Page 57 of The Silence of Hell

“I don’t know, Lavender. Someone smuggled them in here,” Chatter debated.

“Chatter, I refuse to believe they’re a threat,” I argued. I wasn’t getting rid of them. Sure, the way they’d appeared was creepy, but they seemed kind of sweet.

“Fine. Go get a blanket and sit down. I’ll fetch some drinks and some lunch for you. You missed it,” Chatter said.

???

I laid my head on Chatter’s shoulder. Chatter tapped the notebook on his lap where he’d been writing. Now, I could visibly see it. Everything didn’t seem so overwhelming.

Slaughter continued to upgrade security, and I had a full complement of guards. Other than Sin, Tatum was the only expert I had booked other than Fabergé, who was sending one in a week. Together, we’d jotted down the experts that I’d planned to phone and those Tatum had recommended, and Chatter had helped me narrow them down to one a week.

Fanatic would continue to tune up the cars, and he’d be able to value them, too. But Chatter confirmed that Fanatic knew experts and would contact them to agree with his valuation. Chatter had sent his friend Apache a message asking him to come and meet with me to discuss a large project.

Together, we’d discussed the museums planned and, in the end, I’d decided on a couple of main buildings with wings for the collections. They’d be several stories high and have elevators, and each wing could be locked down individually.

Next up was the current restorations; the third floor was being dried and then torn down to the studs and new walls being put up. Until we cleared the rooms, plumbers and electricians couldn’t get in, so they were right at the bottom. The gardens were being worked on by a landscaping company I’d found in Rapid City. It seemed Chatter knew Ezra, who was a part of Rage MC.

Now Callie was here, the mysterious happenings were also being investigated. If a human was behind them, Callie would prove that. With Sin scanning the Journal, my family secrets would soon be at my fingertips.

Everything else slotted into the plans and by the time we’d finished, I felt much more relaxed.

“Now you can see it all listed, seems easier, right?” Chatter asked.

“Yeah. I think I kept getting in my head and making things bigger than what they were,” I admitted.

“Easily done, babe,” Chatter said.

I sighed. “Thanks for this afternoon. I needed a break. I’ve been a control freak.”

“Rightfully so, knowing what is here. But maybe you can relax your grip a little. Can’t say I trust a man who sneaks a date with my woman when he knows we’re on the outs, but Tatum ain’t gonna steal.”

“Your woman?” I asked, amused.

“Mine. But it’s gonna take you time to get that. I treated you bad,” Chatter admitted.

“What made you change your mind?”

Chatter

He thought about his answer. Chatter needed to phrase it in a way so Lavender didn’t take offence.

“Hated seeing you accept Tatum’s date, and I did not understand why. For years, I kept my heart safe. After loving and losing once, that type of pain… it’s indescribable. Call me a coward, but I didn’t want to experience that ever again. But you are special and broke my walls down.

“I look at you and see someone brave and who faces adversity head-on. You have a quirky sense of humour, loyalty in spades, and a lot of love. Lavender, your kindness and gentleness shine, but so does your willingness to fight for what’s right. I’d be an idiot if I walked away from everything that makes you, you!”

“Yet you’ve managed to walk from other women after six months,” Lavender challenged.

“Yup. But they didn’t have what you do, they weren’t the whole package,” Chatter said.

“And just like that, I am meant to believe you’ve got over your reservations and are committed?”

“Hell no. I’m battling every fuckin’ cell in my body because I wanna lock you up somewhere safe to protect you. My nerves are screaming because I know somebody cut your brakes. The truth is, I’d love to shut this house down, kick everyone out, and keep you safe myself. But that’s not feasible. Shit, it’s even worse… because despite your weird-ass job… cretins of all things… I still need to be around you. Can’t bear the thought of not seeing you,” Chatter admitted.

Lavender began laughing. “Only a guy with a phobia like yours would fall for someone like me.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

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