Hannah entered the kitchen, prompting Evangeline to wipe her cheeks, plate the food, and ladle soup into bowls. After burping the baby, Hannah tucked him into the carrier, set it on the middle of the kitchen table, and sat.
“I know you cared about him,” Hannah said. “And I see you trying to hide your pain. I’ve always leaned on you. Let me be there for you this time.”
“I really loved him…” The words got lost in her sobs.
Leaning over, Hannah hugged her. “I’m sorry, honey,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Evangeline got herself under control and excused herself into the bathroom where she blew her nose and splashed cold water on her face. As she stared at herself in the mirror, heartache stared back. “Damn you, Sinclair Develin,” she muttered before returning to the kitchen.
Hannah stood there wringing her hands, fear radiating from her eyes.
“What’s the matter?” Evangeline asked.
“Someone just knocked on the front door.”
Grabbing her handgun from her bag, Evangeline peered through the peephole. It was Sin’s driver, Kevin Anton. After she unlocked and opened the door, he said, “Hello, ma’am. I need you to come with me.”
What?Her mind started racing. “Come in. I need a second to think.” When he stepped inside, she locked the door behind them. “What’s going on? Why are you here?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m not permitted to discuss specifics.”
“I’m going to need more than that, Kevin.”
He sent a text. A few seconds later, her phone buzzed with a text from Jacoby. “I will explain in person.”
“I can’t leave my sister alone,” she texted Jacoby.
“Sanchez will stay with your sister until you return,” Jacoby replied. “She’ll be there shortly.”
“Kevin, I need a minute,” Evangeline said.
“I’ll be waiting in the car. It’s parked out front.” And with that, he left.
Not sure what to think, Evangeline stowed her gun in the waist of her pants and threw on her coat. After placing both hands on Hannah’s shoulders, she locked eyes with her. “Maria Sanchez works for Sinclair. We can trust her. She’ll be here soon. Remember what I said about Joey.”
“I won’t let anything happen to my baby. I would die first.”
Adrenaline shot through her. “Don’t even say that. Bolt yourself in. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Evangeline waited outside the door until Hannah threw the deadbolt into place. And then, she ran to the town car. She wished her beautiful Sinclair was waiting in the back seat, that devilish smile on his handsome face. But she sat alone. As Kevin drove in the darkness, her thoughts bounced between the man she had loved—and lost—and the sister she needed to keep safe.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I can’t say, ma’am.”
“What can you say?”
“Congratulations on your nephew,” he replied.
“Thanks,” she grumbled. On a sigh, she stared out the window as they headed west toward Tysons and beyond. Twenty minutes later, Kevin pulled down an unmarked gravel road. A huge sign said, “Private Property. No Trespassing.”
They pulled around the back of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. A large garage door rolled open and Kevin drove inside. As Evangeline pushed out of the car, Jacoby hurried over.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
“What’s going on? What is this place?”
“Come with me.”
