“Dean is working with Justin at the new chemical company. He was supposed to be at the party tonight, and Justin tried calling him repeatedly.”
The guys who know chuckle, and I cock my head to the side. She doesn’t need to know too much. “Okay, baby, you need to rest. I’ll sit right here. Spider will bring you some food.”
“Also, Ruby is asking to speak to Evie.” Spike gets my attention with that. “Torch called and told me they are safe, but that Ruby was refusing to do anything else until she spoke to Evie.”
“Got it.” I dial Torch’s number, knowing that my sister’s cell was more than likely destroyed to keep Justin from finding her.
“Yeah,” Torch barks.
“I got Evie here.” I hand her the phone, and the girls talk away, but I stay seated next to her, trying not to eavesdrop.
Mal hands me the folder again, and this time, when I open it, I’m prepared for what Evie had already confirmed. After seeing her in September at the Roadhouse, Justin contacted Perez, who then applied for the job at Blissful Passages. He was planted there to cause issues and keep an eye on me. But something isn’t sitting right with me. More is going on, and I can’t see it through all the other shit in front of me.
“I want everything checked over. I want a full sweep for listening devices and anything else. Have Grave run records and make sure we don’t have any spies of any kind,” I order Mal, who agrees and walks out.
Hammer sits in a large wingback chair near the bed. “He’s going to cause issues. I’ve already heard rumblings from a friend of mine in Providence that he’s trying to get the state police involved.”
“I don’t care. I’m not letting him near her again.”
“Maybe I should go back. I don’t want you guys to get in trouble,” Evie says, and I’m about to snap at her when I hear my sister raising her voice over the line.
“Don’t even fucking think about it. He’ll kill you. Besides, think of the fact that Paris already threatened you, too.” Evie nods into the phone as tears roll down her cheeks.
“Baby, please don’t cry.” I wipe a tear away. “Everyone is safe. We are okay. They need probable cause to search any of our businesses, and if they come here, you can see them. You’re just not leaving with them. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, say goodbye. Your food is here.” I point to where Spider stands.
“Bye, girl, I’ll talk to you soon,” Evie says, and whatever my sister replies causes Evie to blush.
Taking my phone back, I slip it into my back pocket before looking at Lach.
He orders me, “Get her to eat, let her rest, and take it easy on her,” before walking out the door. The other guys make their way out of the room, also.
Spider stays behind, working on something at the dresser, and when he turns around, he has a lap tray set up so Evie can eat from the bed.
“Found this in the pantry downstairs. Leftovers from when I was…” he pauses, trying to figure out what to say next. “When I was hurt last time.” He doesn’t tell her that he was shot or how, and Evie smiles and nods at him. I stand up from the bed, and he hands me the tray before stepping out of the room, but he stops when he gets to the door and says, “Gus said if you need anything special, just let him know. He or his staff will get it made for you. He also sent you a dessert, too.”
“Tell him thank you.” She blushes again as she looks up at me.
I set the tray over her lap, pull the chair Hammer was sitting in closer to the bed, and watch her eat. After a few bites, I notice her wiggling around again.
“Babe, eat. I did earlier. I’ll do some work. How does that sound?”
“I just feel like you are watching me.”
“I am. Watching you is my favorite pastime.” The words slip out before I realize it.
“You haven’t had very much time doing it, how do you know it’s your favorite pastime?” She smiles, but the longer I stay quiet, the more she realizes how wrong she is. “Wait, have you been watching me?”
I set my phone down on the chair arm and slowly stand up. Taking the single step, I sit on the edge of the bed and slide my hand against the side of her bruised face, deciding to give her the complete truth.
“After that first weekend I saw you, I couldn’t get you off my mind. I talked to a friend of mine, and he gave me some suggestions of how he kept his girl and still gave her space. I did some of it.” I wait for fear to cloud her eyes, but it doesn’t come.
“Like what?” Her gaze lowers, and I gently squeeze her chin to bring her focus back on me.
“Keep your eyes up here. I need to know how much this might freak you out.”
