Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel) (18 page)

“I think the bigger risk is sitting back and doing nothing while this guy is out there hunting me and my family.”

Eve closed the door behind her, shutting out the black sedan that follows her. Annoying, she thought. At least when she had Adam and Lainey followed, she made sure they were discreet. But, after a call to Charlie and James about this apparent hitman, she supposed security being visible to everyone wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Eve?”

“Yeah, baby, I’m here,” she called. After a heavy sigh, she squared her shoulders, and went to find Adam to tell him about her day. Shit. She was not looking forward to this.

“A hitman.”

Eve took a bite of her stuffed Portobello mushroom, and nodded nonchalantly. Bella was banging her sippy cup on her highchair tray, talking about what was obviously extremely important baby things. Eve gave Bella a smile, and a small piece of mushroom.

“A hitman, Eve?”

Adam had been stunned like this ever since Eve told him the story. She couldn’t blame him.

“Yes,
amant
, that’s what Dee said. Charlie and James are on it, and doing everything they can to find who hired him.”

“How can you be so blasé about this?”

“I’m not, baby. But, I refuse to let this take over my life, especially here at home.”

“I get that, beautiful, but we still need to be on alert. Even here.”

“We are. James put more security around the house, we have a state of the art alarm system, and just because I’m calm, that doesn’t mean I’m not careful.”

Adam nodded, and tried being calm himself. “And, you don’t know anyone in Brazil?”

“As I told Charlie, I’ve only been to Brazil once, and I doubt my dealings there left anyone wanting to kill me. I bought art there for a lot of money, then left.”

“Tony?” Fuck, he hated saying his name, especially to Eve.

“I can’t be sure, but I’m hoping James will have better luck on that end.” Eve caught Bella’s sippy cup as she chunked it at her. “Momma doesn’t want to talk about this anymore either, baby girl. How about you, me and daddy go play before bath time?”

Adam smiled at both of them. If she wants to give Bella normalcy, he would give it to her. But, he would be calling James and getting a full report.

Eve lay on the bed, her legs bent and crossed at the knee. She tapped her toe to an imaginary beat as she waited for Lainey to answer her call.

“Hey, there. How was the gallery?”

“Busy. Seems having drama in my life really boosts patrons.”

“You know, I can come in and help tomorrow,” Lainey said hopefully. She missed Eve, of course, but she also missed the gallery as much as Eve did.

“I really don’t think Jack will approve after I tell you about my day.”

Lainey was eerily quiet while Eve told her everything, only emitting a small gasp when she heard the word hitman.

“Where is Adam?” Lainey asked softly when Eve was finished.

“On a call to James.” Eve was pretty sure Adam didn’t think she knew what he was up to, but she did. And, she was fine with it if it gave him any sense of control or safety.

“He’s still letting you go to the gallery?”

Eve balked at the word ‘letting’. It was petty, she knew, but she didn’t like feeling as though she needed permission.

“I have security, Lainey,” she said coolly.

“Eve, honey, don’t get upset with me. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. This is a lot to process …” Lainey picked up a jade statue of Buddha with rubies and diamonds encrusted in the necklace around the neck, and held it close. The portly little fella had been a gift from Eve. A sixty-thousand dollar gift that sometimes made Lainey afraid to even touch it, but she loved it nonetheless. “I’m going to the gallery with you, tomorrow. Jack knows there’s still a risk. He doesn’t need the details.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No. Now ask me if I care. I want to be near you, Eve. Please?”

A slight pang filled Eve’s heart. Lainey was afraid. Afraid of being with Eve, but also afraid of not being there and losing Eve. “Alright. You should know, though, we are surrounded by security. Everything will be okay.”

Eve glanced up from her iPad to see Adam watching her. The memory of the night before flooded her mind just then as she saw the raw emotion in his eyes. There was no hurry last night, no demands, just pure love and devotion. He took his time with her, kissing every inch of her until it built a need so fierce in both of them, it was impossible to stay apart. Even when he took her, he did it slow—almost painfully so—building up her orgasm to the highest peak, she had nowhere else to go but come crashing down in a powerful euphoria.

