by Marie Harte
“Are you good?” he asked, standing behind her.
So much for the concern. She nodded at his cold tone and, with her heart sinking into her stomach, she turned. “I’m going to check on Jillian.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alex moved quickly through the house, checking the windows, pausing at each one to search the surrounding area. He lowered his rifle and crossed to the stairs, climbing them silently. He stopped at the top when he saw Jillian’s door was open and peeked inside, seeing her sleeping on the bed. He scanned the room. No Eve. He entered the room across the hall. It looked out onto the front of the house. He raised his rifle and looked through his scope at the opposite side of the lake.
No movement.
He scanned the lake in a slow sweeping motion and stopped when he saw ripples in the water. He held his breath and focused on the spot. Nothing. He continued searching further along for any type of disturbance in the water. When he found nothing, he exhaled and finished his sweep, then checked the bank and the front yard.
He lowered his rifle and stared out the window. There was a drowsy sigh behind him in the dark. He turned to find Eve sleeping in his mom’s old reading chair. He had sat in that chair with his mom for many hours listening to her read. He’d always loved that chair. It was the only piece of furniture he hadn’t given away, when he finally came back here. It was faded and worn and was so big it practically swallowed Eve up.
He felt a sense of peace run through him as he watched Eve sleep. Her head was resting back, her hands were jammed between her knees and her legs were tucked up under her. He noticed her lift her shoulders and shiver, pulling at the sweater she wore.
Grabbing a blanket off the bed, he laid it over her gently. A curl of hair fell onto her cheek as she cuddled under the blanket. He brushed it away and touched her smooth skin. His chest became tight as he gazed at her. She probably hated him now, which would cause him a lot of pain and regret over the coming years. That didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that she was safe. He would suffer through anything to keep her safe. And it didn’t matter that she was good for him, or that she made him feel at peace, or that she fit him perfectly. Because he knew now that he loved her. He loved her. Would always love her. And you protect the ones you love, even if it causes you pain.
“Thank you,” she whispered without opening her eyes.
That was when the first mine went off.
Alex jumped to the window. There was an orange glow next to the lake. Close to the house.
“Shit.” He turned back to Eve to get her up but she was already up and moving for the door.
He was right behind her as she entered Jillian’s room. “Let’s go.” He grabbed Jillian’s arm and helped Eve lift her off the bed, then grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him towards the stairs. “Eve come stand in front of her. Help her down.” Eve did as he ordered without question and stood in front of Jillian taking her hand from him. Another mine went off. This one was on the other side of the house.
He motioned for Eve to stop.
Lifting his rifle, he crept silently down the stairs. He could see the bright flames reflecting off the lake through the front windows. Then movement. Miles. He rushed down the stairs. “Basement now!” he ordered quietly over his shoulder. He reached the centre of the room and fired at the shadow running along the front porch. He chambered another round as Eve took Jillian through the kitchen to the basement door. Only when he heard the door close did he leave the house in search of Miles.
* * * *
Another explosion. Jillian jumped next to her. “Oh, God. Rick is going to blow us up.”
“No. Not Rick.” Eve yanked hard on the shelves and exhaled when they opened. Holy crap. She was shaking, she needed to calm down. She would be no good to either of them if she fell apart. She dragged Jillian inside behind her, closing the door and listening as the shelves slid back into place. She exhaled. Alex really was good at this secret hiding business.
“Alex is trying to blow us up?”
“Shhh! Keep your voice down, I’m not sure if he can hear us in here,” Eve whispered back. She held Jillian’s hand and moved slowly down the tunnel. Another mine exploded, but this time it was ahead of them. Little bits of dirt fell from the low ceiling. Eve looked up nervously at the dirt, then at an old support beam.
Please don’t let them collapse. She prayed silently to herself.
They travelled slowly down the tunnel, getting further away from the house and the light. Eve stopped when she heard gun shots. She desperately wanted to know what was going on up there. Was Alex okay, was he hurt? More gun shots. And then silence.
