Drake glanced up, his features drawn in concern. He didn’t question Silas. He never had. He above all people relied on Silas’s instincts, and anything his enforcer said was met with absolute acceptance.
“Think they’re planning something?” Drake asked in a low voice.
“They most assuredly have something up their sleeve,” Silas mused. “They aren’t the kind to suffer insult quietly, nor will they simply go away. What bothers me, though, is that I haven’t heard of any plan, or scheme, or anything. The streets are quiet, and my sources are silent. No one is talking and that makes me nervous, because someone always has something to say.”
Drake’s expression became even more worried, and then he cursed viciously. “So help me God, if they go after what is mine, I’ll kill every single one with my bare hands.”
“With my help,” Silas said by way of agreement.
Their mutual fear was a strike against Evangeline, but Silas worried that, in fact, Drake could very well be the target. The enemy would know by now just what Evangeline meant to Drake. And that she was pregnant with his child. They would know her security would be nearly impenetrable and their hope would be that Drake—and his men—would be so focused on protecting Evangeline that Drake’s protection would be overlooked.
That wasn’t going to happen, but it didn’t mean an attempt wouldn’t be made.
“You need to be careful,” Silas said quietly. “I’m not convinced they won’t try to go after you.”
“I hope to hell they do,” Drake said savagely.
“You have to think about Evangeline. And your child,” Silas said patiently. “You no longer have no one, Drake. Think what it would doto Evangeline were something to happen to you. Your child growing up without his or her father. Alone. Unprotected. That’s why you have to take care. I well know you’d like your shot at the bastards, but you can’t take such a risk. It would devastate Evangeline, and I think that’s the last thing you’d ever want to do.”
Drake paused, anger still blazing in his eyes, and then resignation and acceptance of Silas’s words crept in. He leaned back in his chair and blew out his breath.
“I don’t like being put out of action,” he said with distaste. “Like I’m hiding behind my men like a goddamn pussy.”
“Your brothers,” Silas corrected. “That’s what we do. What you’ve done for us countless times. It’s merely our turn to return the favor. For you. And for Evangeline. For your child.”
“Fuck,” Drake muttered in a tone he always used when Silas had scored a point Drake couldn’t possibly counter.
Silas smiled. “I trust I won’t have to worry about you taking any unnecessary risks, then?”
“Fuck you,” Drake grumbled.
4
Hayley hoisted her purse over her shoulder and was careful not to drop the container of brownies as she neared the apartment building, tension mounting as she reached the door. Praying it hadn’t been her imagination or that the manager hadn’t changed his mind and rented the unit to someone else, she rang the bell and stepped inside once it unlocked, issuing a shy hello to the manager when he looked up from the reception desk.
A returning smile broadened Mr. Carver’s face as he picked up a set of keys and hastened around the counter.
“Ready to see your apartment, Miss Winthrop?”
Oh God, it wasn’t a dream. It was real! She had found an apartment in a safe part of the city, and the rent... She shook her head, sure some mistake had been made, that she’d heard wrong. But no, the amount had been outlined in the lease. An apartment that rented for this amount was simply unheard of. Even the worst accommodations in the seediest sections of the city rented for twice what she would be paying.
She flashed him her most brilliant smile, desperately trying to contain her overwhelming excitement. “Please, Mr. Carver, do call me Hayley. No one calls me Miss Winthrop. Well, except complete strangers, and as youand I will be seeing one another frequently now, you certainly can’t be considered a stranger.”
“Only if you’ll agree to call me Miles,” the older man said.
She beamed at him. “Miles it is.”
“Shall I take you up? It’s on the very top floor, but there are only five floors. Six counting the basement level, but only five floors aboveground.”
“Yes, but first, I have something for you.”
She ducked her head self-consciously when his eyebrow immediately arched in surprise. She fingered the plastic container and before she could lose her nerve she thrust it toward the manager.
“It’s not much,” she hedged. “But you were so kind to me and you didn’t have to go to the trouble of calling me back when I’m sure you would have no problem renting out the apartment, but I wanted to do something to express my appreciation. So I baked you brownies. They were my father’s favorite dessert. Triple-chocolate brownies.”
Mr. Carver didn’t take the brownies from her outstretched hand, and oddly, a look of intense discomfort entered his eyes. Had she offended him? Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“I shouldn’t tell you this. It could mean my job, but I can’t accept your very kind gift. It wasn’t at my instigation, you see. The owner is the one who insisted I call you and offer you the apartment immediately. He is the one who is owed your gratitude. I merely oversee the day-to-day running of the building for him, but he is very much in charge and adopts a hands-on approach when it comes to all the tenants, their needs, any problems that arise and so on.”
