Page 31 of Alex

Chapter Fifteen

It had beentwo days since the attack at the Louvre and they were no further forward. The information James Colchester had given them was substantial. Simon Booth was a fraudster, a womaniser, and an abuser. He was also a narcissistic prick unless she had missed her mark—which she doubted. Evelyn had gotten pretty good at singling out assholes and although she had never met him, she knew from her dealings with poor dead Petra and reading the file he had been born that way. Some people were born evil and others became that way through life and circumstance.

The file had given them a brief history of his family including James Colchester and Simon’s various attempts to undermine Colchester and cause as much trouble as he could for the family. He was a prolific social climber and playboy, always wanting to be seen at the most exclusive parties. He seemed to enjoy throwing away his family’s money—or more appropriately his trust fund. The fund that was, at their grandfather’s behest, run by James.

Twelve months ago, when James had found out Simon was dealing drugs to minors through the private school where he was the governor, James had sought a legal way to have him barred from accessing his inheritance. James and Simon’s fight over it had been very public resulting in Colchester banning him from future family events.

Now Simon was linked through pictures—which were also in the file and had been verified by Will as authentic—to some of the worlds shadiest people. His new ‘friends’ had encouraged him to spread his wings and it seemed Simon was now in the information business.

This all checked out when she contacted Roz. What it did not do was tell them where he was. Throwing herself back in the chair Evelyn sighed. Alex was due back soon after getting a call from Thomas Fournier about a leaky radiator valve. She had met the couple properly yesterday when Delphine had popped around to speak to Alex about his plans for Easter.

Alex had winked at her over Delphine’s head as Thomas had rolled his eyes in an affectionate aside. Delphine was really trying to get the dirt on her and Alex. It had been sweet watching Alex with the older couple. He had been patient and answered Delphine’s questions about whether Evelyn would be joining them for Easter even though it was months away.

It reminded her of seeing him with his parents and that made her think of her own. It had been so long, and she still missed them every day. She went back every few years to check on them without them knowing. Watching as they grew older and frailer while being so far away—and as far as they knew dead—became harder and harder with every visit.

The door behind her opened and she twisted to see Alex walk in with a smirk on his sexy lips.

“Hey, is everything okay downstairs?” she asked as he slouched down beside her on the sofa.

His long legs stretched out, his arms loose at his sides, he looked at her and nodded. “Yeah, the radiator needed bleeding.”

“A handyman as well as an action hero and a chef. Be still my beating heart,” she teased, and Alex chuckled.

“Not sure about an action hero.” He laughed again as he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her until she was sitting astride him. She went willingly wanting whatever she could get from the man who held her. Her legs were either side of his big thighs and her hands rested on his chest. Alex hadn’t kissed her since their mini make-out session in the bathroom the day they had nearly been blown up. She had, however, spent the last two nights in his bed.

With Blake, Reid, and Liam staying under his roof Alex had decided she would sleep beside him. She could have resisted but she didn’t want to. Having spent the last fifteen years yearning to be in his arms she wasn’t about to deny herself now. And it had been in his arms, as his big warm body curled around her. Her back to his front, legs tangled, she had used his arm as a pillow and slept peacefully. No nightmares, no tossing and turning. Just restful, dreamless sleep.

Liam, Blake, and Reid had headed to meet up with Gunnar in Munich after they had got a tip that Simon Booth’s new associates were meeting there. She and Alex were staying there and keeping a low profile as she was still a marked woman.

She felt Alex still underneath her, his body going rigid and glanced at him worriedly. “Alex?” she questioned her head tilted. Worry hit her at the serious almost dark look on his face.

“You still have it.” Alex motioned to the pendant that dangled from her neck.

Evelyn’s tummy flipped and she cursed her carelessness. Immediately she started to tuck the necklace away inside her jumper where it usually lay out of sight.

Alex grabbed her hand stilling her. “Don’t,” he demanded pulling her hand away.

Evelyn went to climb off him, but he placed his hands on her thighs stopping her.

“It’s nothing, Alex,’ she said of the pendant that meant more to her than any other possession on earth.

“It’s everything.”

Her head dropped and she looked away to the window where snow was falling again.

“Look at me, Evelyn,” he ordered, and she twisted her head to his, a gasp almost hitting her lips at the look on his face. It was still serious, but the darkness had moved to something more. It was compelling and beautiful, dark and almost feral in its intensity.

“You still wear my ring.”

She couldn’t deny it. The hollow circular pendant that had Evelyn Martinez etched on the back with mi nena written above, was hanging around her neck. It had been since the day he had put it there, not once had she taken it off. It had been the only thing she had dug her heels in over.

“It was the only thing I had of you except what was in here,” she said laying her hand over her heart.

“You still wear my ring,” he repeated as he ran his hands along the outside of her thighs moving slowly over her hips until he cupped her waist in his hands.

“Yes, Alex.” Her answer was simple because to deny it would be to belittle what they’d had. Fifteen years ago, she had promised to be his forever and, in her heart, she had never broken that promise. She had no idea what the future held for them as a couple or if realistically they even had one. What she did know was that she had become Evelyn Martinez in her heart years ago.

With a growl that Evelyn felt all the way to her clit, Alex wrenched her body to his. Her core was pressed against the hard length of his cock, her breasts pushed against his chest. They were nose to nose as he held still his eyes locked on hers. The swirl of emotion and desire in his hazel eyes holding her captive.