They reached the steps under the shed and Eve picked up the flash light Alex had shown her earlier and switched it on. The area lit up. Jillian’s eyes were wide as she looked up the steps.
“Is that where we’re going?”
“No, that leads to the shed. Alex wants us to go that way. It goes up the hill and comes out on the top of the hill. We’re supposed to wait for him there.”
Jillian grabbed the light and pointed it to the tunnel under the stairs. It didn’t look too bad, until a centipede fell from the ceiling. Jillian yelped and bolted, as fast her belly would allow her, for the steps. “I’m not going in there. I’ll wait for Alex in the shed.”
“No.” Eve reached for her shirt and pulled her back down. “You can’t…” Footsteps above them.
Looking up, both Eve and Jillian followed the steps as they crossed to the hidden door. Eve snatched the light away from Jillian and pushed her towards the other tunnel. A sudden thump on the floor had them freezing in place. Another. And another. The ripping of wood from the floor. Oh no! He’d found the handle to the door. Eve thrust the flash light at Jillian and forced her down the tunnel. “Keep the light off until it’s clear.” She pushed Jillian hard towards the dark tunnel. “Go.” The door flew open just as Jillian slipped into the inky shadows.
Miles squatted down looking thoughtfully at her. “You are not who I was expecting.” He sighed, “I knew he was fucking you but I didn’t think he was stupid enough to bring you here.” He moved his head slightly, studying her.
Eve leaned away from him.
“No.” Miles gave her a low warning, “Come on up, Eve.” He motioned with his hand.
Keeping her eyes glued to his gun, she slowly climbed the steps until she was within his grasp, he locked onto her arm and hauled her up the rest of the way, releasing her when she stood next to him. Holding out his hand, he gestured for her to precede him. She looked him over. He was wet. Soaking. “How did you get here?”
He spoke between clenched teeth, “Your boyfriend is a little more skilled than I gave him credit for. He made a nice little defensive perimeter around you. I’ll have to remember to ask how he was able to get into Ace’s apartment.”
Eve wanted to say ‘through the front door’, but decided to keep her mouth shut. She walked out of the shed and looked around nervously. Alex was out here somewhere. Or was he? Now that she was out here and Jillian wasn’t with her, maybe he realised that Jillian was on her way to the top of the hill. He may have gone to meet her at the opening of the tunnel, help her escape. If that was the case, would he come back? She prayed with all her being that he would. But after the way he’d treated her—what he had said—she just didn’t know. She couldn’t depend on him, she needed to help herself. But she had no weapons, no training, so used the only thing she had at her disposal.
“Who were you expecting?” she lowered her voice, forced a smooth pitch.
Miles pulled her to a stop and scanned the area. He glared down at her. “You know who I was expecting. Why are you playing dumb?”
“I’m not.” She shrugged. “I just wanted to see if you could say her name. She is, after all, the mother of your baby.” She packed the words with enough force that he began leaning towards her. He blinked, confused, then straightened.
* * * *
That’s my girl. Ale
x thought as he silently watched Eve talk to Miles. She was working her magic on him and he had no idea what she was doing. He was proud of her for risking her talent and life to stall him.
When he first saw Miles dive into the shed he’d stopped firing on the off chance that Eve and Jillian might be in there. Then he’d heard the yelp. So had Miles. His throat almost closed up on him when he saw Eve march out of the shed with Miles right behind her.
Anger and fear rose in his chest. He was unaware he was squeezing his jaws together until he felt the pull in his temples. He took a breath. Calm down. Lowering his rifle silently onto the ground, Alex pulled the Sig pistol Trevor had given him from behind his back and stood slowly. He shifted lightly from the shadow of the trees behind Miles and motioned to Eve to bring him closer. She faltered in her conversation when she saw him, but not enough for Miles to notice. Satisfied that she understood he carefully backed into the shadows of the forest.
“Jillian Reid,” he said, keeping a close watch on her movements. “The attempt to make me feel some sort of attachment towards her is very noble, but a waste of time.”
