“Stop, that hurts!”
“Let him check you out.”
Evie’s eyes flickered open to see an older face staring down at her interestedly.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hi.”
“He’s my physician,” King said. “I wanted to have you checked out to make sure you’re okay.”
“It’s just a mild concussion.”
“She’s right,” King’s physician agreed, straightening from the bed.
“Told you so,” Evie muttered then fell back asleep.
* * *
Evie woke feeling more clearheaded later in the day. She sat up slowly before getting to her feet, making sure she wasn’t dizzy before going to the bathroom. She took her time washing her face, staring at her pale reflection; the dark shadows under her eyes would need a coat of make-up to cover them.
Back in the bedroom, she flipped through her messages then texted Penni she was fine and would be back that afternoon. She then called and rescheduled her flight, giving herself a couple of days before she traveled.
She looked down at the t-shirt she was wearing, surprised. She hadn’t imagined King would ever own a t-shirt; it didn’t fit his elegant style. She couldn’t picture him in jeans and t-shirts. He was the complete antithesis of the type of men who attracted her.
She picked up her clothes from the chair, getting dressed, and King came in as she was putting on her shoes.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving. I’m feeling better.”
“Stay. You need to recuperate.”
“I can do that at Penni’s.”
He stood with his hands in his pockets, staring back at her with a grim face. “I can’t convince you to stay?”
“No.” Evie picked up her phone and purse, ready to leave the close confines of the bedroom. She stared back at him coldly as he blocked her exit.
“Evie, I know I fucked up.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want to talk?”
“Haven’t you ever screwed up, Evie?”
“Not when I give my loyalty to someone. Loyalty is everything.” She touched the tattoo on the curve of her breast. “I hurt Beth one time, and I will always regret it. I did it because I was loyal to The Last Riders. I broke that loyalty—men who have stood beside me for years—for you. They deserve my loyalty; you do not.” Evie walked past him into the living room.
“I’ll call Henry.”
As Evie heard the defeat in his voice, she wanted to turn around and hide in his arms. The last thing she wanted to do was leave him, but he had showed her he didn’t trust her. He had been pretending to care for her to find out a way to hurt her friends, and he had almost succeeded.
While they stood, awkwardly waiting for Henry’s arrival, her eyes roved to the television screen behind King’s shoulder. There was a breaking news report describing the violence of the last twenty-four hours. They were detailing the gruesome discovery of several bodies at the warehouse, then the shocking execution-style killing of Digger as he was being moved to a safe house. King stared along with Evie as they watched Digger’s sheet-covered body loaded into the coroner’s van.
“I would have paid him for that one myself,” King commented, not making eye contact.
“It wasn’t for you.” It was for Lily; it would always be about Lily for Shade.
King’s phone rang, announcing Henry’s arrival downstairs.
King walked her to the elevator and Evie felt the tension climb, sensing King wanted her to stay. However, when the elevator opened, Evie stepped in, her finger pressing the lobby button. “Goodbye, King.”
His hand stopped the elevator from closing. “I know you hate me right now, and I don’t blame you. I asked for your trust without giving you mine. I was wrong. It wasn’t the first time I was wrong dealing with you, though, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. My sister was murdered because I trusted someone’s word I shouldn’t have, and she paid the price.
“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I don’t like Shade, and I was well aware your loyalty to him came first. Last night, you threw yourself in front of me to save me from him. Whether you know it or not, you made a decision to pick me over The Last Riders.
“I’m moving to Treepoint, but it’s going to take me some time to finish up here. That will give you some time to cool down and come to the same realization I have—we belong together. We are fucking good together. And neither you nor The Last Riders are going to keep me from proving I can be worthy of your loyalty. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
Evie didn’t say anything, letting the elevator door close on the man she had come to love.
* * *
Three days later, her bags were packed once more. Evie stared down at the new suitcases she had purchased containing new clothes. The only things leaving with her she had brought were The Last Riders’ t-shirts she used to sleep in. She had also purchased a couple of nightshirts in different colors.
