“You considered it though.”
“Drake did.”
Jim’s step faltered. It was clear that the former Army Ranger had been out of the game for too damn long. Still, Aiden had no pity.
“All I ask is that you keep Blake out of it.”
“That’s up to you.”
The leaves from the trees muted their footsteps as they started up an incline. When they were finally out of sight of the hotel, Aiden stopped.
“Do your worst.” Jim’s expression was resigned.
“I don’t want Evie to have any reminders of Turkey.”
“Neither do I.” Jim spread his hands apart and gave Aiden a look of relief. “Neither does Blake. God, we would do anything to erase those days from Evie’s memory.”
“You can’t. She dreams about them every night.”
The man winced like he’d taken a hit. “Fuck. I’m so fucking sorry. I should have never tried to help Nathan.”
Aiden looked at him incredulously. “That wasn’t your error. You’re a Ranger for God’s sake, you’re supposed to be trained to think. Why would you have taken an innocent into a potentially dangerous situation?”
“Antakya is such a historic city, and I didn’t want to cut Evie’s vacation short.”
“What about Blake? Did you give two shits about him? Your buddy was asking for thirty large in cash, and you just danced right into the situation with two people you say you love.”
Jim blanched.
“You need to get gone.”
“I don’t understand. That’s it? You just wanted to say that to me?”
Aiden strove for his center. “No, you stupid ass. You need to pull up stakes and leave Tennessee. Gone. Out of town. Into the wind. You have a week.”
Jim opened his mouth to say something. His throat worked, but no words came out. He stood there with his mouth open, struggling for something to say. He got red in the face, finally saying, “you have no right.”
“You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as Evie. This is her home. This is where she grew up. This is where her sisters live. You leave.” Aiden’s tone was deadly.
“You don’t have any right to tell us what to do,” he repeated.
“Maybe. But I’m telling you anyway. One week. I’ll be checking on you. Next Tuesday, you’re gone. Don’t step back in Tennessee for one goddamned reason after that. You disappear. I don’t want Evie to be able to get ahold of you. I want all traces of you gone. I want your numbers changed. I want you gone. Am I clear?”
Jim’s eyes turned beady. “Make me.”
“This way I’m leaving you with money for a new stake.”
“Make me.”
“I’ll bury you.”
“They’ll figure out you murdered me. Try it.”
“I mean I’ll strip you of everything you own, then I’ll really come after you. You think it was slick how we got that story planted about the corpse? Imagine the things we can make up about you? Imagine what the cops will come knocking on your door for? Identity theft will look like your wildest dream come true by the time we’re done with you.”
“I’ll go to the authorities.”
Aiden smiled. “By all means, please do.” He watched with satisfaction as he saw Jim’s fist clench. Please, God, say the man was truly that stupid. Jim stepped forward and swung.
Aiden stepped to the side, and rabbit punched him twice in the spleen. Jim grunted but stayed on his feet. He backed up and looked at Aiden, then his foot shot out, Aiden twisted out of the way and yanked Jim’s arm down as he took him to the ground and rolled. He heard a satisfying pop as Jim’s shoulder dislocated.
Jim continued to roll as Aiden got off the ground. Kicking a man while he was down had never been so satisfying. He really didn’t give a shit if he broke a rib or two as he plowed his boot into Jim’s ribcage.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement at the tree line. It was Blake. He stepped away from Jim.
“I heard we had a visitor,” Blake said as he helped his partner off the ground. “I figured it would be either your or Drake. I had my money on you.”
“He wants us to leave everything and get the hell out of Tennessee,” Jim said bitterly.
Blake looked at Jim, then at Aiden, quietly assessing both of them. “Then we leave.”
“You don’t understand, he wants us to sell the hotel, and be gone by next Tuesday. This is our home. We’ve put our hearts and souls into this place.”
Blake put his arm around Jim’s shoulder, offering the man both physical and moral support.
“This was Evie’s home first, this will be Evie’s home last. He’s right, we need to leave,” Blake agreed. He looked over at Aiden. “We’ll be gone. If the time is ever right, can you tell Evie I love her? I am so sorry for all of this.”
Aiden heard the subtext. He was distancing himself from Jim. He wondered if their relationship would endure this. He didn’t really care. Aiden nodded to Blake and headed back to his rental car.
***
Aiden had called. She’d pretended to fall asleep, and eventually, he’d hung up. Then she’d turned on the TV. She was too afraid that she would end up having a nightmare and start yelling and wake everybody. She was tired and bored. Even making fun of late night commercials was getting old.
She watched as the pretty blonde offered the most spectacular product ever invented that was sure to make her pretty, younger, stronger, and it would chop vegetables in record time. She had to buy it now because there were only three left. But if she acted now, she could get two for the price of one. It was amazing!
The sad part was Evie was thinking about calling.
She pushed back the covers and winced. Shit, shouldn’t she be done hurting by now? She sighed. She knew she wouldn’t. The docs had said the pain would probably continue for three to four weeks. Dammit, she didn’t want to take pain medicine. If anything, it made her more maudlin. She hated getting all emotional. She was gooey enough as is. She should be past this by now. She looked over at the nightstand at the two empty bottles of water. Two a.m. seemed like the perfect time for a kitchen run.
