Page 42 of Alex

“Good, so we should be good.” Alex looked around the room. “Any questions?”

“What happens if shit goes south? I don’t feel happy blowing the boat with so many people on board.”

Evelyn’s question caused anger to rise inside him, the threat against her and the risk she was taking weighed heavy on him. “Those people are skin traders, drug dealers, pimps, arms dealers, and killers. I have no qualms about us blowing the boat.”

Her face softened as she laid her hand on his belly and his muscles tightened at her touch. “Yeah, I get that but what about their dates and the servers on the boat?”

Alex felt his anger ebb when faced with her softer side and he gently stroked her cheek. “Evelyn, I can’t risk you for some faceless innocent.”

“I know but I can’t live with myself if innocents die to keep me safe.”

Alex knew she wasn’t being awkward, she genuinely cared about people, especially those she considered innocents. “Fine. Liam, fix the charges so they don’t blow the boat but incapacitate it. But not until we have Simon in our custody. That should give everyone time to get to safety.”

“Sure thing, Shadow,” Liam said using Alex’s code name.

Evelyn was obviously Siren, Reid was Captain Kirk as usual, Gunner was Viking, Blake was King because he had protected so many royals, and Liam was Pyro for apparent reasons. Pax was Gucci because she only wore designer or so Evelyn had told him.

“Right let’s go. Remember if we get separated, we meet back here. If nobody else arrives within an hour, contact Jack or Roz and ask for an extraction. Stay safe and let’s get the job done.” He took Evelyn by the hand and was about to walk to the hallway to help her with her coat when he was stopped by Pax.

“Alex, do you have a second?”

Alex made sure she could see his irritation at the interruption on his face as he let go of Evelyn’s hand, nodded, and headed towards the library.

Alex waited for the door to close behind them before he spoke again. “What can I do for you, Pax?”

“How much do you know about what happened to Evelyn?”

He felt his spine stiffen. “She told me everything.” He could feel bile crawl up his throat as he thought about what she had been through.

“Did she tell you about David?”

“Yes, he was her handler and he died of bone cancer.” Dread filled him and he wondered why Pax was bringing him up.

“No, he didn’t.” He could hear caution in her voice as if she was debating if she should say anymore or not.

“I’m guessing you called me in here for a reason and it wasn’t so we could shoot the shit with half answers and statements. So, why don’t we skip this verbal dance and get to that part?” He was barely holding on to his temper, frustrated at the game Pax seemed to be playing.

Pax smiled her intelligent eyes showing him there was a sharpness in her that he could respect. “You really love her, don’t you?”

“Okay we’re done.” If she wasn’t going to tell him what she’d intended to, he wasn’t wasting any more time. He certainly had no intention of discussing his relationship with Evelyn with her.

“No, wait.”

Alex stopped at the door and turned around.

“David’s real name was Arthur Roach. He was married to Belita Fuentes.” She let that hang as Alex took in the name and quickly connected the dots.

“Omar Fuentes daughter?” She nodded. “Start talking and make it fast, Pax.”

“Arthur worked for Omar, but he was not a bad man. What Evelyn said about his wife and daughter dying in a skiing accident is true. But he never worked for the cops, he was a trafficker. Because he had connections with the police and government, he managed to work his way in and pose as Evelyn’s handler. Once he got her away, he hid her in Courchevel.”

“But why?” Alex was confused as to why he would do it and go to so much trouble to protect Evelyn.

“Here.” Pax passed him a picture. The woman in it was the image of Evelyn.

He looked up sharply. “Who is this?”

“His daughter Estrella Fuentes. The one who was killed. By all accounts, Arthur had been trying to get them out of Fuentes’ control when they were killed.”