#Chapter 173 – Sneaky Squirrel

John Walsh storms into breakfast the next morning, making everyone at the table freeze.

“What is the meaning of this,” he growls at Evelyn, who stares at him with a piece of toast half in her mouth.

Evelyn removes her toast and clears her throat. “What are you talking about, dad?” she asks.

Ian, seated next to her, stares at his grandfather, his hands still wrapped around his teacup filled with hot cocoa.

“Joyce,” Walsh says, glaring at them as he comes to the head of the table. He doesn’t sit down, but instead places his palms flat on the table, leaning forward to glare at his wife, his daughter, and his grandson, all seated there.

All three blink at him and Evelyn’s mother glances at the door.

“Is he not coming down for breakfast?” she asks.

“Oh shoot,” Evelyn says, her eyes narrowing sarcastically. “And I was so looking forward to seeing him.”

“He has not reported for duty,” Walsh says, glaring around at them. “He didn’t even check in last night, after he went out.”

“Well, what was he doing out?” Ian asks, his eyebrows raised.

Walsh glares at him.

“If he missed his bedtime,” Ian says, all innocence, “then it sounds like it’s his fault.”

Evelyn works hard to keep her face straight, sending Ian a little glance of appreciation. God, she loves her kid.

“I know that you’re behind this, Evelyn,” Walsh says, ignoring Ian and turning his wrath on Evelyn. But Evelyn cut her teeth on that wrath – she knows how to handle it.

“I’m sorry, dad,” she says, reaching calmly for a bowl of cut fruit that a servant set in front of her. “But I really don’t know anything about what you’re talking about. You know that Joyce and I haven’t had any contact for years – why would I know anything now?”

of fruit and daintily gives herself a scoop before returning

his mouth to say something else but he’s interrupted when

who else is in the room. “The Beta

towards the rest of the room, asking Willard, silently, to consider

as he glances at the family, doing a double-take when he realizes that it’s Evelyn sitting there, and not

says, his demeanor changing to one of

see you as well. I never got a chance

an eyebrow

says, nodding and indicating her black eye. “Thank you so much for breaking your word to Victor and secretly keeping my allegiance to my father’s pack. If you’d kept your word, I’d have been stuck in a terribly abusive situation. In so many ways,” she says, c*****g her head charmingly to the side and giving him a

this information. “Of course, Evelyn,” he says, giving her a cursory little bow. “I always had your best interests at heart and

him a little nod and sips

attention back to Walsh. “We need

men pass. As soon as the door swings shut,

says. “Can I go

that had been left on the table by the servants for the family’s perusal. “Don’t

the door. Evelyn’s mother opens

her a smile. “He needs to learn how to entertain himself on his own, anyway,

again after Ian’s little form passes through it. “Does he seem all

mother hesitates a moment and then picks up the Arts pages. The two read together in

scents to determine where he had gone. Adults walk too fast, he

far. His grandfather’s office is at the end of the hall and, in their hurry, Walsh and Willard left the door open

hallway outside, daddy wouldn’t have forgotten to close the door. Then, he takes a set of jacks out of his pocket and settles in to listen, bouncing the ball and collecting the jacks as he

this much control into the hands of

harsh. “He needs the experience and he has the training to do it. Stop doubting him – I’m sure that everything

– maybe someone hitting a wall, or a desk? “Don’t you see what his happening? Your daughter disappears, replaced by her sister – Joyce

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