Authors: Crystal Walton
He ducked under an incoming swing and nailed the guy’s knee with a leg kick. The
snap
echoed across the corridor. Groaning, the guy bent over and went for an ankle holster, but Evan knocked the gun from his hands. It skidded across the concrete, pulling Evan’s gaze toward it.
The split second ended in a fist to Evan’s mouth. He dropped his Sig. Pain burst from his lip and fed his aggression. He landed an uppercut to the guy’s jaw and a right cross to his ribs. The guy stumbled backward, but the sadistic look contorting his features didn’t falter.
Evan pinned him against the wall with an elbow to his throat. “What are your orders?”
Blood ran from his smirk. “You think Michelli doesn’t know what you’re doing here? You can’t stop him.”
The heck he couldn’t. He gripped the dirtbag’s coat. “What’s he planning?”
The guy’s derisive laugh pushed Evan over the edge. He banged him against the wall. His head smacked into the bricks and slumped to his chest, his whole body turning to dead weight.
Evan eased him to the ground. He slid his shirt cuff over his hand, lifted the gun from the ground without putting fingerprints on it, and withdrew his cell.
C’mon, Harris. Pick up the phone
.
“If I run another plate without paperwork, my boss is gonna bust me for unauthorized use of a police computer,” Harris rattled off when he answered.
“What about a stolen gun?” Evan reviewed the scratched surface where someone had filed off the serial number. “A Colt 1991 series, from the looks of it.”
“Do I even want to ask?”
“Probably not. You got any cops working the beat near Millennium Park?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Evan peered back at the thug hunched against the wall. “Send at least two to pick up one of Michelli’s men. Hold him for brandishing an illegal firearm in public.”
“O’Riley—”
“I’ll text you the location. Make sure your men are fast.”
Evan hung up and secured the gun to give to Harris later. Back in the bathroom, Anna stood near the sink with her arms guarding Megan in a protective hold. Her initial reaction at seeing the door fling open transitioned into an exhale . . . until she zeroed in on the cut above his lip.
He held the door open. “Time to roll.”
“What happened?” She shuffled Megan forward.
He prodded them down the hall to grab their things. “Nothing. Keep moving.”
Anna gripped his arm and made him stop. “If you say ‘nothing’ one more time, you’re gonna have a nice shiner to go with that busted lip.”
A tendon on his neck worked. “Not here.” He ushered them forward, but she balked.
“Yes, here.” A streak of obstinacy wrinkled her forehead. “I need you to stop acting like one of my dad’s overprotective bodyguards and tell me what’s going on.”
Overprotective? Did she think he’d just brawled with an imaginary person?
He lifted the back of his hand to his mouth and smeared the blood off. “Is this reason enough for you?” he whisper-yelled.
She blanched.
He dug his fingers into his palms. “This is your life, Anna.” And protecting her was his. It was the way things would always be, no matter how much either of them wanted to change it.
Looking away, she rubbed her arms. “I know there are dangers, but—”
“There are no buts.” She didn’t know the half of it. Michelli would go to any length to stay out of prison. The possibilities of what those warped creeps could do if they got their hands on her drilled fury into Evan’s bones. He pressed a hand to her back. “We’re leaving. Now.”
Megan’s innocent eyes blinked up at him when he turned. “We’re going already?”
Anna slipped around him, with her face wiped of any turmoil, and zipped up Megan’s coat. “Don’t worry, kiddo. We’ll come back another day.”
“Mr. Hulk, too?”
His shoulders sagged at the dissonance in Megan’s voice. He knew that sound. Knew he couldn’t make promises he couldn’t keep.
“I hope so.” It was the best he could offer. Evan lifted her onto his hip, clasped Anna’s hand, and hustled back to the car.
At the parking spot, he closed the door behind Megan and caught Anna’s elbow on her way around the bumper. He drew her toward him, but she kept her head down. Everything he wanted to say stayed knotted inside.
“I didn’t mean to be short with you. It’s just . . .” His jaw tightened. Eyes closed, he craned his head back. Why was this so hard? He shouldn’t have lost his cool earlier. He was supposed to be shielding her from all this. “I need you to trust me.”
Her pause doubled his heart rate until earnest green eyes met his. “I do.” Without another word, she released his hand and got in the car.
He clenched his keys. How much longer could he do this?
Anna didn’t press him on the way to the rec center. In fact, she didn’t say a thing. At least, not with her voice. While keeping her gaze out the window and one leg tucked under the other, she let her shoe slip to the floorboard and rubbed her foot.
He didn’t want to know what she was thinking, but the silence might’ve been worse.
