Page 152 of The Echo of Forever

I knew having her back me was a privilege she wouldn’t grant just anyone. It’d taken exposing the truth about Forever and me to make it happen.

Violet didn’t turn as she pulled the door open and replied, “Until I get bored. Oh, and Finn, Lucia, and I will stay on the compound.”

When she left, Forever spun on her toes and pushed me—a gentle nudge that made me laugh harder.

“What’s the matter, my forever? You still mad at a nigga?” I asked, grabbing her wrists when she tried to push me again.

She was frowning, but her eyes told the truth; she couldn’t stay upset with me to save her life.

“I’m not mad at you,” she whined, crossing and uncrossing her arms. “But like…” She stepped closer until she pressed against me and looked up into my eyes. “Don’t leave me out next time. I like to watch.”

Fuck.Those words from her mouth made my dick hard. I lifted her onto the island, and we started to kiss like horny teenagers as she wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me closer.

My phone rang at the worst time, cutting through the moment but at the sight of Oliver’s name I answered.

“Somebody dying?” I asked, keeping one hand on Forever’s thigh.

Oliver was silent for a second and then said, “I mean she ain’t die, but your grandmother had a mild stroke and—”

“Did they take her off the compound?” I interrupted with a frown.

“Yeah, when I got here Joel had already helped them load her in the ambulance. Solei rode with her.”

My mind raced; I wasn’t worried about her dying, but about how taking her off the compound exposed the only Cannon left from her generation. I knew death was inevitable, but wanted to protect her as long as I could.

“Alright,” I said, stepping from between Forever’s legs. “Forever and I need to make a stop, but we’re moving onto thecompound today. Let Solei stay with her for now, and we’ll figure out the rest later.”

I ended the call and explained to Forever what was going on. Her eyes softened immediately as she hopped off the counter.

“We can start our day earlier than intended,” she said, taking my hand and bringing it to her lips. “Let’s make a quick stop at my other place, then head to the hospital.”

Mm.

She’d just reminded me it was time to pack that place up and move her out indefinitely. There was no need for her to have it anymore, not now that we were back together.

The compound and apartment across the hall were the only places Forever was allowed to lay her head without me from here on.

A little over an hour later, I followed her into the heavily guarded building, noting the lingering gazes from the concierge and security.

It was my first time here, since it belonged to her parents. But now that our marriage was public knowledge, there wasn’t a building she could enter that I couldn’t, and vice versa.

We took the elevator to the top floor in silence, but I felt her eyes on me every so often.

The day had taken an unexpected turn, and something about her regarding me quietly made me feel more exposed than usual. She was trying to get read on me, and I wasn’t trying to let her, at least not right now.

It wasn’t until she pushed the door open to her place that my instincts kicked in. It was trashed from what I could see from the door, and at the end of the hall was her father, chest heaving like a madman as he approached.

And even though Forever was completely unfazed by his presence, I still pulled my gun without hesitation and pointed it at him. My wife might not see him as a threat to her life, butanybody as aggressive as him had to be put down with a bullet and nothing else.

“Oh, look, my daughter has finally found her way home, and she’s brought the husband I never approved of with her,” Eliel said sarcastically, completely unfazed by the gun pointed at his head as Forever moved around him. “Come inside, Mr. Cannon. Let’s have a chat.”

Forever sighed.

I knew that no matter how much she pretended not to care, she did. Her father’s disapproval still affected her, even if she’d never admitted to me or herself. Making her happy was my only goal, so I tucked my gun away and followed her in, keeping my eyes on Eliel.

“Did you have to ruin my couch?” Forever asked, staring at the deep-seated sectional. He’d slashed it repeatedly and pulled the stuffing out, more than likely looking for anything to control her. “I wanted to bring this with me.”

The casual way she mentioned moving the couch rather than addressing the destruction of her apartment said a lot about how often this probably happened.