“I don’t understand. Is having your baby that bad? You must like kids. You have two of your own.” Eve shifted her weight to the other foot.
He was on her in a flash looming over her, glaring at her with black eyes. “How do you know about my family?” he demanded. He followed her when she staggered back and clasped the tops of her arms in a death grip. His hands dug into her skin and she could feel the muscles begin to throb. “Tell me,” he roared and gave her a hard shake.
She tried to breathe, but she was so scared. Where had Alex gone? She blinked.
“Alex told me.”
“What?” he snapped.
Okay, she had another chance to calm him. “Alex told me you like to take your kids to school when you are at home.” The soothing call of her words, mixed with the truth of her answer, confused him.
“Alex who?” He shook his head.
“Alex Hunter.” She pushed the words at him. “You remember Alex don’t you? He’s your partner and friend. Though I can’t say I believe that. You shot him and put him in the hospital. How could you do that? He only wanted to help Jillian.”
“Ace is in the hospital. He’s in a coma.” He frowned, looking down. “How do you know…?” His head snapped up, eyes dark. “That cop, Taylor. He and Alex are close aren’t they?”
Eve didn’t know how to react to that statement and laughed. “Very close.”
Miles pulled his mouth into a tight line. “He’s how you know about my girls. Alex told him about my family.” He ran a hand though his damp hair. “Jesus. All those years working together and I never thought, never considered that Ace was a traitor.”
“He’s not,” Eve snapped. “You are.” She pointed her finger at him, enraged that his man had the nerve to call Alex a traitor. “You’re the one who is trying to kill an innocent woman, whose only mistake was to let you touch her.” She turned, moving towards the forest, then swung back to face him. “Love and lust must truly make people blind, because if she saw you for what you really are, Jillian would never have let you touch her.”
He closed the distance between them. “You have no idea who Alex is. You saw him yourself, he’s in the hospital,” he replied through gritted teeth.
She laughed again. It sounded high and a bit crazy, even to her. “I know him better than you. He’s compassionate and protective. He has a wonderful sense of humour. But he’s not perfect. He is impatient and becomes annoyed when he doesn’t get what he wants. He hates to be ignored and, regardless what he thinks is best for him, he doesn’t like to be alone.” She swayed back towards the forest, hoping Alex was close. “He didn’t say but I think he was hurt when you shot him. He considered you family and you betrayed him. You’re the traitor, not Alex.”
Somewhere during her rant she had forgotten to maintain her pitch and she lost the calming effect she’d once had over Miles because his face grew darker by the word. He quickly reached out to strike her but Alex was suddenly there, standing in front of her, pushing her back. He caught Miles’ arm and smashed his fist into his face. Miles stumbled back.
Alex pointed to the side away from the men. “Over there, Eve.”
She backed away hypnotised by the scene in front of her. She didn’t know who of the two men looked scarier. Miles with his black eyes or Alex with Cade’s brown eyes. Both men were ready to kill the other but they remained still, as though waiting to see what the other would do.
“Jesus, Miles,” Alex sounded calm. “Why are you doing this? Because you made a mistake?”
“That baby is a little more than a mistake. It could ruin my life. I love my wife and my family. I don’t expect you to understand.” He nodded to Eve, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. “You started fucking this one only a couple of weeks after your wife was killed.”
“You mean Justine. The woman you killed,” Alex confirmed. “She’s a feisty little thing. When I found out that a delivery truck was used I knew right away it was you. A little of the Project’s organic acid on the cargo straps, deflate the tires. Of course, at the time I couldn’t figure out why you wanted to kill Justine and Cade. But now I know. You were panicking because of our little disagreement and the fact the Jillian got away.”
Eve turned to Miles and watched as his confused look deepened. Alex continued, “You made a mistake. You killed the wrong sister.”
“I don’t know you.” Miles’ scowl deepened.
“But I know you. Very well in fact. You were the closest thing I had to a brother. I was at your wedding, and each of Amber’s and Emma’s birthday parties.”