Parked along the curb in front of the rec center, his spacious Accord had never felt more compressed.
“I appreciate you protecting me, Evan.” Anna unbuckled her seat belt and slowly faced him. “I’m sorry for getting upset.”
He lowered his gaze for a moment. “Me too.”
She opened her door. “Have fun tonight.”
The gala. He groaned at the reminder. Even with a backup plan, the thought of having to leave Anna and Megan right now made his stomach churn.
Something unspoken deepened the corners of Anna’s lips. “Make sure you do some dancing while you’re out.”
Really? After just fighting, she still had jokes? He grunted. “Not happening.”
“You wouldn’t want your practice to go to waste.” A quiet laugh floated outside the car with her. She ducked back in. “And you still owe me lunch, by the way.”
He owed her much more than that.
With a quick wink, she closed her door and held out a hand for Megan.
Anna had never been one to hang on to anger. Though for once, he wished she would. At least then, maybe it’d spur her to stay on guard.
Evan walked them to the rec center. After clearing the inside, he stopped in the entryway beside Anna and searched for the strength to pull himself away from this enigma of a woman.
Cool fingertips grazed his hand. “I understand.”
Did she?
“Thanks again for looking out for me.” She fretted with her coat’s zipper as though wanting to say more.
His heartbeat picked up again, words climbing his throat.
Before he could say anything, Anna lifted on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Good night, Evan.” She jogged over to the kids on the basketball court without looking back.
His chest caved. He backed out the front door and waited for the raw wind to drive some sense into him. Anna needed someone in her life who could handle being around her without it clouding his judgment and risking her safety. He might not be able to live up to that, but he’d never leave her unprotected. Failing her again wasn’t an option.
Leaning against the cool steel, he withdrew his cell, skipped over Murphy’s name since he was out of town, and tapped the only other one he trusted.
“Corporal Harris.”
“Bro, I need another favor.”
Pursuit
Between teaching and paperwork, Anna managed to keep her thoughts away from Evan the rest of the evening.
Almost.
Alone in her office, she powered down the archaic computer and strode to a metal filing cabinet in the corner. The whole day replayed in her head as she thumbed through the folders crammed inside the drawer. The guys following her Sunday morning . . . the one Evan fought today . . . Were they really Michelli’s men?
The sad part was, the possibility of Evan hanging around solely because he felt a responsibility to look after her bothered Anna more. It shouldn’t. It was his nature. Knowing that shouldn’t make her chest feel like someone shoved the filing cabinet on top of her.
Eyes closed, she gave a faint laugh. It was her own fault. Be normal around him? Try to remind him what he left behind? Right. She cringed at how ridiculous she must’ve come off today.
Here he was, just trying to watch her back, and she’d been . . . flirting? Ugh. Yeah, flirting. Her internal cringing ratcheted up ten notches and backed her against the wall. What was she trying to do? Drive him out of her life
again
?
Robyn popped her head through the doorway. “You still here?”
Anna leapt away from the wall. “Uh, yeah. Just finishing up.” She wedged a manila folder into the drawer and shut it.
Robyn waltzed in with wisps of dark hair frizzing above her glistening forehead. “Girl, what a day.” She plopped onto one of the frayed guest chairs, lifted her foot to her knee, and rotated her ankle. “I know running around the courts with these kids isn’t as tough on my feet as all that dancing you do. But I swear, some days, this forty-year-old body screams for me to jump off the crazy train.”
“It’s good for your soul.”
“Mm hmm.” Robyn tipped her chin. “Spoken by the girl still in her twenties.”
Anna’s laugh dwindled. Twenties might as well be fifties in the dance world. She’d lose any shot at a career in the next few years. Would lose her edge to teach eventually. Then what? She’d be empty again. And still alone.
She slipped her arms through her coat sleeves and offered Robyn an empathetic smile. “I feel ya, girl. But at least that crazy train has some pretty sweet stops along the way. Including a home with an adorable ten-year-old.”
“You mean Miss I-Think-I’m-Already-Eighteen?” Robyn picked at the chipped polish on her nails. “Psh, that stop takes me straight to the psych ward.”
“And you love every minute of it.”
“You know I do.” Robyn’s hearty laugh bounced around the office. She mumbled something about her boo, then stood and stretched her back. “Did you find a date for your dad’s Thanksgiving party yet?”
Anna tied her scarf in a knot as tight as the one choking back her response. “Don’t remind me.”
“If you stopped frontin’ and asked that O’Riley boy, it’d already be settled.”
