Get me more Vegas pageant officials. Whatever happened to her, it was done there.
Paz:
Already on it. Jet’s ready whenever you are, jefe.
Opening the fridge, I quickly discover that thereis nothing in there to feed Evie. Well, nothing I’d want to feed her. So I take out my phone again and dial Paz.
“Jefe?”
“I need you to find a café. Get coffee and breakfast for Evie,” I tell him.
“Already doing it. Figured she’d be hungry after sleeping for a couple of days,” he says.
It fucking pisses me off that he’s thinking about her needs before I tell him to. I keep those thoughts to myself, but my eye will be on him. If my second gets too close to her, I will fucking end him. Everyone is replaceable.
I don’t reply, cutting the call and walking back into the bedroom. Evie is still in the shower. I can hear it running. I pull out a little pick I keep in my pocket, and the lock clicks within seconds.
“Evie, I’m coming in.” I give her a little warning before stepping inside the room.
My feet stop and my heart fucking cracks at the sight of her sitting on the floor under the water, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She looks up at me, her eyes red from crying.
My mind drifts to Laura lying on the fucking bathroom floor, and without realizing I’m doing it, I scan every inch of Evie’s skin. Looking for anysigns of self-harm. When I don’t see any, I step into the shower, sit in front of her, and pull her onto my lap. Without a word, she buries her face into my chest.
“You’re getting wet,” she says.
“I don’t care.” My hand moves her hair aside, and I pull back a little so I can look down into her eyes. “You need to tell me.”
Evie shakes her head. “I can’t.”
“You know I will find out anyway.”
“And then you will see how ugly I am. You will see all my scars and damage and leave me alone.”
“Try me.” Nothing she can say will make me leave her alone. There’s nothing that could make me not want her.
Evie shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I’ll be fine. I just…”
“You know you don’t need to be fine. It’s okay not to be. Because whatever you need, I will find a way to make sure you have it, mi alma. I will be fine so you don’t have to be.” I stand, making sure Evie is balanced before I let go of her.
“Your suit is drenched,” she says.
“It’s just a suit.” I shrug out of my wet jacket, grab my phone, and send Paz another message.
Me:
I need clothes.
Paz:
For you?
Me:
Yes.
Paz:
Clean up?
