Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
The nightmare from last night still haunts me, especially when I hear Evie say she can’t live with people’s deaths on her hands. I look down at her wrists, perfectly intact, my thumbs stroking the smooth skin there.
“Nothing that I do or give orders to do is on you, Evie. That falls on me. You are clean. You will always be clean,” I tell her.
“It doesn’t work like that, E. The only reason you’re going after these men is because of me,” she says.
“It’s because I can’t live in a world where people who hurt you exist. Not because of you. That’s on me,” I assure her. “I need to know that you’re not going to do anything you can’t undo.”
“Like what?”
“I won’t have anyone take you away from me, Evie, not even you. So if you’re having thoughts like that, you need to tell me. I will find a way to help you.”
Evie steps back. “You think I’m suicidal. Why?”
“Are you?”
“No. I’m confused. I’m upset, but I’ve survived shit all my life. I’m not a quitter,” she says.
“Good, then fight. For your happiness. For me. I know you feel this. I know you want this. I also know you’re scared.” I sigh. “I don’t ever want to see you break, Evie. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Then stop killing innocent girls,” she hisses.
“I will do my best to ensure there are no witnesses in the future. But this line of work, it’s messy, and I can’t make guarantees. I also won’t lie and tell you what you want to hear.” I run a hand through my hair as I lower myself onto the edge of the bed. “I’ve had this conversation before.”
“What conversation?”
“The one where you don’t want me to continue the job, the one where you want me but not the lifestyle that comes with me.” I look up at Evie.
“You had this conversation with her?” she asks.
I nod my head. Laura wanted us to run together.
“I’m not her, E. I would never ask you to leave your lifestyle… or your job. I just don’t know how to come to terms with it in my own mind,” she says.
“I know you’re not her. Losing her hurt, Evie. But losing you? That fucking tore me apart and it wasn’t even real,” I admit.
“What are you talking about?”
“Last night, I had a nightmare. I found you on the floor. Your wrists were slashed. There was so much blood.” I try to shake the images from my head. “It was so real.”
“E, I’m not going to do anything like that. I promise. Like I said, I might be broken, irreparably so, but I’m not going to give up,” Evie says.
“You are not broken. You are fucking perfect.” I stand and walk over to her. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her into my chest. “My father was right.”
“About what?”
“Love does make you weak. I’d lose it all for you. If I had to go to war, I would wager everything. Every single fucking thing, for you.”
“I’m scared of how much I’m falling in love with you.”
I pull back. Evie has never uttered those words. I’ve said them to her, but she has never said them back. I smile down at her. “Well, that won’t do. We can’t both be scared.”
“Pfft, nothing scares you. You’re the leader of the De La Sangre Cartel,” she says.
“You scare me.”
“Maybe we can just be scared together?” Evie suggests.
“Together,” I agree. I lean down and press my lips to hers. When I pull back, I push my luck. “So, will you come home with me now?”
“I can’t. Charlotte got pizza and wine. And we have plans for tomorrow,” Evie says.
“I don’t like it when you tell me no,” I grunt.
“That’s because not enough people in your life tell you no, E. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to hearing the word.” Evie smiles.
“Don’t ever cry over something I’ve done again.” I take hold of her hand. “I don’t want to be the reason for your tears.”
“Then don’t give me a reason to cry.”
I left Evie to have pizza with Charlotte, while Louie dragged me into his office. I’m waiting for whatever bullshit he has to say, but the fucker likes to make a show and dance about everything. He takes his time pouring two glasses of whiskey.
Handing one to me, he walks around his desk and sits down. “When she saw what you did, it made her sick. Physically. She ran to the bathroom to throw up,” he says.
Fuck. I knew she had been crying. I didn’t know she’d been sick.
“It had to be done,” I tell him.
“There a reason you’re going after pageant judges?” he asks.
I tilt my head to the side. He doesn’t know. “There is always a reason I do anything.” I lower myself down onto one of the chairs across from him.
“Want to share that reason?”
“It’s not mine to share.” No fucking way am I telling anyone Evie’s business. My men have educated guesses. They know better than to question why I’m doing something, though.
“This whole thing with Evie, it’s not going to end up with her disappearing, is it?” Louie presses.
“You know, I don’t recall you being her father,” I retort. “Or mine.”
“She’s my wife’s best friend. If anything happens to her, it would make my wife extremely upset. I won’t allow that to happen,” Louie says.
“Good. Remember that while she’s choosing to stay at your house and not mine,” I grunt.
Louie, the fucking smart-ass that he is, smirks. “I never thought I’d see the day a woman could resist your charms, E.”