“I’ll see you this summer when I come in for the Fourth of July picnic.” Penni hugged her.
“Take care, Penni.” Evie picked up her suitcase, opening the door. “Be careful around the Predators.”
“I will. I have no intention of becoming involved with them.” Evie looked at her doubtfully. While Penni was trying her best to avoid the Predators, she hoped her antagonism for them remained strong. She was glad Penni was in and out of town, touring with Mouth2Mouth.
“Bye, Evie.”
“Goodbye, Penni,” she said with finality, going out the door.
She blinked back tears in her eyes. She was going to miss Penni. They had grown close the last several weeks living together.
Wheeling her suitcase out of the elevator, she stopped at the concierge desk. The new employee had been hired when the old one had let the man kidnap her onto the elevator for a large tip.
Evie reached into her purse, pulling out a thick envelope.
“Keep an eye on her. If you see she’s in any kind of trouble, call the number in the envelope. It’s her brother.”
“I will. Thanks, Evie.”
She nodded, handing him the envelope of money before rolling her suitcase outside where the taxi she had called was waiting. The driver put her suitcase in the trunk while Evie climbed into the car. The driver slammed the trunk then got back behind the wheel.
“The airport,” Evie said, looking out the window with tears brimming in her eyes.
“Where you headed?” he asked, pulling out into the heavy traffic.
“I’m going home.”
Chapter 21
The taxi pulled up in front of the small house. It was well-maintained with a pretty, grassy yard and spring flowers blossoming, lining the white picket fence.
Evie got out of the cab while the driver got her suitcase. Taking it from him, she turned toward the house then headed up the sidewalk. She bent down next to a decorative rock, and turning it over, she located the key Beth had promised to leave for her.
Evie unlocked the front door and stepped inside, pausing inside the doorway to turn on the lights since the shades were all drawn.
r /> “Welcome home, Evie,” she said out loud to herself, staring around the empty house.
Beth and Lily had cleaned out all their things, and Evie had signed the papers the day before she left for Texas.
“Enjoy your trip?” Evie stiffened when she heard the voice behind her.
Turning around, she kept her face an expressionless mask. “Brooke, what do you want?”
“Can’t I come by and say hello to my sister?”
“You’re not my sister.”
Her fake laughter sounded off the empty walls. “I saw your taxi driving by as I was coming out of the church. Not much goes on in this sleepy, little town, does it?”
“Then leave. Go back to New York. Hell, go home to Georgia; I’m sure Mom misses you.” Evie was proud of the lack of resentment in her voice.
“Aren’t you getting too old to still be jealous of mine and mom’s relationship?”
“I’m not jealous at all; you two are just alike.”
“Let’s not start that again. I came by to say hello. It’s time we started being sisters again. Twins are supposed to be close.” Her hand rubbed over the baby bump that had grown in size since she had left.
“We may have been fraternal twins, but we have never been close. You made sure of that, Brooke, not me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still holding a grudge?”
Evie’s face whitened. “It’s because of you I was raped! Did you think I would ever forgive you? You had Thompson wrapped around your finger. He was the one who egged those men on when we got back to base.”
“I did not.”
“Don’t fucking lie about it anymore, Brooke. He told Shade the truth. The dumb fuck would have done anything to make you happy. He called you when we got back to base, told you how the men were treating me. Then, when they started drinking, you told him to take his friends to my quarters. You told them I put out enough in high school that I would enjoy it.” Evie was practically screaming at her.
Brooke’s face didn’t change expression, but Evie could see from the malicious gleam in her eyes that she was accomplishing her goal of upsetting her. Brooke had always pushed her buttons; she did it deliberately to get the reaction she wanted. Her twin was sick; that was why Evie had joined the Navy, to escape her influence when her mother had refused to see the truth.