Page 93 of Maximus

“As long as Tex can clear the path for Eva, I don’t want any surprises. We’ll fly up, meet with the prosecutor, and fly back. Eva doesn’t need to be in Alaska for one second longer than necessary.”

“Didn’t think it would be this easy,” Zane mumbled.

“Come again?”

“Everyone else fought it, you’re not. I never actually thought I’d see the day a woman caught your attention, but I figured if it did happen, we’d need to hit the bomb shelter. I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed you’re depriving me of the pleasure of threatening to kick your ass and fire you.”

“What can I say, boss? I’m smarter than everyone else. Why the hell am I going to fight against it when I need to be fighting for it? Hasn’t she had enough assholes in her past that put her through enough? Haven’t those kids? She understands me in a way that no one else does, because she’s been there. She knows what it’s like to have nothing, then lose more.”

“Fucking hell, Tex was right.”

Before I could ask Zane what he was talking about, I caught Elijah walking down the hall.

“Hey, bud.”

“Where’s Mommy?”

“I think she’s in the bathroom,” I lied.

No way in hell was I going to tell the boy I’d hurt his mother’s feelings and she’d run from me.

“I’m thirsty.”

“Come on, let’s get you something to drink then.”

It was a crapshoot whether Eli would follow me into the kitchen or retreat to the bedroom. The four-year-old had warmed up to me but he wasn’t overly friendly, not like Liam was. I found it astounding that after all of the abuse Liam had endured at the hands of a man who was supposed to love him and protect him, the kid could be as sociable as he was. I credited Eva for Liam’s progress. She was open and loving with both of them. She’d done a great job putting her life back together.

I found the plastic cups Eva had been using for the boys and poured Eli some apple juice. The sweet scent filled my nostrils, making the ache in my chest intensify. I’d forever associate apples with Eva—the smell, the sugary flavor on her tongue the first time I kissed her.

“Max?”

“Yeah?”

“Are we going to live here now?”

I looked down at Eli and smiled.

If someone had told me I would be standing in a kitchen with a little boy, pouring him a drink, ready to take a leap into an unknown situation full of land mines that could obliterate my heart, I would’ve called them stupid. And if I was told that I’d find a woman who I could trust to guide me through those explosives, a woman who could teach me how to love and be loved, I would’ve called them a liar—right before the yearning to have just that set in.

Eva was everything I never allowed myself to have.

“That’s up to your mom,” I told him, then asked. “Do you like it here?”

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

“You don’t know?” I teased.

“I like the swings.”

Eli put his cup on the counter and rushed off before I could offer to take him out to the backyard. Which was probably for the best because I needed to finish up with Zane and talk things out with Eva.

Then after that, I was going to give her the day she wanted—the one free of drama, hitmen, and impending trips to Alaska.

I still didn’t agree with her talking to the authorities. I seriously hated the idea of taking her back to a place I knew would cause her pain. But none of this was about me and it didn’t matter what I wanted—this was about Eva and what she needed to do. All she needed from me was for me to trust she knew her own mind and to support her by way of protection. I’d make her safe while she did what she had to do in order to move on with her life.

I just hoped she was moving on with me.

Chapter 27