“Fuck off. She just wants to spend time with her friends. She lost her shop. She needs the distraction,” I mutter.
“Sure, that’s it.” He laughs.
“Speaking of stores, I want you to offer her a spot at Royal’s mall. I want the rent to be controlled and half of what the going rate is,” I tell him.
“And why would I do that?” Louie asks.
“Because if you don’t, I’ll make sure no one wants to rent a space in your mall,” I threaten.
“You do know we are friends, right? You don’t threaten your friends, E.”
“You are my oldest friend, Louie, but don’t mistake friendship for weakness. Make it happen for her. She needs this. I also prefer her here, where you and the guys can keep an eye on her when I can’t.”
Louie quirks a brow at me. “You planning on moving back stateside?”
“No, but I can’t take her home yet. I need to make sure shit is sorted out there first.”
“I’ll draw up a lease. I’ll get Charlotte to make it seem like her idea. She’d love to have Evie around more permanently.”
“Her and me both,” I grunt. I down the rest of the contents in my glass before I slam it on the table. “We have another drop coming up in two weeks.”
“I’m aware,” Louie says.
“Good, make sure you’re there for it. I won’t be collecting my own shit again,” I tell him.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he says with a smile. “Pleasure doing business with you, E.”
“Always.” I push to my feet and walk towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Louie asks.
“To say goodbye to my girl and then go visit my niece,” I tell him.
“You’re going to Carlo’s? I’ll come with you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not stealing uncle cred from me,” Louie says.
“You have some serious fucking issues.”
I find Evie in the dining room. There’s a slice of pizza on her plate that looks like she’s picked at it at best. “Evie, a word,” I call out to her.
“Emmanuel, not a dog,” she counters.
Louie chuckles from behind me. His hand slaps my shoulder as he passes.
“Evie, can I have a moment of your time?” I try again.
“Sure. See? That wasn’t hard.” She jumps up off her chair, takes hold of my hand, and drags me towards the guest bedroom. She closes the door behind us before she looks up at me. “Your moment has started.”
“Why aren’t you eating?” I ask her.
“I’m not hungry,” she says.
“I want you to eat.”
“And I want you to not be so bossy and controlling. We all want things in life, E.”
I almost smile. She has to fight me every single step of the way. I know how to get her appetite to make an appearance, though. I pull Evie over to the bed, pushing her backwards so she falls flat on her back. My hands separate her thighs, pinning them open.
“What are you doing?” Evie asks.
“You might not be hungry, but I’m fucking starved,” I tell her as I position myself between her legs. My shoulders open her wider. Using one hand, I move her panties to the side, revealing her smooth pussy. “You’re fucking wet.” I groan as I run my tongue right up the slit.
“Well, you have your head between my legs. What do you expect?”
I continue to lick her, from bottom to top, circling my tongue around her hardened bud. Evie’s hands land on my head, her fingers pulling at my hair.
My free hand moves to her opening and I push two fingers inside her. I curl them, finding that sweet spot. Her thighs tighten around my head as they attempt to close. With each thrust of my fingers, my tongue circles her clit.
“Fucking hell, you’re delicious,” I growl into her pussy.
I don’t stop until I feel her pussy contracting around my fingers. Flattening my tongue on her clit, I push down. Evie’s hips lift as she grinds against me, her orgasm causing her body to shake. I continue licking her until she relaxes fully.
I look up at the very satisfied grin on her face. “Again.”
Evie shakes her head, but I’m not taking no for an answer.
“Again,” I repeat before I push my tongue into her opening, circling it around. My fingers press against her back entrance.
“Shit, E,” she grunts.
I don’t stop my assault on her cunt until she’s coming all over my tongue. Evie grabs a pillow, pulls it over her face, and screams. I smile, peppering her pussy with little kisses as she comes down from her high.
“Best fucking meal ever,” I say as I make my way up her body. I shove the pillow aside.
“Now I’m hungry.” She smirks.
“Good, you’ve got pizza on the table. Go and eat it.” I climb off her.
“That’s not what I want.” Evie pouts as she stares at my very obvious erection.
“Sorry, mi alma, I gotta run. I’ll see you later.” I lean down and kiss her lips. Then I move towards the door before I say fuck it and fuck her.
Louie is waiting for me in the foyer. “You’ve got something… here,” he says, wiping at the side of his mouth.
“Fuck off.” I shove at him and press the button for the elevator.
“Good chat, then?” I hear Charlotte ask from behind me. When I turn around, Evie’s face is flaming red.
“Meh, I’ve had better,” she tells Charlotte, causing Louie to laugh his fucking ass off as we step into the elevator.
Better, my ass. I’m going to make her eat those fucking words later.