She walked down the shadowed hallway, knowing the way, and didn’t see Drake until she was almost on top of him. She cried out.
“Evie, it’s me, Drake,” he said holding up his hands.
“Goddammit, you scared the piss out of me.”
“Oh, Honey, I’m sorry, I should have turned on the light. I wasn’t thinking.”
She sagged weakly, and he caught her up in his arms.
“You can’t sleep either?” he asked.
She shook her head against his chest.
“Come on, let’s rustle up some food.”
“I’m not hungry, I was coming for some water.”
He flipped on the light switch in the kitchen and eyed her critically. “Is it time for some pain meds?”
She grimaced.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Go get them, and I’ll get you some water and food. It’s better to take them with food, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she reluctantly admitted.
“Dammit, you need a keeper.”
“What is with you guys, is it in the SEAL handbook that you’ve got to be bossy and dictatorial?”
“March into your room, get your pill bottle so I can read the instructions, then sit your happy ass down and eat the food I put in front of you. How’s that for bossy and dictatorial?” His eyes twinkled, and she grinned.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re up.”
“You do what I tell you to do, and I’ll tell you why I’m up.”
“Fine.” She turned too quickly to go back down the hallway and ended up grabbing her side.
“Slowly, Sis.”
“I’m good,” she assured him.
“I know you are, but I worry about you. So take it slow, okay?”
She looked over her shoulder and gave him a wan smile. “Okay.”
By the
time she was back in the kitchen, he was scrambling eggs.
“I’d fry bacon, but then everybody would smell it and get up. So we’re having eggs and cheese on toast.”
God, that sounded yummy.
“Now give me your pill bottle, so I can read the instructions.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope.”
She didn’t hand it over. Because, like, for real?
He held out his big hand.
“Drake, this is stupid. You’re right, I need food, okay.”
He just kept his hand out. Finally, she relented.
“You keep this up, and Karen’s not going to marry you.”
“I have talents.”
“Gah! I don’t want to know.” She covered her ears. But she watched him as he read the directions and shook the bottle.
“Shit, you’re hardly taking any of these. You know if you stay in pain, that’s not any good either. You’re probably not sleeping at night. Are you always roaming the halls?”
She blushed.
“Evie?”
“Shouldn’t you be cooking the eggs? I’m hungry.”
He gave her one more serious look, then turned back toward the stove.
She watched as he easily cooked the cheesy eggs and took the toast out of the toaster and buttered it. He plated the food and placed it in front of her. They sat across from one another at the kitchen island.
“Eat.”
“Yes, Sir.” She saluted.
“I’m not an officer, no saluting.”
He took out two tablets and poured some water. “Now take these.”
“I only need one.”
“It said one or two. You’re wincing all over the place. You’re in a lot of pain. Now take them both.”
She stared at him. He wasn’t being dictatorial, he looked genuinely concerned and upset. Just like when he’d been dealing with Karen.
“I’m not fragile, you know.”
He reached out, picked up her hand, opened her palm and put the tablets in them. “Take the fucking pills,” he growled.
She put the pills in her mouth and took a long sip of water. Hopefully, she would be able to sleep. Otherwise, she would be ordering a vegetable slicer that probably wouldn’t make her prettier.
“Now eat.” He waved at the plate.
She was halfway through her food when she noticed that he had hardly touched his.
“Drake what’s wrong. Is it Karen? The baby?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not eating, something bad must be going on.”
“Guess that’s a giveaway.” He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even more.
“Seriously, what’s wrong? You’re freaking me out.”
He leaned across the island. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you, Evie. Can you ever forgive me?”
“What? What did you say?” Evie set down her fork. She must have misunderstood him.
“I wasn’t in Turkey.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“He came around to the other side of the kitchen counter where she was sitting. He sat down on the barstool next to hers and cupped her face. “I had nightmares. It killed me not being there.”
“You had to be here with Karen and your baby,” she protested.
His face was anguished. “I know, and it killed me not being there to help you, too.”
“But you made sure I was safe. You sent Aiden.”
Drake laughed dryly. “I didn’t send him, Sis. We almost came to blows when he insisted on going. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to you. That man cares about you. A lot.”
“I hope so.” She was feeling kind of muzzy. “Drake?”
“What, Honey?”
“Thank you for being you. You’re the best big brother a sister could ever hope to have.”
“Oh, God, those pills have really gone to your head.” He stood up and helped her off the stool. “Let’s get you back to bed.
“I’m serious. I know I don’t say that, but all of us feel that way. I’m sorry I never said it.”
“Evalyn Lavender, you’re one special woman, and I’m honored to have you as a sister.”
She started to mist up, but luckily a yawn stopped her from falling apart. “Okay, no more mushy stuff. I need to go to bed.”
“I love you, Sis.”
“Back at you.”
Drake laughed as he guided her down the hall.