A series of blinks compensated for Anna’s frozen jaw.
“Oh, come off it, sweetie. I saw you two the other day.” Robyn leaned against the doorframe with her arms laced. “What’s the problem?”
More like what
wasn’t
the problem. Glancing at the clock, Anna cracked a laugh. “How much time you got?”
Robyn’s arched brow told Anna to spill it.
The truth stretched out in a sigh. “The problem is me. I don’t know what my deal is. It’s like I can’t figure out how to be around him. One minute, I’m over-thinking things, worrying about getting close to him again when he’s going to end up leaving. The next minute, I shove all that away and just enjoy time with him like nothing’s changed.”
She slouched against the corner of the desk. “But when we’re being comfortable with each other, it takes everything in me not to show him I want more. If he had any idea how many times I’ve almost kissed him.” She buried her face in her hands. “And then I get all flustered and act like a freaking teenager around him.” Gah, it was even worse saying it out loud. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Aside from needing anti-anxiety meds?”
Anna glared at Robyn through her fingers.
“I’m just messin’ with you.” A smile expanded in her voice. “There ain’t nothing wrong with you, honey. You’re in love.”
“Why does love have to be so complicated?”
“It’s not.”
Anna’s hands slid to her sides. “You were ready to send me to the psych ward a second ago, and now you’re saying it’s not complicated?”
“Loving someone isn’t the hard part, sugar. Accepting it in return . . .” She shrugged. “Now,
there’s
the part most of us struggle with.”
Her words pricked a nerve Anna didn’t want to expose. “But—”
“Miss Madison?” Megan swung around the doorframe and bumped into Robyn’s legs. “Ooh. Sorry.” Sweet, uncomplicated eyes looked up at Anna. “Ready to go?”
“Yep.” Tucking away her conversation with Robyn, Anna smiled and hopped off the desk. “Sure am.”
Robyn locked the door as they all left the office. In the gym, the overhead florescent lights magnified her you’re-not-off-the-hook expression. “Later,” she whispered.
Maybe by then Anna would get herself together.
The echo of a single basketball brought Shaun into view, standing at the free throw line by himself.
Anna squeezed Megan’s hand. “Give me just a sec, ‘kay?”
Shaun had been quiet all night. From the minute Anna had walked in without Evan, he’d done his best to hide his disappointment, but she knew better. She jogged onto the court and sidled up to him. “What’s your percentage now? You beating LeBron yet?”
A flicker of a grin twitched. “Almost.” Bending his knees, he aimed for the basket.
Anna scuffed her sneaker over the line. “I’m sorry Mr. Hulk couldn’t be here tonight. He really wanted to.”
Shaun snapped his wrist to release the ball and shrugged without facing her. “It’s cool. Not like we’re boys or somethin’.”
The fact he’d learned stoicism at such an early age crushed Anna’s heart even more. She swallowed the evidence building in her throat, hooked an arm around his shoulders, and kept her tone light. “Well, I guess it worked out. ‘Cause I’m not sure I want to share you.”
A rosy blush colored Shaun’s cheeks. “Aw, Miss Madison, you can’t be cramping my style like that.” He flicked a glance toward the bleachers, where a cute girl with multi-colored bands around her braids beamed at him.
“Oh.” Anna released him from her hug. “Look at you, stud.”
There was that blush again. So stinking adorable.
She gave his shoulders a good squeeze and jogged back over to Megan. Robyn met them at the door, and Anna flaunted her an I-told-you-so grin. “Love’s easy, huh?” She dipped her head at Shaun. “Tell that to a nine-year-old.”
Robyn rolled her eyes. “Mm hmm. This conversation isn’t over, by the way.” She pulled Megan’s hood over her head and opened the door for them. “Be careful going home.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Anna steered Megan out to the sidewalk, lit up by the streetlight.
Around the corner, Harris pushed off the quarter panel of his cruiser. “Need a lift?”
“Harris?” Anna cast a glance over the quiet block. “What are you doing here?”
“Just doing some rounds in the neighborhood. Figured I’d stop to see if two famous dancers needed an escort home.” Offering Megan a wink, he swept an arm inside the car.
Anna cocked her chin. “Evan sent you over here, didn’t he?”
“Evan who?”
“Nice try. I was in the car when he called you about that license plate, so I know you know he’s in town.”
Harris shut the door behind Megan, grin expanding. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a longtime friend, stopping to check on you, like I always do.”
“Uh-huh.” Anna rounded the bumper but didn’t release him from her skeptical gaze, even after she slid into her seat. Inside, the stale aroma of coffee left from one too many stakeouts rose from the Crown Vic’s upholstery.
