Be My Hero (Forbidden Men #3)(97)

Damn it. Why hadn't I taken off work a few minutes early?

"We should tell her," Reese was encouraging, bobbing her head vigorously. "We'll call her right now."

She pulled out her phone before Eva murmured, "Ree Ree, stop. She knows."

"What?" Reese yelled.

"Shh. Don't raise your voice. The babies are still spooked." She glanced accusingly at me before turning back to her cousin. "What're you doing here anyway?"

Reese was too agitated to answer, mumbling, "How could she know this and not . . . how could she stay with him and . . . oh my God." She clutched her face as her eyes went wide. "She's as evil as he is. I can't believe there's that kind of evil in my bloodline."

Answering Eva's question for her, I told Tinker Bell, "They were here to babysit. I was going to take you out tonight. Give you a break from the rug rats."

Her gaze slid my way and she blinked as if trying to keep herself from crying. Finally, she glanced away and her voice rasped. "Thank you. That's . . . sweet, but I don't . . . I don't really feel like going out tonight."

I pressed my back to the doorframe, bumping my spine against it harder than I needed to, seeking more nips of pain to keep my anger in check. I was still so tempted to race from the apartment and hunt down her father.

"How long has this been going on?" Reese demanded.

Eva shook her head. "You don't want to know the answer to that."

Shoulders curling in around herself, Reese started crying all over again. "I can't believe this is happening. I can't . . . why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I knew you'd react this way." When Eva's voice went sharp with agitation, the babies responded, whimpering fitfully.

I pushed away from the doorway and went to them. "Give me Skylar."

Eva didn't seem to want to at first, but when she realized she couldn't soothe both kids at once, she finally relented. I took the little girl into my arms and held her close to my face, closing my eyes and making a silent promise that nothing and no one would ever do to her what had been done to her mother. Not over my cold dead body.

Watching me as I settled next to Eva on the bed so she could still be close to her daughter, Reese's eyes lit with horror. "Oh, shit. She's not . . . He's not Skylar's father, is he? Uncle Shaw?"

"No," Eva instantly answered. "Alec is her father. Not that he's a much better candidate."

"Are you su—"

"I'm positive, Ree Ree. I was sixteen the last time Bradshaw . . . caught me unaware."

Reese gagged and slapped her hand over her mouth. Then she surged forward to sit on the bed and throw her arms around Eva. Sobbing and unable to stop apologizing, she made a mess all over Fighter and Tink. "I'm so sorry, E. If only I knew, I'd . . . I'd have been there for you. I would've driven to Florida and stole you away from that house. Jesus, I can't believe even Aunt Mads . . . " She shook her head and bawled some more.

I glanced toward Mason who was silent and solemn. Leaning against the wall, he watched the cousins hug with sad empathy as if he understood Eva's plight. It reminded me of that cougar's visit to the bar, and the word Eva's father had called him. Prostitute.

When he caught me studying him, he glanced away guiltily, his throat working while he swallowed.

Reese wanted to stay; she clung close to Eva. But Eva kept shooing her off. "I really just want to be alone with the babies right now. I . . . I just need some space."

Her cousin finally peeled herself away, but I could tell from her face that she didn't want to leave. She gave Eva one last hug, and Mason shocked the shit out of me when he stepped forward to hug Eva too.

"This explains a lot," he said as he pulled away.

Eva smiled sadly. "I guess you and I share more similarities than you ever thought, huh?"

He didn't answer, just solemnly took Reese's hand and led her from the apartment.

After the door closed behind them, I caught Eva's gaze. "You're crazy if you think I'm leaving you alone in this apartment right now."

I didn't mean to be rude, but I had to put that out there. No f*cking way was I leaving her alone.

She smiled softly and rested her cheek on top of Julian's head. "I don't want you to go. I just couldn't say that in front of Reese. Might hurt her feelings if she knew I wanted you here and not her."

My gaze pierced hers. Even though I knew her reasoning probably had nothing to do with who she cared for more, my chest filled with a crazy kind of pride. But I had to guess, "Because you knew I wouldn't ask questions?"

She bit her lip and dropped her gaze before nodding.

I nodded too. Didn't matter why she wanted me, I was just glad she did. I stood and put Skylar in the crib. Then I took Julian from her and put him down too. They were both still awake, but they'd settled enough to lie contently by themselves for a minute.

Turning back to Eva, I held out a hand. "Let's get you cleaned up."

She frowned in confusion before looking down and seeing how torn her shirt was. Dried blood clung to her skin from a scrape on her arm and the backs of her hands bore more marks. Nodding, she took my fingers.

I led her into the bathroom and had her sit on the edge of the sink. Then I wetted a washcloth and dabbed at the cut on her lip first. After cleaning the scratch on her shoulder, hands, and along her neck where her torn top revealed the deepest marks, I leaned in to kiss the worst cut before gently applying a bandage.