Page 151 of The Echo of Forever

Sliding out of bed, I went into the bathroom first and brushed my teeth, eyeing Forever’s skin care shit on the counter and testing out a few on my face after washing it.

Women always had the best shit on hand.

I pulled on a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt before heading toward the kitchen. Forever stood at the stove, while Violet sat at the island with a plate in front of her.

“What y’all talking about?” I asked, making my presence known.

Forever didn’t turn, just kept pushing eggs around in the pan like I hadn’t said a word. I smiled, understanding immediately what this was about.

My baby was playing upset because I’d killed Millicent without letting her be part of it. The silent treatment was new for this version of her, but I found the little attitude cute as fuck.

“I’m here for breakfast,” Violet said, disregarding my question entirely.

Her face remained neutral, but there was amusement in her eyes as she glanced between us.

I slid behind Forever and wrapped my arms around her waist, dropping my chin atop her head. She didn’t push me away, which was a good sign, but she didn’t lean into me either.

Playing it cool, my Forever.

“Your boy can make his way into the city next week,” I told Violet, keeping my arms locked around my wife as she plated the eggs and turned toward the island. “Forever and I are moving onto the compound full-time for the foreseeable future. There’s a spot for you and him or y’all can stay in this building.”

I could practically feel Forever’s mind working, the questions forming about Violet’s true role in all this.

“Why are you here exactly? Besides helping him right a wrong.”

Violet shrugged and I couldn’t help laughing. She was the most nonchalant person I’d ever met, rarely showing emotion, but somehow I could tell she felt everything deeply.

“I mostly wanted to see who he’d go to such great lengths for,” she said after setting her fork down. “And Everwood is off limits to me and mine, of course I had to come and see what it was about.”

Forever leaned into the counter, pushing her ass against my dick in a way that couldn’t be accidental. I dropped one hand to her inner thigh and squeezed as they talked.

“But why are you still here?” Forever pressed.

That made Violet smile, a rare sight that transformed her face.

“He has me following your every move for the most part,” she told Forever honestly, her smile widening when she glanced at my face. “Not by car, though. I like being off the street.”

Forever briefly glanced at me over her shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly. I smiled wider and blew her a kiss.

There was no point in keeping it a secret anymore. Everywhere Forever went, there was a building close enough for Violet to watch her from. And when she was with me, Violet’s job was to protect us both from a distance, just until this was over.

“You could just come take a temporary job at Everwood Group,” Forever said, continuing her conversation with Violet as if I wasn’t standing there with my hands all over her. “We’ll be in the same building, and I can have someone he trusts working with the new initiates. They could use an outsider’s experience.”

Violet picked up a piece of bacon and tipped her head, considering.

“Who’s replacing Millicent?” she asked, brows lifting.

Forever removed herself from my hold, and I let her, because I could tell she’d invited Violet over for a specific reason. All my effort to get them to be friends was about to pay off.

My wife was finally opening up to the idea of there being more out there beyond Everwood.

“My uncle,” she said, turning off the stove. “You’d be appointed to his role on an interim basis.”

I liked where this was going and added my two cents. “Might be the perfect time to invite Ms. Red, too.”

Violet chuckled and stood. “Lucia is coming in with Finnegan; I suggest petitioning her in person. As for me…” Her eyes met Forever’s. “I accept your offer.”

She went to leave, but I stopped her. “How much longer we got you for?”