He gives me a cheeky smile that quickly disappears at his sister’s groan.
“Get a fucking grip, Wade. She’s playing you! Haven’t you realized this whore will open her legs for anyone?You’re not special to her.”
Damn it. I almost have him hooked and she has to come in and ruin it. She’s been my friend too long and it’s given her the ability to read my bullshit, which she’s doing right now.
Her long nails scrape against the chair as she leans down in my face. “You don’t understand how hard it was to pretend to be your friend. For years I watched you whine about revenge just to bend over when he shows up at your door. You’re fucking pathetic, Evie.”
A chair scrapes against the floor and Vivianne goes flying away from me. “Don’t fucking speak to her that way.”
Viv laughs, her red hair swaying behind her as she shakes her head. “God, Wade. You can’t even realize it. You’re so deep in this fucking fantasy you’ve created to realize the truth!”
Wade’s body tenses, his hands curling into fists as he takes a step toward Vivianne. “Shut up!”
She doesn’t.
“You think you’re going to rule the world with her? She doesn’t fucking love you, Wade! She’s going to stab you in the back as soon as she gets the chance. I refuse to lose you, too!”
“Enough!” I place a hand on Wade’s, but he shakes me off, pointing a sharp finger at Viv. I let my arm fall to the table, inching my fingers closer to his pistol he had left lying beside his plate while I keep my eyes on the scene in front of me.
Vivianne notices my movement, her eyes going wide as she reaches into her purse. As soon as Wade sees the gun pointed in my direction, he’s spinning around to the table and grabbing his own. Gunshots echo offthe warehouse walls as I snatch my hand back into my lap and watch as Vivianne’s body falls to the floor. Blood immediately begins to pool around her body as wet gasps cause her chest to rise and fall at an uneven pace.
“Fuck!” Wade reaches up and grabs at his hair, pulling it as he walks toward his sister’s dying form.
Wetness seeps into my sleeve and I look down to see my beer has shattered, Vivianne’s bullet missing me by only a few inches.
“Fuck!” Wade repeats his earlier sentiment and tosses his gun to the ground.
I grab a larger piece of the broken glass, tucking it in my shirt sleeve just in time for Wade to turn around and look at me.
His eyes are wild as he approaches, hands clenching into fists as he comes to a stop in front of me. “Are you okay, Evie? Did she get you?”
I shake my head and motion to the spilled beer. “Almost, but I’m okay.” I stand, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Thanks to you, Wade.”
He melts under my touch, holding my hand to his face as he studies my eyes. “I have to take care of this but…I’ll come see you tonight?”
He’s asking for permission as if I have any other choice but to tell him yes, but I guess in his eyes, I do.
“I’ll be waiting.” I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips that has him releasing a sigh.
“Uric!” He calls one of the guards over. “Take her to her room, please.”
Uric gives him a short nod and grabs my arm, luckily not the one hiding the glass, and leads me to my room.
I can’t help the smile that takes over my face as we walk away.One down, two to go.
Chapter 43
Wylder
“It’s been almost twelve hours, Kortez.” Atlas’s face is set in stone as he watches his brother, hand clasped tightly around the whiskey glass. “I want that explanation now.”
Kortez doesn’t say anything. He sits across from Atlas in the cabin of his private jet, his own glass of whiskey loosely hanging from his fingers as he relaxes with his arms on the back of the couch.
After Kortez confirmed Evie’s whereabouts, we all sprung into action. Atlas called in his guys, telling them to get down to Jacksonville like the devil was on their ass. Roman and I worked on packing bags filled with guns, knives, bullets, and even a few hand grenades that they had stashed in my house. Then I called Carolina, the plant I put in Abel’s school, and asked if she and her husband, Tank, could watch Abel for a few days.
Of course, Abel didn’t want to go. He knew we were going for his mom. Between Atlas and I, we were able to convince him to go stay with Carolina and her son Will so we could get Evie home safely without worrying about his safety, too. We promised him we would bring her home. I’ve never broken a promise to that kid, and I don’t plan to start now.
I refuse to.
