Faith’s resolve crumbled under Eve’s gaze. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I’m so sorry, and I know you don’t want to see me again, but I want to help you. I want to fix this, and I think I know how.”
“Faith.” Eve held up her hands. “Slow down. What are you talking about?”
“I caused this whole mess, and you said you wanted space, but I need to tell you how you can fix all this.”
“What? You didn’t cause this. And when I said I needed space, I meant space to think.” Realization dawned on Eve’s face. “Did you think I meant I didn’t want to see you again?”
“Well, yeah.”
Eve flinched back. “I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean to come across as so cold. I was distracted, worried about losing the twins, and I didn’t think about what I was saying. I never meant for you to think this was your fault.”
Had Faith really misread everything? For some reason, the knowledge didn’t make her feel any better.
“I know I said some harsh things, and I’m sorry,” Eve said. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I shouldn’t have said you wouldn’t understand because you’re not a mother. And I shouldn’t have said I needed space. I regret saying that so much. Faith, this whole time, I’ve been beside myself with worry. I wanted so badly for you to be here with me. But I thought that you’d want space too.” Her eyes wavered. “I dragged you into this family drama that you should never have been involved in. I didn’t think you’d want to be a part of that.”
“I thought that was what you wanted,” Faith said. “Me, out of the way.”
“I would never, ever want that. Faith, the other night I said that what we have has made me feel more alive than I ever have in years. More complete.” She laid her hand on top of Faith’s on the couch between them. “I didn’t mean having you as my submissive. I meant how I feel about you in my heart. I care about you, Faith. I want to be with you.”
Something flitted inside Faith’s chest. Wasn’t that what Faith wanted too?
But she had too many conflicting feelings swirling about inside her. Too many doubts, too many uncertainties. And she couldn’t possibly be happy with Eve knowing that their relationship was destroying Eve’s family.
She drew her hand away. None of that mattered right now. She had to tell Eve how she could fix things.
“That’s not why I came here,” Faith said. “I came to tell you that I have an idea of how to handle the situation with Harrison.”
A pained expression crossed Eve’s face, but it quickly disappeared. “All right. Tell me.”
Faith took a breath and explained what Lindsey had told her. About Harrison breaching the club’s agreement and how they could use it to fight him.
“So,” Faith said. “What do you think?”
Eve sat forward, leaning toward Faith. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about any of that. But I don’t know if it will help. I don’t know if there’s anything we can do about it, even with Vanessa’s help.”
“I don’t know either,” Faith said. “But you have to try. Eve, I’ve gotten to know your family so well since I started working for you. I care about you, and I care about the twins. I know as well as you do that Harrison getting full custody isn’t the best thing for them. I know that splitting your family apart like this isn’t right. You have to fight this. If not for your sake, then for Leah and Ethan’s.”
“You’re right,” Eve said. “God, you’re right. The more I think about it, the more I’m certain that I can’t let this happen. I can’t let the twins be taken in by the kind of people that would do something like this. By the kind of man who would blackmail the mother of his children.” Her jaw set. “I can’t let him do this.”
“So you’re going to fight this?”
Eve nodded. “Let’s call Vanessa.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
E ve drummed her fingers on the tabletop. She and Faith were in the conference room at Eve’s office, waiting for Harrison to arrive. The trap was set. However, one crucial piece of the plan was missing.
Faith looked at Eve. Her face was wrinkled with worry. She took Eve’s hand under the table and squeezed it. “Don’t worry,” she said. “She’ll be here. This is going to work.” It had to. The fate of Eve’s family all depended on it. “Everything will be okay.”
Eve gave her a half-smile. “Thanks again for agreeing to come along. I really appreciate it.”
“I meant it when I said that I’m here for you if you need me.” Faith still hadn’t made up her mind about the two of them, but she couldn’t bear to see Eve like this.
The door swung open. A tall, raven-haired woman strode into the room. “Sorry I’m late,” Vanessa said. “I got held up in traffic.”
“It’s fine,” Eve said. “Harrison isn’t here yet.”
Eve had called her ex-husband the day before and asked him to meet her here to discuss the custody situation. She’d made it sound like she was ready to give in to his demands. He’d made her promise not to bring her lawyers.