Page 39 of Maximus (Gold Team #4)

“You did. What you said about needing to do this so you could move on and put the past where it belongs, in the past. I remembered that you’re not some damsel in distress, you’re strong, resourceful.

And I admit, there’s a part of me that likes that you want to step up for Bubba and Zoey so they can put this behind them, too.

But mostly, I’ve come to the realization that I can’t say no to you.

I want to give you and the boys the life you deserve and to do that I have to let you be you.

So, if that meant coming back to Alaska, a place I want you nowhere near, I’ll suck it up, be here with you, and make sure you’re safe to do what you need to do. ”

If it was possible for a person to melt into another human, Eva nearly accomplished it. Her body had gone soft and pliant as she gave me more of her weight, snuggling so close we were damn near fused together.

This isn’t contentment, it’s goddamn euphoria.

“I…”

Eva started then stopped again, just like she’d done last night. So I prompted her the same way, hoping she’d finally say what I wanted to hear.

“You what, honey?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled, and disappointment ached in my chest.

I wanted to hear her say the words, so I could say them back.

“Thank you,” she continued.

“For what?”

“For understanding I have to talk to the authorities. For believing I’m strong. For taking care of me while I do this. I want it all behind me so we can move on. I need to be free of all my guilt, so I can come to you with a clear conscience.”

“You never have to thank me for taking care of you, Eva.”

“Well, I am all the same.”

I could barely speak past the tidal wave of emotions or the swelling in my chest. I’d given up trying to figure out what was so different about Eva that made me go from a cynic to a lovesick idiot. The fuck of it was, it had only taken her hours from the time I met her to start the transformation .

And every day since I first laid eyes on her, it was like I was reborn, reshaped, molded into this new man who I didn’t recognize but liked.

Eva’s breathing evened out and when I knew she was sound asleep, I kissed the top of her head and said the words I’d been fighting to keep under wraps.

“I think I’m in love with you, Eva,” I whispered.

Eva didn’t respond.

The Nesbett courthouse looked like any other municipal building.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy or impressive as we rode the elevator up to the top floor.

That morning after Eva had gotten ready for her meeting, she’d asked me my preference on what she did with the boys.

I was torn. I wanted them with us so they were close but I also wanted them safely locked behind closed doors where no one would see them.

After discussing it with Eva, she decided to leave them at the hotel.

I trusted they were in good hands with Anaya, but the rock in my gut became heavier the longer we were away from them.

“You know they’re gonna be fine,” Eva told me when we stepped off the elevator. “They like Anaya and she’s great with them.”

I could not believe Eva was consoling me about the boys.

So much for concealing my worry.

“I know. I just want this over and all of us back on the plane headed home.”

“Home,” she mumbled. “I like the sound of that.”

Fucking hell yeah .

“Wait.” I stopped us outside of the ADA’s office. “Are you positive you want to do this? ”

“Yeah.” She nodded and smiled.

“You don’t—”

“I know I don’t have to do anything. I want to do this. I’m ready to do it. Besides, you’ll be next to me the whole time, what can go wrong?”

She shrugged her shoulder, completely oblivious to what her trust meant to me—how desperately I needed her to know that I would protect her with my last breath.

“Nothing will go wrong,” I confirmed. “Let’s do this.”

A legal secretary offered a rushed greeting and she quickly ushered us into a large conference room where a woman sat until she saw us enter. She stood, walked around the large table, and thrust her hand toward a startled Eva.

The women shook hands and made introductions. “Eva, I’m ADA Bernard. Thank you so much for making the trip. My office received the audio files your representative sent. We’ve already reviewed them, however I need you to listen to them with me, so you can swear to the authenticity.”

“I understand,” Eva replied.

“Mr. Brown.” The ADA turned her gaze to me but didn’t offer to shake my hand.

I wasn’t sure what that said and I didn’t care to contemplate the slight. I simply wanted this meeting over so we could be on our way.

“Before we begin, I’d like to review the immunity deal,” I told ADA Bernard.

“Of course.” The woman turned to the legal secretary still standing in the doorway. “Melissa, if you wouldn’t mind closing the door on your way out,” she said, dismissing the other woman.