Miles shook his head when Alex advanced towards him.
There was an evil smirk on Alex’s face. It was clear he enjoyed confusing Miles. “How about I repeat the last thing you said to me. Will that convince you?” Alex asked. “‘Maybe I should let you freeze to death, then I wouldn’t have to kill you.’ Of course you didn’t know I was standing across the bed from you.”
“Who are you…how do you know what…” Miles stumbled on his words.
Alex took another slow step towards Miles, and Eve watched as Alex became very evident on Cade’s face.
Cade’s normal brown eyes suddenly became intense and focused, flickering into a glowing bright blue. Black slashing eyebrows with the familiar scar running through his left brow appeared along with his muscled jaw and full lips and his short black hair materialised last.
Miles was ghostly white when he staggered away from Alex and raised his gun. But the movement was too slow and Alex was already on him, knocking the gun to the ground with his forearm. He turned back to Miles and drove his elbow up. He caught him under the chin and knocked his head back. Miles stumbled, but caught himself. Straightening, he flexed his shoulders and met Alex head on as the two men slammed into one another.
Eve trembled as she inched back watching the violence. She couldn’t seem to make herself look away. The sounds of fists striking flesh, the cracking of bone, the grunting, and the blood. There was so much blood. Blood on Alex. Blood on Miles. Blood on the ground. She finally squeezed her eyes shut and dropped to her knees, covering her ears. She couldn’t take anymore. She couldn’t watch Alex get hit and she couldn’t watch Alex hit. The anger on his face, in his eyes was terrifying. He was consumed with rage.
This wasn’t Alex. The situation was causing this behaviour, she lied. She had to lie. She began talking to herself. Using her voice, she forced a much needed calm on to herself. Chanting an old Gaelic nursery rhyme her mother would sing to her, to help quiet her down when she had nightmares. Over and over in a low voice she repeated the tale until she took a deep breath and felt her heart slow.
When she felt calm enough to look back to the men, she found Alex looming above her, covered in blood. She searched and saw Miles lying face first on the ground just behind Alex.
As Alex bent down, Eve couldn’t help but shy away fro
m him, shaking her head fervently. He wasn’t fazed and lifted her by the arms until she stood in front of him and pulled her into his chest. His arms curled around her gently, pinning her in place.
“It’s over,” he soothed.
She turned her head, heard his heart beating strong in his chest. Closing her eyes, Eve gripped at his shirt.
“Eve, honey. It’s over. Stop crying.” Was she crying? She touched her own damp cheek. She hadn’t realised.
Alex raised her head. A worried frown creased his brow. “Okay?”
She nodded then answered him, “No”—disagreeing with herself.
His concern was still evident when he soothed the hair back from her face.
“What were you saying when you fell to the ground? I didn’t understand it.”
“What?” She blinked.
“You kept repeating something, but I didn’t understand the language. Was it meant to calm me?”
Shaking her head, Eve admitted sadly, “No. I did that for myself. I couldn’t handle watching you two…it was so violent.”
He pulled her back into his body, into his warmth. “Well, it worked on both of us. Thank you.”
Eve pulled back and tried to look at Miles lying on the ground. Alex shifted his weight and blocked her view. “Is he dead?” Her throat closed as she waited for him to answer.
“No. I tried but I couldn’t do it,” he sighed. “I thought about his family and stopped. His girls would be without a father. I couldn’t do that. Trevor will be more than happy to take him to the cops.”
Eve hugged him tight. Thank God! She knew it went against his instinct but his restraint proved that he was a good man. Even if he didn’t think he was. “I’m proud of you.” She wasn’t embarrassed to admit what she felt because it was the truth.
“You are?”
She leant back, his arms still around her. “Yes. You could have killed him but you didn’t.”
“But, according to you I should be annoyed because I’m not getting what I want, or maybe I was just too impatient to kill him.” There was a glint in his eye as he offhandedly told her he had heard her rant.