Chapter 5
Eve
“Evie, we need to leave! I have court in the morning!”
Viv grabs my arm, leaning onto me way too much for someone who says they’re ‘not that drunk’, as we make our way to the edge of the dance floor.
How did I let her convince me that going to a club on a weekday was a good idea?
Oh, yeah, because it’s Viv. You don’t say no to Viv. She’s a fiery red head with more passion than common sense at times, although it serves her well at work when we’re batting cases.
I met Viv in my third year of law school, and we immediately hooked to each other, bonding over asshole professors and cheap ramen.
Now, seven years later, we’re as strong as ever, working at the same defense attorney’s office.
Between her and I, the city’s worst criminals have some of the best legal representation money can buy.
Almost thirty years old and you still can’t stay away from the dark, Evie. What does that say about you?
I reach up and run my fingers along the chain around my neck, the one that goes far down beneath my short dress and hides the diamond engagement ring nestled between my breasts. The one that even ten years later, I haven’t been able to toss into the trash and pretend it never existed.
No…because this ring is my strongest tie to the dark. It’s what changed my life.
Viv sees me fondling the necklace again and rolls her eyes. “Girl, you’ve got to give it up. I know it hurts babe, but they’re gone, and you deserve to move on.”
I drop my hand and give her a small smile. It’s weak, but it’s all I can master. I know she means well, and she’s the only person alive who I’ve ever told my story to, but I can’t seem to let the past go no matter how hard I try.
“It’s not that easy, Viv.”
She sighs and takes my hand, leading me – or really, I’m leading her – to the exit. “I’m just saying. You deserve better; Abel deserves better. Hell, it’s not like Wylder hasn’t been trying to tie you down for years now!”
A blush rises to my cheeks as a vision of my neighbor comes to mind. Golden tanned skin, dirty blonde hair and a wicked mouth that he knows exactly how to use. Wylder James moved in next door three years ago and we moved into the friends-with-benefits stage soon after.
“It’s not like he’s ever asked for anything more.”
Viv laughs, her laugh quickly turns into a hiccup as someone bumps into her and she shoves them away. “Because he’s too nice! Even being a gang related ex-Marine would never make him scary.”
“It was an MC, Viv, not a gang.”
I can practically hear her eyes roll. “Same thing.”
It’s really not.
I stay silent and give her a shrug as we push through the remainder of the crowd until the red exit sign shines brightly in front of us. The open door lets in a small breeze as the bouncer steps aside for a couple who looks like they’re already tipsy.
Viv turns around once we’re almost at the door, her eyes bright with all the alcohol we’ve drunk over the past few hours. “Do you even know how to flirt anymore?”
I scoff. “Of course I do. I flirt with Wylder all the time.”
She shakes her head, “No, that doesn’t count. I mean, do you know how to flirt with someone you haven’t been casually sleeping with for the last three years?”
“I mean…I haven’t tried but I’m sure I can. It can’t be that hard.”
Viv’s smile grows wide as she shoots her eyes across her shoulder to the bouncer manning the door. “Prove it.”
Shaking my head, I back up a step as if I don’t have to go out that very exit to get into an Uber. “No. No, no, no. That’s just desperate, Viv.”
She grabs my wrist and pulls me closer, surprisingly strong for a woman who I thought was close to passing out ten minutes ago. “Come on! It’s not like you’ll ever see him again. Just go say something hot and walk away!”
My heels slide on the greasy floor, allowing her to push me directly out the door and into the bouncer.
I grunt at the impact, immediately looking up to apologize, but the words get caught in my throat.
His tanned skin is highlighted by his dyed red hair, the color of blood and cropped so close to his head it’s only long enough for him to run his fingers through – which he does. He’s hotter than I anticipated.
Tattoos line his neck, waves and mountains, flowers and vines, nature of all kinds line every inch of his skin until they disappear beneath his clothes. His very tight clothes.
Oh, good God, Viv. I’m going to kill you.
“Careful there, Princess. You never know what’s waiting to snatch you up in the shadows.”
