Page 63 of Maximus

“I wasn’t mad about the toys,” Eva murmured.

“Then why’d you pull into yourself?”

“I…um…”

There was a light tap on the front door. Eva’s body jerked before she went solid, and her eyes widened in fear.

“That’s just Declan,” I told her.

Eva nodded but still looked unsure.

“I wish like fuck I knew what’s been on your mind,” I muttered as I walked to the front door.

“What?”

“Nothing I want more than to pull you into my arms and wash that fear away,” I stopped and told her. “But without knowing where you’re at, I shouldn’t touch you.”

I left her standing where she was, put my hand to my hip, unholstered my weapon, and checked the peephole just as Dec tapped again.

I unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door.

“That was fast.”

“Street’s dead,” Declan explained. “Thought we’d do a walk-around, then I’d circle the block.”

I stepped away from the door, allowing Declan to enter, and open holstered my gun when the door was shut and locked.

I followed Declan’s gaze across the room. Eva was where I left her—no less tense.

“So, you’re Eva,” Dec drawled and walked farther into the room.

And just like she did the first time I met her, Eva’s armor clicked into place. Gone was any trace of fear—she stood taller, her hands balled into fists at her sides, and her mask of indifference replaced her soft features I’d grown accustomed to.

I hated it.

Clearly, Eva had no idea her attitude and posture gave away just how insecure and unsure she was.

“And you’re Declan,” she returned.

Dec glanced at me then back to Eva. The man was no dummy, he saw it, too. She was afraid of him, maybe not physically, but emotionally he could decimate her.

“Your kids settling in okay?” he asked.

And as if Declan’s question conjured up the boy, Liam appeared in the hall.

“Mom?” His hesitant tone had me stepping forward, blocking Declan from Liam’s view.

“Come on out, bud,” I instructed before Eva could answer. “I want you to meet my friend, Declan.”

“Your friend?”

Liam’s shaky tone made me wish Jay Dawkins was still roaming the streets somewhere so I could be the one Tex called on to put his ass six-feet under.

“Yeah. Declan and I work together. He came over to check on us.”

Liam came out of the shadows but stopped at his mother’s side. Eva’s arm wrapped around his shoulders and she held him close.

“Declan’s here to help Max watch over us,” Eva told Liam.