Chapter 166 CHAPTER 166
Evelyn’s POV
I looked over at the man who was sitting at the table across from us and I was almost certain that he was watching us. He had his head bent over his drink with a baseball cap covering his head and a pair of glasses covering the other part of his face. He was sitting alone.
I looked away and tried to convince myself that he wasn’t looking at me. He was just a man sitting by himself and probably nursing a heartbreak over some drink. Even if he was looking at us, perhaps he was just admiring a beautiful family.
My arms tightened over little Michael and I forced my mind to concentrate on the dinner in front of me.
Alpha Michael was carving his steak with practised ease, unaware of the turmoil that was still burning in my chest.
“You are distracted,” he said, looking up as though reading my mind.
I smiled. “It’s nothing.”
He held my eyes. “Are you worried about my mum? I know it is a big thing to ask from you both, considering what you’ve both suffered recently.”
I looked towards the strange man. “I’m not worried about Philly. I think we would get along quite alright.”
I talked about how she cooked with us in the kitchen and how she ate so much. We laughed but I kept looking at the man who hadn’t moved an inch. I leaned forward, a little bit tipsy from the wine.
“Does your wife know you are out here spending time with me?” I asked, resting my chin on my cupped hand.
He stretched his hand across the table and cupped my other hand. “Do you want to ruin the night for me?” he asked jokingly.
I thought of what Philly had said to me the previous day again. She mentioned my name and she said I was her son’s mate. Once again I was curious to know why she had attacked Rosaleen.
“Can I ask you something private?” I asked.
He nodded, “What is it?”
“When you mum attacked Rosaleen, what triggered her? I mean she looks like she isn’t erratic.”
He squeezed my hand. “She never told us. Rosaleen said she just attacked her spontaneously.”
I nodded slowly. I caught the man staring at me again with the corner of my eyes. I was sure I wasn't mistaken. He was watching me in particular and the uneasiness I was feeling in my chest was not coincidental.
“There’s a man that has been watching me since we arrived here,” I said, lowering my voice and leaning closer to him. “He’s seated just on the table across from us.”
He looked at the man suddenly and I bit my lips.
“Do it discreetly,” I said.
His eyes remained fixed on the man. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” i replied. “Don’t let him know we are on to him.”
He looked at me. “Why? We need to ask him if he has something to say to you. I won’t let anything happen to you again, Evelyn.”
I straightened, but by the time we both looked again, he was gone.
I felt a chill run down my spine. I held little Michael tighter as Alpha Michael rose up, pushing his chair backwards in a hurry. I didn't need to ask him where he was going. I knew he was going after the strange man. I had not thought of the possibility that the man had been there to hurt me. And as I looked around, I imagined him lunging out of the dark corner and pulling a bullet through my head or my chest.
I shook my head. I was sure the man was not there for me.
I picked up my phone and dialled my mother’s number. I listened to it ring without any response. I redialed again as a cold sweat ran down my temple. My intuitions were rarely wrong, especially with mum.
Alpha Michael arrived just as the call ended without any response. I was on my feet, placing Michael in his pram.
“Something is wrong at home,” I said. “Mum is not taking her calls.”
“Shit!” he cursed immediately. He pulled out his phone from his pocket as we hurried out of the diner.
“I need to know what is going on at Anna Trent’s house,” he said to the person on the phone. I trudged after him, trying to reach my mum again. Eventually I called aunt Maya. maybe my mum would have told her something. Maybe I was panicking for no reason.
Aunt Maya took the call on the second ring.
“Evelyn?” she called as soon as she picked up.
“Aunt Maya,” I replied, placing Micheal in his seat in the car. “Have you heard from my mum tonight?”
“Your mum?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
I bit my lips. It wasn’t fair to raise an alarm when I didn't know the situation yet. “Nothing, aunt. I’ve just been unable to reach her.” I sat in the seat in front of the car. “I’ll just check her up at the house.”
“Let me know when you see her,” she said.
I nodded and ended the call.
Alpha Michael had started the car. “My aunt hasn’t heard from her,” I said. “What did they say?”
“There was a switch over,” he replied. “No one from the new team is taking their calls.”
I felt my heart sink. I should have spoken earlier when I noticed that strange man watching me. I was trying hard not to blame Philly’s presence for what could have happened, and in extension, blame Alpha Michael. He had promised me that everything would be alright. I hoped they would.
When we arrived at the house, it was still and quiet. I tried to rationalise it. Maybe they had gone to bed early. Philly didn't like the lights turned on, so they were probably in darkness because of that. The security post was also empty. I tried to explain it in my head too. The changeover team had not arrived yet. That would also explain why no one was available to take the calls from Alpha Michael.
I reached for the door to open it when the car stopped but he stopped me. “Wait,” he said, leaving the headlights on. “I’lll check it first. Stay in the car.”
I looked at him, unsure. He leaned forward and kissed me on my forehead, then squeezed my hand. “I’m sure they are fine. We’ll laugh about ruining our date soon.”
I looked back at the house and I didn't think so.
He stepped out of the car and I watched him walk to the security post first and then towards the house. I twisted my fingers in nervousness, fighting the urge to step out of the car and kill the suspense.
He walked to the front door and he rang the doorbell. Then I saw the door open. But no one was standing on the other side of the door. The door had given way when he pressed the doorbell.
Mum would never leave her door unlocked. I stepped out of the car before I could stop myself and crossed the distance between us in seconds. He was still standing in front of the opened door when I got to his side. I saw the mess in the sitting room and I knew. Someone had been there. Something terrible had happened.