Page 98

Her fingers dig into my forearms. “I need you, Zeke. I can’t do this alone.”

The admission costs her—it’s in the way her jaw clenches, in the tremor that runs through her body. Evelyn Landry doesn’t ask for help. She’s the strong one, the protector, the shield. But right now, she’s stripped bare, vulnerable in a way that makes me want to hold her close and make this all go away.

“You’re not alone.” I brush away a tear with my thumb. “Whatever happens, whatever it takes, I’m here. We face this together.”

She nods against my forehead, her breathing gradually slowing. “I love you.” The words come out barely above awhisper. “God help me, but I do. And I’m terrified that loving you, being with you, is what put Leo in danger.”

“Eve—”

“No, let me finish.” She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. “I’m scared out of my mind. But I need you. Not just to find Leo, but,” she swallows hard, “I need you. All of you. The good, the bad, the dangerous parts. Because you’re the only one who makes me feel safe even when everything’s falling apart.”

For the first time, I let myself acknowledge the depth of what I feel for this woman. This fierce, beautiful, broken warrior who’s claimed every part of me without even trying.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I love her too, but the words elude me. I can’t seem to get my mouth to speak them. Instead, I give her what I can.

“You have me,” I promise. “All of me. And we’re going to get our boy back.”

Chapter 21

Countdown to Chaos

Evelyn

The gin burns down my throat as I toss back another martini while Zeke paces behind his massive mahogany desk. His low, commanding voice fills the study as he barks orders into his phone, coordinating his men’s movements across the city. Under normal circumstances, the authority in his tone would send shivers down my spine. But right now, all I can focus on is the growing pit of dread in my stomach.

Leo.

My sweet, innocent nephew is out there somewhere, probably terrified, wondering why the woman who looked just like his aunt led him away from school. The thought makes me want to vomit. Or maybe that’s just the gin.

I stare into my empty glass, watching the last olive roll lazily around the bottom. How many drinks is this now? Three? Four? I’ve lost count. Right now, I’m stuck in the haze of alcohol and fear.

The ice in my glass clinks as my hand shakes. Memories of the past few hours flash through my mind like a twisted highlight reel.

“I don’t care what it takes,” Zeke growls into the phone. “Check every warehouse, every safe house, every goddamn inchof this city. And when you find them…” He lets the threat hang unfinished in the air.

I close my eyes, fighting back another wave of nausea. This is my fault. All of it. If I hadn’t been so reckless with my undercover work, if I hadn’t gotten made by Gio, if I hadn’t agreed to this marriage of convenience that’s become anything but convenient.

No.

The thought hits me with startling clarity, cutting through the gin-soaked fog in my brain. This isn’t helping anyone, least of all Leo. Drowning my fears in alcohol while Zeke moves heaven and earth to find our boy—when did I start thinking of him as our boy?—isn’t going to bring him home.

I set the glass down on Zeke’s desk harder than necessary, and he pauses mid-sentence to look at me.

“Hey,” Zeke says to whomever is on the line, “I’ll call you back.” He ends the call then gives me his full attention. “Talk to me, love.”

“I need to make a call,” I announce, pushing myself up from the leather armchair. The world tilts slightly, but I manage to steady my feet. Years of practice.

Zeke’s dark eyes narrow as he watches me. “To who?”

“My partner.” The words come out clearer than I expect, given how much I’ve had to drink. “Rissa needs to know what’s happening. We need her help.”

“Absolutely not.” His response is immediate and firm. “We can’t bring the police into this.”

“I’m not talking about the police,” I say, taking a step toward his desk. “I’m talking about my partner. My friend. Someone who has my back no matter what, someone who understands what it means to be a mother and a cop at the same time.”

He drops to his chair, tossing the phone onto his desk. “Eve—”

“No, listen to me.” I plant my hands on his desk, leaning forward. The scent of leather and his cologne grounds me. “I can’t keep living in these two separate worlds anymore, Zeke. I’m a cop, yes, but I’m also your wife. Leo’s aunt. And right now, I need both of those parts of my life working together if we’re going to get him back.”