Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 5

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**

**Chapter 5**

**Mava**

I barely managed to take two steps when he was upon me, fast and relentless, his fingers like iron clamps around my wrist. For a moment, I thought I heard my shoulder pop.

A scream tore from my throat, but he didn’t loosen his grip as he yanked me around to face him.

His grasp was powerful, a silent testament to his simmering anger. I could feel the blood flow in my arm slow, a sensation that danced on the edge of pain, but it was more than just physical discomfort; it was a visceral reminder of the kind of night I was caught in.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the hallway. It was the kind of tone that commanded attention, vibrating with an authority that felt suffocating.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. I stammered, “… bathroom,” my brain momentarily blanking out. “I locked myself out. I wasn’t spying, I swear.”

Down the hall, a woman had paused at Tylon’s door, one eyebrow arched in amusement, her lips curling into a smirk. It was as if she had just won a prize, a victory I was entirely unaware of.

Embarrassment clawed at me, gnawing away at my insides, but it was fear and guilt that occupied the top spot in my mind. The truth of the matter was that I didn’t know who these men were, nor did I grasp the extent of their capabilities. The way he glared at me dredged up too many childhood memories—ones I had fought hard to bury.

My breath quickened, becoming ragged and uneven, and I recognized the signs of panic creeping in.

“You were told not to wander after midnight,” he growled, his words heavy with accusation. It wasn’t a question; it was a verdict.

“I wasn’t—” I started, but I felt the tremor in my voice, the rising panic mirrored in the rapid thumping of my heart. “Please, let go.” The last word slipped out, small and ugly, betraying my fear.

A flicker of something shifted in his expression, as if a wire had snapped somewhere inside him. His grip remained unyielding, but his eyes softened just a fraction, a hint of confusion breaking through the storm of anger.

“Tylon!”

A new voice pierced the tension in the hallway, and I glanced past him to see Leo striding toward us, his eyes still heavy with sleep but burning with fury.

“Let her go, Tylon!” he shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. “Can’t you see you’re hurting her?”

In an instant, Tylon released me, and I stumbled backward, barely managing to keep my balance.

But Leo was there, his arms wrapping around me with a firm yet gentle touch. I leaned into that steadiness, craving the warmth and safety he offered, though I couldn’t quite discern whether it was relief or fear that drove me closer.

For a fleeting moment, I felt a strange sense of safety, only to be reminded of the woman who now wore a scowl, glaring at me with disdain as she took in Leo’s protective stance.

“So,” she said to Tylon, her voice dripping with casual flirtation, “call me if you change your mind.”

“I won’t,” he replied, his tone final, causing her to blink in surprise. She brushed past us, fabric rustling softly, exuding the quiet confidence of someone who knows she’ll eventually get what she wants.

Tylon didn’t look back as he retreated into his room, slamming the door behind him. I flinched at the sound, but Leo remained by my side, still holding me. I allowed myself to lean into him, grateful for the comfort, and he guided me two doors down.

His room was tidy, not obsessively so, unlike Tylon’s, but it revealed nothing about his personality—no pictures, no posters. It was as if he had just moved in that very day.

He flipped on the light in the bathroom and stepped back, allowing me to enter. “There,” he said simply.

“Thank you,” I managed, my voice low and raw around the edges. I hesitated in the doorway, feeling the weight of unspoken words. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

I felt like a child again, apologizing to adults after enduring their judgment.

“You didn’t,” he assured me, and I almost believed him. “Don’t let him intimidate you. Ty is… Ty. He confuses protecting people with controlling them. It’s his way or no way. The situation isn’t ideal, but we all just have to find a way to work with it.”

I nodded, knowing that anything more might lead to tears once again. I closed the door behind me with a shaky breath, realizing that I didn’t even want to pee anymore.