She leaned over and kissed Adam chastely. “I’ll be okay, baby. I won’t leave the gallery until I’m ready to come home. I promise.”

Eve couldn’t forget the threat against Adam, the knife lodged in the portrait she had painted. While he was worried about her, she was more worried for him. But, she couldn’t keep him from his job. He had worked way too hard to get this prestigious account, so she had to trust in the men James had watching over Adam.

“Promise me you will be careful,” she demanded.

“I promise, beautiful. I won’t let anyone take me away from you or Bella.” He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks, her chin, as though his lips were memorizing everything about the way she felt beneath them. “I’ll be at the site today, near the warehouse. I’ll go over and take a look during lunch.”

Eve frowned. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Well, this was an odd turn. Now she was worried about him going out. What a pair they made.

“I have security, too. Plus, I want to get the new offices going soon while I’m still being recognized for the Griffen account. I’ll be quick. I just want to check out the layout, take a few pictures, and get an idea.”

Eve stood and walked to the small built-in desk area of the kitchen. Opening a drawer, she shuffled a few things around before finding the key. She took it back to him, held it out, then snatched it back before he could take it.

“Be careful.”

“I promise.”

Eve stood with Adam at the front door and kissed him deeply. She didn’t care that guys in dark sedans were watching them, or the neighbor watering her plants looked on in shock. She wanted him to know how much she love him, and poured every ounce of that love into the kiss.

“I’m so in love with you, baby,”
she whispered.

Adam pressed his forehead to hers, his hand on the back of her head to hold her there. “And, I’m so in love with you, beautiful. I’ll see you tonight, yeah?”

“Yes. Maybe I’ll make pork tonight. Sound good?” It was her attempt at normalcy, and he smiled.

“Perfect.” Adam gave her another quick kiss before turning towards the car. “Good morning, Lainey.”

Lainey grinned at him, having seen the Eve and Adam kissing show herself. For once, she wasn’t jealous. Well, not completely anyway. She stood by Eve, watching her watch Adam, winking that sexy wink, and waving until he disappeared. When Eve’s smile faded, Lainey became concerned.

“Eve? What’s wrong?”

Eve shivered next to Lainey, and crossed her arms to rub her hands over them. The beautiful spring day had nothing to do with the chills, but, still, she looked at Lainey and smiled. “Nothing. Want some coffee?”

They sat silently for a time, watching Lexie with Bella, just enjoying the moment. Bella’s beautiful laugh made Eve smile and tear up at the same time. Eve’s baby girl was everything to her, and the thought of something happening …

“Lexie, could you take Bella into the other room, please?”

Lexie looked up in surprise. Eve usually loved this time of the morning with Bella, but something seemed off today. “Yes, ma’am, of course.”

Eve held her sigh in at the ‘ma’am’, taking Bella’s chubby cheeks in her hand. “Momma loves you, baby girl.” She kissed her loudly, making Bella laugh. “I’ll be in to say goodbye before I have to leave,” she told Lexie, then waited until they were gone.

“Why do I feel like I’m not going to like whatever you have to say?” Lainey sat back in her chair, and put her hands on her hips. “Don’t give me that sexy eyebrow thing, I know you. You’re about to piss me off, aren’t you?”

“There’s just something I want to talk to you about. I should have done it a while ago, but … well, this stuff that’s going on made me think I should do it now.”

Lainey looked at Eve wearily. “I’m really not going to like this.”

Eve took a breath. No, Lainey wasn’t going to like what she had to ask, but it needed to be asked. “Lainey, honey, if something happens to me …”

“No! No, no, no, no. Nothing is going to happen to you, so just stop right there!”

“Lainey, please. I’m not just talking about now. If anything, no matter when it is, happens to me and A …” Eve stumbled on Adam’s name, not even wanting to think of that possibility. She cleared her throat and tried again. “If something happens to us, I need to know you will take care of Bella.”

Lainey didn’t want to think about this, especially now. But, one look at Eve told her Eve needed this peace of mind. “Of course I would! I love Bella, Eve. But, nothing is going to happen to either of you!”