Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Elysia playfully said, "But what if I still want to sleep?"

"Then keep sleeping, sleep peacefully, don't worry about anyone hurting you. You're safe," was the reassuring reply.

"Okay, I'll sleep a bit more then."

"Alright."

No sooner had Elysia closed her eyes than Tarquin's phone buzzed urgently. He quickly silenced it.

After a glance at the screen, he frowned slightly and pocketed the device.

He remained seated by the bed, gently holding Elysia's hand, softly humming a love song to lull her to sleep.

Elysia had planned to pretend to sleep so he would go rest, but his singing actually lulled her into slumber.

Once sure Elysia was asleep, Tarquin carefully released her hand, tucking it under the covers and making sure she was snug before leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead and then her lips. Only then did he call in a nurse to keep watch.

The moment he stepped out of Elysia's room, Tarquin's demeanor shifted dramatically.

He transformed into the alpha of the night!

His lips were a tight line, his facial muscles taut, his eyes rimmed red and emitting a chilly light.

Lowell was waiting just outside, quickly reporting, "Tarquin, Axel said the guy's awake."

Without a word, Tarquin strode into the elevator.

Only when the doors had closed did he speak, "Add more guards for Elysia. No one gets near her room without my say-so!"

"Understood. Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to Ms. Thorne."

It was common knowledge among Tarquin's crew that Elysia was his Achilles' heel.

No one dared take matters concerning her lightly.

Had the incident not occurred with Elysia in the car, fainting from shock, Tarquin wouldn't have unleashed such fury.

Lowell still vividly remembered the look on Tarquin's face as he rushed Elysia into the hospital – not anger, but helplessness, anxiety, fear.

His eyes even held a plea when he handed Elysia over to Benjamin, begging him to save her, to keep her from harm.

Elysia hadn't been injured, merely fainted from fright, yet Tarquin was visibly shaken.

Having lived on the edge of life and death since childhood, Tarquin feared very few. Previously, only Elijah had that power. Now, Elysia joined that sacred list.

She was someone he held dear, a touch to her was a death wish.

As long as Elysia remained unconscious, Tarquin was a constant presence in her room, refusing to leave or even eat.

His rage was always there, simmering beneath his concern, waiting for the moment...

Now that Elysia was awake and confirmed to be okay, he could finally ease his guard.

Next came vengeance.

Minutes later, Tarquin arrived at a makeshift shack by the seaside.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

A solitary chair stood at the entrance, where Axel was seated, expressionlessly enjoying the sea breeze.

Upon seeing Tarquin, he stood, "Tarquin."

Tarquin nodded briefly, aggressively stripping off his tie and tossing it aside before shedding his suit jacket. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he made his way into the shack.

Lowell and Axel stayed outside, knowing better than to follow.

The tin shack was small, barely spacious enough for a metal bed and walls adorned with various implements of torture.

This was Axel's secret hideout, a place no outsider left intact.

Currently, a man was tied to the bed, limbs spread in a stark "X," his mouth sealed with duct tape, eyes wide with terror at Tarquin's approach.

Tarquin's face was a mask of cold fury as he rolled up his sleeves further, then took off his watch.

Elysia had once complimented that watch; it wouldn't do to stain it with blood.

Only after securing the watch did Tarquin approach the bed, his gaze fixed on the man tied there.