She smiled to herself. Harris had been a good friend to her over the years—giving her rides home, inviting her over for dinner with his family, checking the locks at her apartment. How he had time for all that with such a demanding job, she had no idea.
He and Evan both watched out for her like brothers. If she could get rid of that thing inside her hoping Evan would ever feel differently, she’d make things a heck of a lot easier on herself. But how do you put boundaries around your heart when it won’t let you?
As soon as she closed her eyes, the scene at the park flooded in. Getting Evan to dance. Feeling the planes of his back and ridges of his stomach against her palms. Letting his deep laugh wash over her.
She clamped a hand over her face.
Stop
.
Just stop
.
Streetlights streaked through the car as they turned into Megan’s neighborhood. Harris sent a quick glance to the backseat. “Got any fun plans for Thanksgiving?”
Megan raised a shoulder. “My mom doesn’t know how to cook.”
“Funny. My wife has that same problem.”
Anna popped him in the arm. “You better not let Kristy hear you say that.”
He rubbed his bicep. “Hey, she’s the first to admit it. If it weren’t for my mother-in-law cooking each holiday, we’d be carting the whole family to Golden Corral.”
The rundown apartments came into view and dragged Anna’s heart down the storm drain alongside the curb. “I’m planning to ask if Megan can come to my dad’s for the holiday this year,” she whispered.
Harris shifted into park and lowered his voice. “That’s nice, Anna. I hope—”
The CB radio beeped. “Harris, Twenty-two, code ten on channel one.”
Harris grabbed his radio. “Twenty-two, go ahead.”
“Armed robbery in progress. Suspect is a white male, five foot eleven, one-eighty, blond. Break.”
Harris clutched the wheel with one hand, the radio with the other. “Go ahead.”
“Location is 935 North Central Avenue. What’s your status?”
“Copy, dispatcher. I’m en route.” Deep lines creased his face when he turned to Anna. “I’m sorry, I have to—”
“Go. Don’t worry about me. I’m gonna stay and talk with Megan’s mom a while.”
He didn’t look convinced. “Text me when you’re leaving. I’ll try to send a squad car.”
“Thanks.” She slid out. “Be careful.”
A firm nod similar to the ones Evan gave her told her to do the same. He sped down the street with blue and white lights flashing against the darkness.
Trying to shake off any worry, Anna held Megan’s hand on their way up the stairs. Harris had been at this gig for a long time. He’d be fine, just like she and Megan would be.
They’d made this trek hundreds of times, yet the shadows seemed thicker tonight. Darker. She tucked Megan close. Why did Evan have to remind her how safe she felt in his arms and how vulnerable she felt alone?
She knocked on the door. No response. They both shivered in the cold. After another two knocks, Megan fished out a key from the bottom of her backpack. “She’s probably not home.”
Like usual. It pained Anna to know elementary-aged children had to come home to empty apartments this late.
Inside, the stench of cigarettes assaulted her nostrils.
“You don’t have to stay, Miss Madison.” Megan toed off her worn sneakers in resignation to the normal state of her life.
Anna cleared her voice of any heartache. “Maybe I should. Just until your mama gets in.”
A door down the hall squeaked open. Anna grabbed Megan by the shirt and tugged her near. Her mom stumbled between the walls like a bowling ball against guardrails. She banged into the end table closest to her and swore.
Anna tightened her hold around Megan. “Heather?”
A red-rimmed glare speared through the tangled web of hair hanging in her face. “Get out.”
Anna flinched at her harshness. “Um . . . I don’t mean to intrude. I came to ask—”
“Now.” Heather tottered forward while clutching her torso with shaky arms.
“If we could just talk . . .”
The young woman lifted multiple beer bottles off the coffee table and swayed each until liquid sloshed inside one. She took a swig, dropped it to the floor, and rubbed her temples.
A somewhat coherent gaze roamed toward Anna then. Heather clasped her elbows tighter in a struggle to stand upright. “Look, I know you’re trying to do the right thing, but you’ve already caused me enough trouble.”
“We can get you help.”
A wheezy laugh quirked the corners of her broken smile. “Please, just go.”
Eyes on Megan, Anna backed toward the door with her insides spiraling. Her cell buzzed in her pocket as she turned and gripped the knob. A moment’s hesitation caved to the resolution mounting in her gut.
She whirled back around. “Heather, I’d like to invite you both to my dad’s for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I understand if you don’t want to come, but I’d still like to take Megan. We won’t be far away, and it’ll just be for the night. I’ll have her back the next morning.”