His head bends down, light blue eyes boring into mine as he stares at me. He watches me for a moment before humming, placing a quick kiss on my nose and straightening.
My eyes dart over to where Viv still stands in the doorway, her eyes wide as she watches the show. Say something hot, she mouths.
“Um…” The bouncer looks back down at me, one eyebrow raised. “Your breath smells good.”
He chuckles, opening his mouth and showing me a ball of gum sitting on his tongue. He leans back down, teasing me, testing me.
Fuck it.
I stand on my tip toes and suck his tongue into my mouth, taking the gum from him as I pull away. He watches me with wide eyes as I shoot him a wink, my blood pulsating through my veins as mint combined with the stranger’s smoky taste fills my mouth.
My tongue flicks out to swipe at my bottom lip, and I shiver as his eyes follow the movement. “Is it considered snatching me up if I go willingly?”
I tilt my head to Viv and she rushes from the building, “Holy shit, I think I just turned lesbian. Do you want a girlfriend? I am so sorry, I take back everything I ever said.”
She continues to ramble as we find our Uber and slide into the back seat, the bouncer’s eyes on me the entire time.
The air flies out of my chest causing me to gasp and shoot up out of bed. “Fucking A, Terry! Give a woman some warning, will you?”
Terry, my black and white tuxedo cat, meows his way out of my bedroom door and into the hallway, loudly vocalizing his hunger all the way down to the kitchen.
“Okay! I’m up, I’m up!” I pat around my bed until I find my phone, grabbing it in one hand and sliding out of bed in a way that no doubt resembles a sloth coming out of hibernation.
Do sloths hibernate?
I pick my black and pink robe up from the ground and give it a good sniff to make sure I didn’t accidentally get sick on it at any point last night before I slip it on. Finding it good enough to last until after breakfast, I make my way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Terry is waiting at his matching metal bowls engraved with his name, still meowing loud enough to wake the dead, but he quiets down as soon as I fill his bowl.
I make quick work of my espresso maker, keeping the usual settings to make me a double shot of espresso. I grab my favorite cup down from the cabinet, the one that says ‘FUCK’ in all caps - with no other explanation - and pour some milk and vanilla syrup in it before adding ice and the espresso.
Grabbing my fuck cup and my phone, I walk into the living room and plop down on my papasan chair.
It’s an every morning ritual. Wake up, feed Terry, make coffee, sit in my chair and check my messages.
At least a few times a week, the office group chat blows up with details for a case that screws someone up, and it’s been me more times than I’d care to admit.
Putting in my passcode, I see plenty of messages from Viv already cursing the judge for being a jackass about her defendant today and a few other people from the office chiming in the group different ways they’ve handled that particular judge, and a string of text messages from my boss.
This isn’t good.
Sawyer: Turn on your TV.
Sawyer: I know you took a few days off, Eve, but we need you on this. Everyone else is on a case.
Sawyer: Evangeline.
Sawyer: *3 MISSED CALLS*
Sawyer: Answer!
Sawyer: *5 MISSED CALLS*
Sawyer: Evangeline!
Sawyer: You’re due at the courthouse in an hour.
Checking the time, I see the message was sent twenty minutes ago. Meaning I have forty minutes to be at the courthouse for a case I haven’t even been briefed on.
My phone beeps as another text comes through.
Viv: Have you seen the news? Sawyer said you’re on it.
No. I just woke up.
Viv: Turn on Channel 7, Evie. NOW!
Jesus Christ, what’s with everyone this morning?
Getting up, I walk over to the coffee table and grab the remote, clicking the television on and changing it to the local news channel.
Coffee splatters all over my legs as I drop my favorite cup, the word printed on the side of it shining in the light like some cruel cosmic joke.
I scramble over to my chair, grabbing my phone from the cushion and dialing Vivianne’s number as I watch the news crew zoom in on the front door of the club we were just at last night.
Viv picks up on the first ring, her voice low and shaky. “Evie?”
I’m running up my stairs before she can even finish saying my name. “Don’t worry, Viv. I’m going to handle this.”