Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Eva stood at the refrigerator, staring inside but not really seeing the food. She was hungry, but she was also sick in her soul. She’d failed. She’d had Brandon Cox in her sights, and she hadn’t killed him.
Jake said he wasn’t dead. But maybe Jake was wrong…
She closed her eyes. No, he wasn’t wrong. She’d been shocked that Brandon lunged for her, scared he’d connect, and she’d aimed poorly. She’d shot him in the arm instead of the heart.
He’d been on the way to his feet when Jake punched him and dropped him to the floor. If she was lucky, she’d hit an artery and he bled out before anyone saved him. Jake said she hadn’t, but he might be wrong.
Except she wasn’t that lucky. Brandon wasn’t dead. Just hurting and angrier than a hornet.
“Hey.”
She looked up at the man standing beside her, illuminated by the light from the fridge. Her heart skipped and her belly clenched. He was so gorgeous. But also tough.
Not her type. Not at all her type… and yet her body reacted. Strongly. Her nipples beaded and her skin tingled. Her pussy was instantly wet.
“You okay?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest.
“I’m… yeah, I’m okay. Just kind of numb, you know?”
“Yeah, I know.” He’d seemed a little subdued since the phone call he’d made. She hadn’t asked him about it because she didn’t think she could handle more bad news tonight.
He tipped his chin toward the fridge. “You find anything in there you want?”
She looked at the contents. “I don’t know.”
He reached past her and grabbed a package of lunchmeat and some cheese. “Here, let’s fix a couple of sandwiches. You get the bread, okay?”
“Sure.” She went over to the counter and picked up the loaf of bread, bringing it over to the table where he’d taken a seat. She sat and he opened the bread. A few seconds later, she had a sandwich in her hand.
“Take a bite, Eva. Promise it’ll taste good.”
She did. Somehow, she ate the whole thing, not even aware that she’d done so until she looked up and it was gone. When was the last time she’d eaten? Breakfast, maybe?
“Here, eat another.”
“I can’t,” she began. But Jake pushed the sandwich on her anyway.
“They’re small, and you’re in shock. Eat.”
She finished the second sandwich while he fixed his. “I’ve never shot anyone before.”
He smiled. “I know. But you did good.”
Heat rushed through her. “What do you mean I did good? I didn’t kill him. I really wanted to.”
“Considering the way he startled you, and how scared you already were, it’s amazing you hit him at all. Trust me, you did good.”
“You’d have killed him if you’d shot him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
He looked grim. “Those were not my orders. Besides, getting you out of there alive was more important.”
She scrubbed her hands over her arms. “I just can’t believe it. Everything I worked for—everything I wanted—it’s gone. Over. I’m no longer inside the compound and Brandon is still alive—and free.”
Jake took her hand. She tried not to let his touch affect her, but that was a hopeless endeavor. Her body zinged with sparks. She wanted things she shouldn’t want. His touch. His body naked and joined with hers. All the things she’d read about but never done.
“Ian Black’s people are still working on tracking Snake. But Eva…” His expression grew troubled. “Judge Mason died tonight. Your testimony will be key to putting Brandon behind bars.”
Cold dread washed over her. “What if it’s not enough? What if he gets away with it? He always gets away with it. He’ll be free, and I’ll never be safe again.”
A hot tear escaped and she knuckled it away. Anger and fear rolled like a tsunami inside her. She hated Brandon Cox with every fiber of her being. She wanted him to suffer. But what if he didn’t? What if the Brothers closed ranks and protected him yet again? Then what?
“Every winning streak has to come to an end,” Jake said gently. “It’s time for his to be over. It will be you and the power of Ian Black that make it happen. He won’t get free. Even if he did, you’ll be protected. Promise you that.”
She sucked in a breath and tried to calm her racing heart. “You really trust this Ian Black guy, huh? How long have you worked with him?”
His smile was unexpected. “Yeah, I trust him. But I’ve only worked with him a few days. This isn’t my real job.”
“It isn’t?”
“No. I’m a soldier. I didn’t leave the military, but my skills are what Black needed. That and the fact I was once a Brother. I presumably had the best chance of getting inside and getting to you.” He shook his head. “Didn’t know I actually knew you though.”
She sniffed. “As if. We had classes together once. You brought my sister home a few times. We didn’t know each other.”
“No, not in any real way. But I know what I remember about you.”
She pushed back from the table and stood, crossing her arms defensively. “None of that applies anymore. I’m not Evelyn Collier. She died sometime after Heather, but she died all the same.”
“You made yourself over solely to catch Brandon Cox.”
She nodded. “I studied him. Studied them. It wasn’t difficult. Just time consuming.” She held out her arms. “These take time. Honing my art took time. Getting their attention and respect took time. I didn’t just walk in there with my machines and set up shop.”
“Were you scared?”
“Hell yeah, I was scared. I went to work in a tattoo shop near The Island—you know the bar they frequent, right?” At his nod she continued. “A couple of them came over, looked at my portfolio, and took a chance. It was just a matter of time after that.”
“And somehow you got them to respect your wishes not to touch you. That was a risk.”
“I know. But I think it amused Brandon. I knew it would wear off eventually and he’d come for me, but I hoped to take them down before it happened.” She shivered as she thought of Brandon in her shop earlier, demanding that she spread her legs for him.
“You never considered using your assets to get closer to him?”
Her throat tightened. “I couldn’t let him touch me. That was a bridge I wasn’t willing to cross no matter what.”
Something must have shown in her face because he shook his head and held out his hands in supplication. “It’s okay, Eva. I wasn’t suggesting you should. I’m glad you didn’t. Not that it’s wrong if that’s your thing. But that was your line in the sand, and it’s perfectly okay to have one.”
“Do you?”
He studied her. He was so much more than a Brother, wasn’t he? This man was one of the good guys. She was gladder for that than she could say. And not just because her life was in his hands.
“Maybe so. Haven’t found it yet, though.”
There was a noise in the distance that made her pivot. Harleys? She listened hard, then spun back to Jake for a reaction. He hadn’t moved an inch.
“Traffic on the road. It’s not them, don’t worry. If they get close, I’ll know it.”
She swallowed against the knot in her throat and the butterflies in her belly. “How?”
“There’s an alarm system. If anyone trips it, I’ll know. We’ll have a two-minute warning.”
“Is that enough?”
He grinned. “With me? Plenty.”