“Call him Ethan, Eve,” Jake says lightly.“You’ll have a tough time calling us both Mr.Wilder.”
“I wanted to call you, but I don’t have any of your numbers.I tried to text Iris, b-but—” I’m babbling.I never babble.
“Are you hurt?”Ethan asks, his amber eyes focusing on my split lip.“Do you need medical attention?”I shake my head.He nods once, his expression giving nothing away.“Good.”He turns to leave, presumably to go deal with getting Caleb released, but something makes me call out.
“Wait.”
Both brothers turn back to me.Jake has been more reserved, but I can see him studying me with sharp intelligence.Ethan’s expression remains neutral, waiting.
“Caleb isn’t going to get in trouble, is he?”The question comes out smaller than I intended.“For helping me?”
For the first time since he approached me, something in Ethan’s eyes softens slightly.It’s barely perceptible, but it’s there.“No.He’ll be fine.I’ll make sure of it.”The simple certainty in his voice is reassuring.This is clearly a man who doesn’t make promises he can’t keep.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“Don’t worry about Caleb,” Jake says confidently.“We’ve been getting him out of trouble since he was five.”There’s affection in his tone that makes me feel better somehow.These aren’t just powerful men.They’re brothers who care about each other.
Ethan gives Jake a look but doesn’t contradict the statement.Instead, he nods at me once more.“Excuse us.”
I watch them walk toward the desk sergeant, Jake already pulling out his phone, probably making calls to pull strings.Within minutes, they’re deep in conversation with the officers, Jake’s charm and Ethan’s barely contained authority working in tandem.
Another thirty minutes pass before I hear familiar voices in the lobby.My brothers pour through the entrance like a small army—Marco in the lead, his face set in grim lines, followed by Antonio, Daniel, Miguel, and Rafael.They’re not alone, however.
“Eve!”The only time I heard my mother sound this broken was when she heard about my father’s death.I get to my feet slowly, stunned by her appearance.She’s the first one to spot me, and I see fear in her eyes, worry that I have never seen before.And then she rushes towards me.I stand there frozen in place as she throws her arms around me.
“Mija!”I’m unable to move, unable to comprehend what’s happening.Why is she here?Why is she… like this?
“Are you okay, Eve?”Marco is just a step behind her, and his eyes run over me, checking to see if I’m hurt.
“I’m fine,” I mumble, dazed.“Why is?—?”
“You’re not fine!”my mother says fiercely, pulling away enough to look at my face.“Your cheek is red.Your lip—Where is he?!”
Her eyes look around frantically, and I look towards Rafael pleadingly.My younger brother hurries forward.“Mamá, give her some space.You’re scaring her.”
The others approach me, surrounding me, looking me over.
“Are you okay?”Miguel asks, checking me over like I might have hidden injuries.“What happened?”
“I’m fine,” I assure them, though my voice is still shaky.“Really.”
“Where is that piece of shit?”Daniel’s voice is tight with anger.
“He’s still in the hospital,” I look at my brothers.“Caleb did a number on him.He would have killed him if the police hadn’t arrived.”
“Good.”Marco sounds satisfied, as if we’re not discussing possible murder.
“Who’s Caleb?”Antonio asks.
“How long have you been here?”my mother cuts him off, brushing the hair off my face, her own face white.“Why didn’t you call me?You?—”
“Mamá.”Marco puts a hand on her shoulder.“Let her speak.I think we need to know what happened first.”
I tell them everything that happened, watching my brothers’ faces grow darker with each detail.By the time I finish, Antonio looks ready to kill someone.
“He’s been stalking you for months?”Miguel’s voice is dangerous.“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“None of you have ever protected me from him before, so I couldn’t exactly come to you for help, now could I?”The words are torn from me.
