Page 5 of Maximus

I disconnected and squared my shoulders. “Would you like to come in?”

“That’d be good.” Max stepped inside and suddenly my small house felt smaller, stifling.

“So, what now?”

Max looked around my house, scrutinizing my space. It wasn’t much, but I was damn proud of what I’d been able to provide for my boys.

Yes, I’d needed Tex’s help and he was the one to get me here and set me up, but after that, I’d refused all other help. There was no way I could take anymore money from the stranger than I already had.

I worked. I made money. I paid my rent. I put food on the table.

No more handouts—never again.

“Where are your children?”

“Why?” My question felt like an accusation but I wasn’t sure what I was accusing him of.

What I did know was that I didn’t know this man, and I learned the hard way never to trust. Tex was an anomaly. But, then the man had proven himself worthy when he found my boys and returned them to me.

“Whoa there, Eva. I was just asking.”

“I don’t like people asking about my kids. They’re none of your business.”

“They are, when I’ve been tasked to protect them.”

Well, he kind of had me there, but I still wasn’t going to offer my boys’ location. Tex knew where they were every second of every day. They both wore watches that had some sort of high-tech tracking device he himself had invented. It made me feel somewhat better they could be tracked, but I didn’t think I’d ever feel a hundred percent safe when they were out of my sight.

“Listen, Eva. I was asking because I wanted to know if they were home or if they’re still at daycare.”

His question didn’t make me feel any better. As a matter of fact, my fists clenched.

“Why? Have we met before?”

Max’s gaze dropped to my hands before his eyes came back up to meet mine. “Why? Because I want to know if I need to watch what I say if they’re within earshot. Met? No, but I did go through your checkout line, and I’ve been following you for four days.”

“Following me?” I screeched.

I was trying my best to slow my breathing, stop my heart from pounding in my chest, but I couldn’t. Memories started to flood. Someone else used to follow me, but I hadn’t felt him, either.

“Breathe, Eva,” he commanded.

“I am!” I exhaled.

“I’m not going to hurt you. Tex sent me to protect you.”

“Yet, instead of making yourself known, you stalked me.”

“Sure, if that’s what you wanna call it.”

What the hell?

“Well, what would you call following me without my knowledge?”

“Recon. You didn’t know I was around so you behaved as you normally would. That means if there’s someone else out there watching you, I would’ve seen them.”

“You don’t sound convinced,” I noted.

Max shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure if Tex is even sure. He’s being cautious, and I understand that. But until I have more intel, I don’t know what I’m looking for. What I do know is, no one other than me has been following you for the last four days.”