“I know it sounds weird, and don’t hit me or anything, but I already can’t imagine not having her around.” He was looking at Eva now. It wasn’t in a sexual way, but the kind of way a brother might watch his sister. Protective and caring.
His words hit me like a wrecking ball. I hadn’t considered she might not stick around. We didn’t need Alistair to confirm what came next, we all knew the drill. No way, the label wasn’t going to try and sign her now Masterpiece wanted her.
“You know, I heard on the grapevine she only took the gig because of her parents,” he said, eyeing me carefully. My expression must have said it all, because he let out a soft chuckle. “What, did you really think she said yes just to see your brooding ass again?”
“Fuck you,” I nudged his shoulder. I’d assumed she’d said yes because this was her dream. A chance to make something of herself. Although she had hinted at having ulterior reasons.
“For real, you heard that?”
“Something about them needing money and Alistair making the offer too good to refuse.”
My eyes went to Eva again. “She told me she was sick.” The thought hit me out of left field. “Back in Camdena, she told me that. You think it has to do with that?”
He shrugged. “If it was something serious, medical bills would soon mount up. She never told you what was wrong?”
“No.” But now he’d mentioned it, I couldn’t stop imagining Eva sick, lying there in a hospital bed, the life draining from her eyes. The thought made my stomach churn. “She must be better,” I said. “If it was something ongoing, Alistair would have told us.”
“Whoa, I don’t know where your head is at right now, but Eva is fine, man. Look at her, she’s a picture of health.”
He wasn’t wrong there. I watched Eva as she waved my brother and Hudson off, making a beeline for the bar. Letty handed her a drink and Eva gulped it down, smiling, her eyes twinkling with happiness. My girl was flourishing.
My girl.
Jesus, it was impossible to think of her as anything else.
But we still needed to talk.
I still needed to figure out what the hell I was going to say.
One thing was certain though, I wasn’t sure how much more of watching her with my brother, I could take.
“Rafe, there you are.” Kiki Felps stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Eva. “I’ve been hoping to talk to you again.” She laid her hand on my arm, curling her fingers around me possessively. “These parties are always fun but I prefer something a little quieter.” Suggestion laced her words.
I got the message loud and clear, I just wasn’t in the least bit interested.
“Actually, Kiki, I’m a little busy right now.” I went to move around her, but she stepped into me, making out as if I’d stumbled into her, knocking her off balance.
“Oopsie.” She gripped my shoulders to steady herself, making a show of laughing. “I really must be more careful.” Kiki smiled up at me, hunger glittering in her eyes.
Just then, something caught my eye over her shoulder, and I saw Eva’s retreating form. “Not right now,” I clipped out, removing Kiki’s hands from me. “I need to be somewhere.”
Eva.
I had to get to Eva.
She dashed by Travis, disappearing into a darkened hall. I knew this club pretty well, and I knew that area wasn’t open to the public. I took off toward where Eva had disappeared into the shadows.
“Whoa there, Hunter,” Travis growled. “Eva wants some space.”
“I only want to make sure she’s okay.”
“You sure that’s all you want?” His brow went up.
My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to go head to head with Eva’s bodyguard, but I was getting to her whether he liked it or not.
“Do me a solid, yeah, and let me see her. She needs me.”
He hesitated for a second. I went to move around him, but his hand slammed into my chest at the last second. “I’m watching you.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.” Understanding passed between us and Travis relented, letting me slip past. The hall was lined with doors, all locked, except for the last one which was slightly ajar. I slipped inside. The sound of the door clicking shut startled Eva. It was some kind of storage room, littered with broken chairs and tables, and other discarded stuff.
“Go away, Rafe, I want to be alone,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly.
I prowled toward her, my heart pounding in my chest, eyes fixed on every bare inch of her skin. I didn’t know where to look first, where to touch. “Are you sure about that?”
“I need space.” She let out a weary sigh. “I need to catch my breath and I can’t breathe with you here.”
“That’s tough luck, Eva, because I can’t breathe without you.” My eyes dropped to her lips.
“Rafe, the party...” Her wild gaze darted past me to the door.
“Can wait,” My body collided with hers, pushing her against the wall. Eva’s hand flew to my chest, but she didn’t push me away. Instead, she stared up at me through her heavily made up eyes, her red pouty lips almost too good to kiss.
“If anyone finds us...”
I dipped my mouth to her ear and whispered, “No one is going to find us, Starshine.” Travis might have let me through, but he knew to keep everyone else out, and he wouldn’t disturb us unless it was important.
We were all alone.
Finally.
“The brunette,” Eva said. “Who is she?”
“No one,” I breathed, brushing the shell of her ear, unable to resist nipping the skin there. Eva shuddered, pressing my chest slightly, trying to put space between us.
“She wasn’t no one. She was all over you.” Her voice was tight.
“Did it make you jealous, seeing her touch me?” It had fucking disgusted me. But after watching Eva dance with my brother or best friend most of the night, I couldn’t deny part of me wanted her jealous. I wanted her to feel what I felt every second of every day. Watching her and never being able to touch her.
“I wanted to rip her hands off.” Eva’s eyes flared, her fingers twisting into my shirt. She’d had a couple of drinks, the sugary sweet scent of strawberry liquor on her breath. I brushed my nose over her cheek, my lips hovering at the corner of her mouth. “Now you know how it feels. I watch him touch you and I want to hurt him, Eva.” My body trembled with the weight of the words. “I have never wanted to harm my brother, ever. Do you get that? Do you see what you’re doing to me?”
Her indignation melted away giving away to regret. It clouded her eyes making her seem so sad I wanted to spend my life trying to make her smile. “I didn’t... that’s not what I wanted to do. I never wanted to come between the two of you, Rafe.”
Too late.
My eyes shuttered as I said, “You’re already there.”
“What are we going to do?” Her hands slid up my chest, tugging my collar, erasing the sliver of space left between us. I could feel Eva everywhere. She invaded my thoughts, my desires, my every fucking waking moment. But seeing Levi make her laugh, seeing him so at ease with her, so happy, it affected me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.