We are not going back

Chapter eighty-two

I watched Olivia as she drifted into unconsciousness, the second round of pills finally taking effect. Her breathing slowed, her body going limp against the bed, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It had taken too much convincing to get her to take the pills this time, but once again, I had managed to knock her out.

I needed the space. I needed to think. And more than that, I needed to see Colette again.

I grabbed my keys from the counter, my heart pounding in my chest as I quietly slipped out of the house. The crisp air hit my face as I stepped outside, and for a brief moment, I felt like I could finally breathe.

As I walked toward my car, the sound of tires crunching on gravel made me stop. I turned to see a sleek, luxurious car pulling up beside me. The windows rolled down, and to my surprise, Evelyne was behind the wheel, her sunglasses perched on her nose, her lips curving into that signature smirk.

“Going somewhere?” she asked, her French accent smooth, like always.

I raised an eyebrow, stopping in my tracks. “Evelyne, what are you doing here?”

She shrugged, looking far too comfortable as she leaned back in her seat. “I had a feeling you might be heading somewhere interesting, so I thought I’d tag along.”

I frowned, confused but not entirely surprised. Evelyne had always been unpredictable, showing up at the most unexpected moments. Still, her timing was impeccable, and that made me uneasy.

“I’m going to see Colette,” I said, watching her reaction closely.

Evelyne grinned, the kind of grin that made you question how much she already knew. “Ah, prison visit. How quaint. Mind if I join? I can't miss an opportunity to see such a beauty in person.”

I blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift. “You want to come to the prison? To see Colette?”

Evelyne leaned forward, pushing her sunglasses up into her hair, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Is it that hard to fathom? Colette’s hot. And anyone who almost succeeded in killing Olivia is someone I’d like to buy a drink. Or, in this case, visit in prison.”

A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. I shook my head, my lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

She shrugged again, her smirk widening. “I’ve been told.” Then she gestured to the passenger seat. “Come on, you’re not really going to turn down a ride in this car, are you? Besides, I think you could use the company.”

I hesitated for a moment, the weight of everything pressing down on me. But then I sighed and walked over to the passenger side, opening the door. “Fine. But we’re not making this a thing, Evelyne.”

“Of course not, darling,” she said, winking as I slid into the seat. “Just two women visiting my future wife.”

The drive to the prison was surprisingly quiet. Evelyne was always talkative, but today she seemed content to let the silence hang between us. Maybe she sensed that I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, or maybe she was saving her energy for Colette. Either way, I appreciated it. My mind was racing, trying to piece together what I needed to ask Colette without tipping my hand.

When we finally arrived at the prison, Evelyne pulled up to the gates, looking far too elegant for a place like this. She handed her ID to the guard with a charming smile, and I couldn’t help but notice how easily people fell for her. The guard barely glanced at me before waving us through, his eyes lingering on Evelyne a little longer than necessary.

As we walked into the visiting area, Evelyne’s mood shifted. She was humming softly under her breath, her eyes gleaming with mischief. When Colette finally walked in, clad in the dull gray of a prison uniform, Evelyne’s gaze sharpened, appraising her with a look that could only be described as flirtatious.