“Aiden has his hands full.”
“Damn right he does.”
Chapter Fourteen
Evie was waiting at the end of the driveway when Aiden pulled up. He sighed. She had her arms crossed, and if she were feeling better, he would bet she would be tapping her foot. He got out of the car.
“Shouldn’t you be inside?”
“I wanted to have this discussion outside. Leslie called me.” He assumed Leslie was the girl at the front desk at the hotel.
“And?”
“Jim was supposedly in a car wreck, and he and Blake are short selling the hotel. So tell me what you’ve done.”
“Let’s go inside.” He put his arm around her shoulders, still careful of the one that was tender. She shrugged him off.
“Answer my question.”
“I told them they had to leave town.”
“You had no right.”
“God, you sound like Jim.” He put his hand on her lower back and gave a gentle push towards the house. This time she started toward it.
“Well, we’re both correct. What gave you the nerve?”
“Did you want to see Jim?”
She stopped dead in her tracks. “Eventually.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘No.’”
“I said eventually,” she protested.
“Eva, you deserve to go to Jasper Creek and rest easy that you won’t run into the men who sold you out.”
She turned and put her hands on Aiden’s hard chest. “They didn’t sell me out. Jim didn’t mean for that to happen. He made a mistake.”
“A mistake he was trained not to make.”
“Aiden. Call them back.”
“No.”
“Then I will.”
“Go ahead,” he smiled coolly. They better have changed their numbers by now.
“They won’t listen to me, will they.”
“Not if they value their lives.”
She stared up at him. “What would you do to them if they didn’t leave?”
“I wouldn’t kill them if that’s what you’re worried about. But they know the alternative. They chose to leave, Eva. Let’s leave it at that, okay?”
“I can’t change your mind?”
“We need to get you inside. The doctor said only mild activity for a while.” She was so full of fire, but he saw the lines of strain around her eyes and mouth. “I worry about you.”
“Dammit, Aiden, do you have to be so protective all the damn time? I want to stay mad at you.”
He grinned. He was making headway.
***
Evie absolutely adored Trenda and Bella, but she wished they were on the other side of the planet. Aiden had gotten back three hours ago. Karen, Drake, and Piper had promptly left which she so appreciated, but Trenda had made dinner, and they were all eating and quietly laughing at Bella’s attempts to mimic the adults.
“Honey, why don’t I cut your spaghetti?” Evie suggested.
“I want to whirl it.”
Spaghetti sauce splattered across the table as the little girl attempted to twirl the pasta around her fork.
“Isabella, let your aunt cut your spaghetti,” Trenda said firmly.
“No!” she said as she quickly stuffed a huge forkful into her mouth. Evie spared a glance at Aiden. He had his napkin over his mouth so Bella couldn’t see him laugh. As much as she liked seeing the man smile, she wanted her alone time with him. Surreptitiously, she looked at the watch on his wrist. At least two more hours before Bella’s bedtime, and five more be
fore Trenda would go to bed.
Damn, damn, damn.
“Bella, you’ve earned a timeout.”
Evie’s head shot up. Bella hardly ever earned a timeout. But then again, she had been acting a little brattish. Evie looked over to see her twirling more pasta. Hell, no wonder Trenda was getting pissed.
“No.”
“Oh yes. If you’re not careful, there will be no TV for you tomorrow morning.”
Bella dropped her fork with a clatter and stared mutinously at her mother.
“Apologize for making a mess.”
Bella crossed her arms.
“Isabella,” her mother said, the warning clear.
She looked up through thick lashes to Aiden. “Sorry.”
“It’s bath time.” Trenda went over and picked up her daughter. “I’ll come out later and clean up.”
“I’ve got it,” Evie assured her.
“You’re still resting.”
“I’ve got the dishes,” Aiden said easily.
“She’s angry Piper had to leave. They were playing dress-up,” Trenda explained.
“Am not,” Bella interrupted.
“Don’t push it, little girl. I’ll take away your TV privileges.” The two females stared at one another. Evie almost smiled. God, they looked so much alike, but Bella hadn’t inherited her sister’s easy disposition.
“I think I’ll call it a night. Missy needs to go to bed early. I need to catch up on some work. There are some logos I’m still fiddling with.” Trenda headed down the hallway. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Trenda,” Aiden said.
“Night,” Evie called out.
As soon as they heard the door shut, Aiden started to chuckle. “My God, she’s just like you.”
“Huh?”
“The way she can get her tail in a twist and act out. God, when she crossed her arms, I thought I was going to lose it. Thank God she’s against swearing. Otherwise, she’d grow up to be a carbon copy of you.”
“Are you saying I’m a four-year-old?”
Aiden eyed her. “Trust me, there is nothing childlike about you.” His tone was low and seductive. “What I am saying is that your niece is going to grow up to be just like her aunt.”
“We’re nothing alike, she’s so happy and vibrant.”
Aiden put his napkin down on the table and gave her an incredulous look. “Eva, you are so full of life. My God, you shine.”
Her Relentless SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 10) Page 11
