this behavior, is exactly why you weren’t fucking told or trusted with it! ”

“Don’t you dare fucking preach to me about morality. Are you fucking my aunt?”

I wince at Ezekiel’s blunt question as Tyler instantly explodes with his reply. “That’s not and will never be your goddamned business!”

“No,” Ezekiel counters, “because you don’t do personal, right brother?”

“No, I fucking don’t and never will because of this fucking situation right here.

This shit always gets messy. But they didn’t do this to hurt you, and I’m positive you fucking saw that last night in their faces as I have for months !

Drunk or not, I know you saw it, and I’m willing to bet my own ink it’s why you let them keep theirs .

.. Jesus, I’m sorry, and I’m sorry I covered for them, but I would do the fucking same for you if the circumstances were reversed. ”

“No secrets between us, your words, your fucking oath to me !” Ezekiel roars.

“That’s right, my oath , not theirs. This is different, T. They didn’t expect to fall in love with her.”

“And because you’re just as fucked in the head, that makes it okay?”

“Being in love or caring for someone is not being fucked in the head, you blind fucking bastard, but I’m done throwing pearls in front of swine today.

I’m done talking at you another fucking minute.

Come find me when your anger isn’t the sole basis for your judgment, and you’ve reached a place where you can speak like a reasonable adult. ”

“Who do the fuck do you think you are talking to me like this? You forget your place.”

“My place?!” Tyler roars. “My fucking place is whatever and wherever I want it to be, you arrogant fuck, and by choice! We might have decided together there is a pecking order, but it’s always been our decision to honor it.

We aren’t fucking bound to you by anything else but loyalty.

And you might want to remember that when and if they willingly get on that fucking plane as ordered .

.. and you know what, asshole? While you’re at it—and since you deem us all unfit to handle your club—deal with it yourself for a while, and let’s see how you fucking fare without our help! ”

“Fine with me, motherfucker!” Ezekiel snaps before they both explode in more heated back-and-forth. Filled to the brim with anxiety, when I lift an old sheet set, I come across a box. The sight of it has every hair on my body standing on end before I’m pulled straight under.

“—what are these?”

“—you found—”

An image of Alain standing next to the kitchen table, eyes littered with rage, fills my vision as mixed voices continually surround me.

“—don’t worry, I got them cheap.”

“—when I find you, I will fucking kill you!”

“Delphine,” Tyler whispers as I come to, seeing that he’s on his knees in front of me in the closet. Ezekiel stands behind him, peering at me where I’m cowering, with my hands covering my chest and head as Tyler frantically scans my face.

“What is it?” Tyler asks, scouring the closet before gently palming and lowering the protective hands I have lifted. “Please,” Tyler prods, “please talk to me.”

I blink several times before I finally croak. “What happened?”

“You started screaming,” Ezekiel rasps out behind him, his admission haunted, as are both their expressions.

“I want to go,” I whisper low, “I want nothing here . Soldier, please get me out of here,” I whimper before a fear-filled cry bursts out of me.

For the first time in a decade or more, I crack in front of Ezekiel, who gapes at my outburst as Tyler clutches me to him, holding me for several seconds to his chest.

“Jesus Christ, you’re shaking so badly,” Tyler whispers. “I’ve got you, let’s go.”

Tyler sweeps me to my feet before we walk past Ezekiel, who carefully trails the two of us, watching our every move. Tyler guides me down the hall, stopping at the end of it before glancing back at my baffled nephew.

“Like I said, brother. You have no fucking idea what’s been happening here, and if you want to talk, we can have a conversation later.”

Ezekiel ignores him completely, his eyes bolted to me.

“Tatie ... are you okay?” His confusion tugs my heart as he tries to understand what just happened while I grapple with the emotions pummeling me.

Normally, I would retreat, isolate, and sip to numb, to stifle it.

To protect him from seeing me in such a state, but I have no such luxury anymore.

The one true price of my sobriety. A price I want to solely pay.

“I will be fine. I just need to get out of this fucking house,” I tell him, and he draws his brows in confusion. “I don’t live here anymore,” I clarify in a rush. “I want to talk to you,” I tell him, “but maybe not today, okay?”

He lingers in my doorway before glancing inside my closet, and I know he’s looking for the source of my distress as I address him.

“Ezekiel, leave it ,” I command in a tone he knows well, a firm order. “Close the door ... this is my mess to sort, and I will when I am ready. This is not for you. I have ...” protected you from this for too long. “Close the door.”

He nods, pulling the door closed as I asked, confused by what’s happening as he speaks again. “You don’t live here?”

“No. I’ve freed myself of all poisons,” I blow out a breath. “Please be careful to do the same. Anger is a very dangerous poison. I know you are hurt, but please try to remember that with Jean Dominic and Sean.”

“How long have you not lived here?” he asks, deaf to my reason, the pain leaking from him clear as he stands looking like a man lost. My need to go to him strengthens, but I know I have to gather myself for that.

“That’s what happens when you don’t answer your phone for almost a fucking month,” Tyler snaps.

“Stop it, Soldier,” I scold gently before looking back to my nephew. For a brief second, I see a glimpse of the boy who waved me off at Celine’s feet the day before I left France.

“Au revoir, Tatie!”

“Au revoir, ézéchiel.”

“I will come to you. We will talk soon, okay?”

Ezekiel gives me a slow nod, utterly perplexed by what’s transpired. Just after, Tyler ushers me out of the house and into the cab of his truck.

“I saw Alain,” I confess in a rush as Tyler turns the ignition, and I look over to see him eagerly searching me. “I saw him clearly. That night . I saw him coming toward me,” I start to shake again. “I saw his rage. I saw my death in his eyes.”

Tyler swallows and nods. “I’ll call Mom and have her meet us at the house,” he whispers before palming my hip and sliding me flush to him in the seat. “Hold onto me, General, and don’t let go.”

Face planted to his chest and inhaling his comforting smell, I don’t let go the whole ride back to the orchard.