“Get out of here,” she said, adding as much force as she could muster.
Bobby glanced at Sally and then at the stairs. “I’m going to save you, Eva. ”
He turned and ran toward the stairs. But Sally was faster and cut him off at the staircase. “Where are you going?”
“I hate you. I hate you!”
“One day you will thank me.”
“I hate you!”
Sally reared back her hand to slap the boy when the door at the top of the stairs exploded open. Garrison and three other men rushed down the stairs, guns pointed at Sally.
Sally grabbed Bobby by the arm, jerked him around and retreated to a corner. She pulled a knife from her pocket and thrust it against his neck. “I’ll kill him.”
Garrison didn’t take his gaze off Sally. “Eva!”
“I’m here.” Her voice sounded weak.
Garrison’s expression hardened as he stared at Sally. “Let the boy go.”
Bobby wept as he tried to twist free. “Let me go.”
She nicked his neck until a droplet of blood rolled down his neck. “Nope. Ain’t gonna back away from this one, sport.”
The slightest movement aggravated Eva’s burn and sent pain bolting through her body. “Sally is Josiah’s mother. She turned him into the monster he became.”
“My son was no monster. I taught him how to be strong.”
“You taught him how to be weak,” Eva said. The more she could worm her way under Sally’s skin, the greater the chance Sally would get distracted, allowing Garrison to act.
“You turned him into a sniveling coward.” Eva raised her head. “He cried like a baby after he hurt me. He begged for my forgiveness.”
Sally flinched. “Liar.”
Eva moistened her lips. “And then he wet his pants like a baby.”
Sally whirled around. But before she could speak, Garrison fired, hitting her in the chest. Sally fell to her knees and dropped forward, hitting the hard stone floor.
Bobby hugged his arms around his chest and Garrison pulled him into an embrace. “Shh. It’s over.”
“She hurt Eva.”
“An ambulance is on the way,” Kier said.
Garrison tensed and pulled the boy with him to Eva. “Stand here, Bobby, while I check her out.”
He untied her hands and feet and then studied the brand on her shoulder. “Eva. ”
“I’ll live,” she said.
“Christ, honey.” He picked her up, careful not to cause her more pain.
“I’m okay.”
Tears rolled down Bobby’s face. “I’m sorry, Eva. I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine, honey.”
“She burned you.”
“It will all heal. ”
Garrison stared at her, his expression grim. The healing would take a long time.
Epilogue
Wednesday, September 21, 10:00 A.M..
Eva dumped her backpack loaded with books on the bar. The pub was quiet. The lunch crowd wouldn’t arrive for another hour but already the smells of soups and fresh breads drifted out from the kitchen along with King’s favorite Elvis song, “Love Me Tender.”
She’d started school six weeks ago, with financial help from Angie. Her sister had called the money a gift, whereas Eva insisted it was a loan.
So far she was having the time of her life. She loved it all: the clueless freshmen; the bad food in the dining hall; the studying. Even today’s quiz.
She’d considered living in the dorms, but the cinder-block walls had reminded her of prison. And since she couldn’t afford to take out an apartment near campus, it just made sense to stay at King’s. She still worked three lunch shifts a week and kept King’s books. And she got to see Bobby each day he came home from school.
Staying at King’s also kept her closer to Angie. They’d been doing their best to make amends. Itwasn’t always easygoing but they were managing. With Angie’s help, Eva had petitioned the governor to have her sentence overturned. He’d signed the decree just days ago.
Donovan had survived his injuries, and he told the world what Kristen had confessed to him before she died. The story had gone national and the paper recently reported that he’d inked a book deal.
That had brought more reporters into Eva’s life. She’d refused all interviews, but that hadn’t stopped the chaos from spinning out of control for most of the summer. Finally, in late August, the world had started to forget about Eva.
She pushed through the swinging door and found King frosting cupcakes. Five trays covered the counter. “So who’s having a party?”
“Bobby’s birthday is coming.”
She snuck a spoonful of icing. “Not until next week.”
“But he wanted to have a party at school tomorrow. I told the teacher I’d bake some cupcakes.”
“King, there must be four hundred cupcakes here.”
King frowned down at the army of cakes. “Do you think I made too many? ”
She laughed. “No. Believe me, they’ll get eaten. And whatever is left over you can give to the teachers. They might help smooth out that situation Bobby had on the playground last week.”
Bobby had moved in with King in the spring and had started fourth grade in the fall. He was doing well for the most part. School required extra help from Eva and King, and sometimes the scrapper in Bobby emerged on the playground. As secure as the kid was now, he still got into fights when challenged about his past.
King had hoped when news of Bobby’s paternity was settled, he could begin the adoption process. Maybe then Bobby would feel really at home and the altercations would stop.
Eva took another larger dollop of chocolate icing. Licking the spoon, she couldn’t help but croon her praise. “Wonderful!” She leaned in for another scoop.
“Get out of my icing, girl. I might run out.”
“Not unless you’re planning on making two million more cupcakes.”
Bells on the front door had her pushing through the kitchen door to see who had arrived. It was Garrison. He strode into the room, moving with a swagger that still made her body tight with w
anting when she saw him.
They’d been dating these last six months. They’d both sworn to go slow but hadn’t had much luck with it. She crossed the room and let him fold his arms around her. He kissed her on the lips.
“You taste good,” he said. “Like chocolate.”
She laughed. “You taste good too.”
He kissed her again, letting his lips linger the second time. Slowly, he pulled back. “I received news from Madge this morning about Bobby.”
It took a moment to shake the fog from her brain. “She got the results of the DNA test on Bobby?” They’d needed to prove paternity before King could adopt the boy. If Josiah was his father, then Micah had a claim to the child. “Josiah was not his father. ”
“So the Cross family has no claim on the boy. ”
“None.”
“Do you know who the father was?”
“No. And likely never will, seeing as the boy’s mother and grandmother are dead. Social Services see no reason why King can’t adopt Bobby.”
Eva let out a yelp and hugged him. “You’re the best.”
His grin sparkled in his eyes. “I didn’t do anything. I just delivered the news.”
“You did more than that. I know you pushed things along. ”
“Maybe a nudge.”
Absently, he ran his thumb over her collarbone. Even under the shirt he could feel the rough edge of the scar Sally had left on her skin. He frowned. “You’re one tough gal, Eva. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget that day.”
She captured his fingertips and kissed them. “Eyes forward, Detective Garrison. Eyes forward.”
Deacon smiled, but a ghost of worry had crept into his expression. “I’m working on that.”
She kissed him and smiled. “I’ve had lots of practice. Keeping my eyes on the future. I’ll help you stay focused on what matters.”
“Sally’s trial is slated for November.”
Eva nodded, unable to suppress a shiver. Sally had recovered from her gunshot wound. She had written several letters to Eva, always enclosing an old article from Eva’s trial a decade ago. “The sooner it’s over, the better. What about Micah?”
“We’ve not been able to link a single crime to him.”
“He had to know she was back. Someone had to have been helping her.”