MATED TO SERIES COLLECTION

41. LARA: A LITTLE VACATION

"Ethan."

"Silas."

"Get out!"

"It's my fucking house! You get out."

"Enough!" Devon yelled as he slammed his fists down on the table, causing the cutlery to rattle.

I was actually scared that the table might break in two from the force he had used. The brothers fell silent but they continued to glare at each other from across the table. Everything had gone back to normal—constant bickering amongst them—but it was a lot worse.

I noticed the fact that Valeria barely talked to either of them and that Devon couldn't look Silas in the eyes. He felt guilty about something but I didn't know what. David was the only one who acted natural towards all of them.

As for Avery, she made sure to kiss and touch Ethan whenever Silas or I were in the same room as them. It hurt. Sometimes if felt like my heart was being ripped apart. All I could do was breathe through it and act like nothing was wrong with me. Silas seemed to understand what was happening. I'd find him watching me with concern sometimes.

As the days passed, the urge to leave increased. The arguments between them just got worse and worse. Sometimes it would turn into physical fights that either Devon or David broke apart. I hated being in the house with them when they fought like that. I couldn't just walk out like I wanted too. Silas had made sure that I understood why I couldn't leave the house without an escort.

The fact that Ethan went out of his way to postpone the fight with Kyle, made Silas even more furious and short tempered.

There was nothing left of the Ethan I had spent the night with. He went out of his way to ignore me and when we were forced to be in the same room, he was rude.

It was all getting too much to handle. I just wanted things to return to normal—before David showed up at Silas's door. A part of me wished that he had never forced us to return home but then again, things always happened for a reason.

***

"Hey."

I glanced up at Valeria hovering in the doorway. She gave me a small smile as she entered the living room. For the first time in hours the house was deadly silent. Ethan had left after another shouting match with Silas and Silas had disappeared somewhere.

Valeria took a seat opposite me with a small sigh. Her eyes dropped to my stomach for a few seconds before darting back up to mine.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," I muttered.

"Lara, how do you really feel?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.

Her question instantly made tears fill my eyes. I quickly blinked them away as I turned my head so she couldn't see them. I hesitated. How much could I possible tell her? Silas and I weren't married yet, and I honestly had no clue when we'd be getting married. With everything that has been happening, we barely talked.

I tried bringing up the wedding but Silas instantly shot me down. He didn't want to leave without fighting Kyle.

"I'm not so good," I finally said, glancing back at her. "I just don't know for how much longer I can handle this. Silas said that we could leave but he won't without fighting Kyle and then Ethan. . .I just don't want to be here anymore."

Her eyes shone with concern as they darted over my face. Valeria pursed her lips as she continued to stare at me. She swallowed loudly as she got to her feet and closed the distance between us. Valeria crouched in front of me and reached for my hands. She gave them a squeeze as she stared up at me.