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“Mark. She never even told us his name,” Caleb mused. “Do you have a last name so I can hunt him down and tear him apart?”
“What?” Beck angled toward him. “You really don’t know anything?” Now he was in a quandary. Eve had told him things she hadn’t even shared with her brother who she was obviously close to. It made him feel good that she had shared with him, trusted him, but now he didn’t want to betray her trust. Yet he needed Caleb’s help to find her again, gain back the trust he’d lost over the mess with the inheritance.
Caleb shook his head tightly; his scraped knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. “She was on a senior trip one minute and the next she was apparently in Vegas married. We didn’t find out about any of it until months later when she started showing. I think the only reason she ever told any of us she’d even gotten married was because she was pregnant with Paisley.” He shrugged helplessly.
“Man, that’s messed up.”
“You’re telling me?” Caleb rolled his eyes. “And don’t give me that look or get any ideas. Our family is golden, great people, if I do say so myself.” He gave Beck his usual cocky smile. “I know Eve loves and trusts us all and you have no clue how hard we all work to be part of her and Paisley’s lives, but she’s just so private and that guy wounded her, bad. That’s why I came here so fired up. Did you hurt her?” He looked like he’d start brawling again. Beck wouldn’t mind, but he needed to find Eve not just enjoy fighting her brother.
“I didn’t try to. I love her, man. I was upfront with her, treated her well, loved her, but… I messed up.” He hung his head.
Caleb slapped him on the shoulder as if they were friends. At least he hadn’t punched him again. “What’d you do?”
“I beat up that Mark guy after he tried to kidnap Paisley.”
Caleb’s eyes got big and he cursed. “That loser tried to kidnap my niece?” he roared. “Where is he now? It’s my turn to use him for a punching bag.”
Beck smiled despite the angst. “He’s locked up, awaiting trial.”
“Oh.” Caleb slowly deflated, though his blue eyes were still full of fire. “I guess that’s good. We could sneak into the jail, hurt him a little, couldn’t we? I’ve hated that loser for so long. He changed my sister, damaged her bad.” He glanced at Beck. “I thought you’d brought her back, but… You should’ve seen her at my house, mopey, and trying to pretend that everything was happy times.”
“Is she still at your house? Aren’t you in Denver?” Could Eve truly be that close?
“Just south, Cherry Hills, but no, she’s gone. So what happened after you thumped the dirt bag?”
Beck’s hope of finding Eve and having her back in his arms wilted again. “Well, it was kind of before all that.” Beck walked a fine line between betraying Eve’s confidence and giving Caleb the story so her brother would take pity on him and reveal where she was. Beck started by telling him all about his grandpa’s crazy demands and then how he’d fallen in love with Eve, trying to take it slow because he knew she needed that. He promised he hadn’t asked Eve to marry him so he could get the money, it was more impulsive because of the kidnapping attempt and how desperately he loved her. He told Caleb all he wanted was Eve and Paisley in his life, even if the hyenas ate the billions that should’ve been his to help children in need.
He finished and stared hopefully at Caleb. “So?”
Caleb regarded him for a second then sprung to his feet and pulled his phone out. He pushed a number and paced as the call connected. “Rach? Eve’s man needs help.”
“Eve’s man?” Beck heard the yell from where he was sitting.
“Yeah, calm down, calm down. I’ll give you the story but you need to work your magic.” Caleb winked at Beck. “Yep, I’m counting on you, my brilliant sis.”
Beck’s heart was thudding fast and hard. Caleb was on his side. It wasn’t nearly as good as Eve in his arms but it was a start. He at least had hope now. He prayed that Eve being in his arms was the next step, and if his angels in heaven cared at all, could it please be a fast step?
