Page 123 of Maximus

“I got the job!”

“Proud of you, Eva. I knew you’d get it.”

“Thanks. I’m so excited. I saw a bakery on the way here. I’m gonna stop and pick up some cupcakes on my way home so we can celebrate.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let you tell the boys your good news when you get home.”

“All right. I’ll see you in thirty.”

“Drive careful. Love you.”

God, I loved hearing that.

“Love you.”

I disconnected and tossed my phone in the cupholder.

I had a job.

I didn’t start for two weeks, which gave me plenty of time to get Liam ready for school. And Max was making it so I wasn’t stressed about money so I could afford to take a few weeks and get settled.

It didn’t take long for the bakery to come into view and I pulled into the lot, cut the engine, grabbed my phone, got out, and flung the strap of my purse over my shoulder.

And that was when I’d made the biggest mistake of my life. How many times had Max told me to be aware of my surroundings? How many times had he told me not to text while I was walking through a parking lot?

I knew better.

But I’d been so excited about my new job I was texting Tatiana to thank her.

I never sent that text.

I never made it home with cupcakes.

I didn’t get to tell my boys my good news and I didn’t get to celebrate with Max.

I was a goddamn idiot and I wasn’t paying attention, therefore I’d missed the man walking up behind me. I missed him lifting his hand and the needle coming down toward my neck. And by the time I was paying attention, it was too late.

Chapter 34

“When’s Mom gonna be home?” Liam asked.

I checked my watch and tried to hide my concern.

“Any minute now.”

That was the third time in the last ten minutes I’d given that answer.

Eva was ten minutes later than she said she’d be home and it went against everything inside of me but I wasn’t going to call her. She could be running late for a variety of reasons. Eva had made a solid argument the other night about needing her independence and I wasn’t going to turn into an overbearing asshole and start calling her because she was a few minutes late.

Though I wanted to. All sorts of shit was running through my head, everything from her broken down on the side of the road to her being trapped in my truck after a horrific accident.

What the hell was wrong with me?

If one of my teammates was ten damn minutes late I wouldn’t be concerned. Hell, if one of their women was late I wouldn’t bat an eye. But Eva? I was freaking the hell out over ten fucking minutes.

“Can I help?” Elijah asked.

I looked down into a pair of yellowish-green eyes and my heart constricted. Eli looked so much like Eva but that wasn’t what had started the ache in my chest. The normally shy boy had totally come around and he was now openly affectionate. Not that tugging on my hand was demonstrative, but for Eli it was huge.