Wordlessly, the door clicked shut and the ADA walked to the table, then opened a file folder, spreading several pieces of paper out.

“Here you are. As you can see, we’re offering transactional immunity.

As it is clearly written, Eva Dawkins, AKA Eva Dawson, is protected from future prosecution in regard to this case.

We’d normally offer relocation and a new identity after testimony, however your representative declined. ”

I bet Tex did. He could hide Eva better than the state of Alaska could. However, she wasn’t going into hiding—I’d be the one providing all future protection.

After I read and reread the documents, I collected them off the table and folded them in half.

“Eva? Are you ready?”

With a twitch of her lips, she nodded.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

ADA Bernard fired up the laptop and a few moments later, a woman’s annoying, high-pitched voice filled the room.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Boss, it’s me. The job is done. Now I need the money you promised me.”

“Not so fast. I need details. Where’d you leave them?”

“Mark fell asleep right after I took off, thank goodness. If he’d been as hyperaware as you said he was, he would’ve known we weren’t flying southwest toward Juneau.

I flew straight west and circled a bit before heading down into the Lake Clark Preserve and Wilderness.

I went down between two mountain ranges and landed on a tributary of Two Lakes. ”

My stomach roiled hearing Eva’s soft sad voice as she explained what she’d done.

“And he didn’t suspect anything?”

“No. I don’t think so. Not until it was too late to do anything.

I cut the fuel to the engine and made it seem as if we were crash landing.

They went into brace position. I landed on the lake and told them I had to check things out.

I had them get out, then when they were on shore, I backed up and flew away. ”

Eva’s voice paused and I clearly heard the audible gulp of oxygen as she tried to gain her composure .

“The looks on their faces will haunt me forever, if I’m being honest. Mark knew what was happening immediately, and wasn’t happy at all.

Zoey simply looked confused. But after I turned the plane around, I looked back.

She had a look of utter disbelief and terror on her face. ”

Christ, the sorrow in her voice was killing me.

“And you didn’t leave them with anything that might help them survive, right?”

“No.” Eva’s voice cracked and it was clear she was crying.

Fucking hell. “ All they had were the clothes they were wearing. But, I have to tell you, Mark had approval to carry a knife on the plane, and I’m pretty sure the pockets of his cargo pants were full, but I don’t know with what.

Otherwise, all they had were the clothes on their backs. ”

“Good. You’re sure no one knows where you went and where you are now?”

I tuned out the rest of the recording and pulled a sobbing Eva into my arms. This, right here, was why I didn’t want her to come to Alaska.

I didn’t want her to relive something she was so ashamed of.

I knew it would bring everything to the forefront—not only what she’d done to Bubba and Zoey, but the reason behind why she’d been forced to do it in the first place.

“Can you please tell me who is on that recording?” the ADA asked.

“That’s Tracy Eklund,” Eva muttered as she sniffed back tears. “Me and Tracy talking.”

“You referred to her by the moniker, “Boss”. How do you know it’s Tracy?”

“Because I’ve met Tracy. She worked at her husband Kenneth Eklund’s law practice as his assistant.”

“How did you meet the Eklunds?”

“When my father was arrested on his third DUI, Kenneth Eklund was his attorney. You heard the recording so you tell me, even ten years later, wouldn’t you remember that woman’s high-pitched, nasally voice? That’s Tracy Eklund. One hundred percent.”

Eva was correct. Tracy had a very distinct voice that no one could forget.

“I believe you, but you will be cross-examined and the defense will ask. Though I think it will be moot once Mrs. Eklund speaks.”

Several hours and three more recorded phone calls later, we were finally back in the elevator on the way down.

“You did great,” I told her. “How do you feel?”

“Free.”

“That’s good, honey.”

“I can’t wait to get home and start living.”

Good Lord, her statement sent an ache over my body.

Home—I’d never had one of those and I couldn’t fucking wait to make one with her and the kids. Now, if I could manage to summon up the courage to tell her how I felt when she was awake, we’d be on our way to making a future.