Page 121 of Righteous Enforcer
I try to piece this together. Eva disappeared, and not long after, her father turned up dead.
"Do you know why the bad men want your mommy?"
She shakes her head. “I don’t like them.”
“I don’t either.” I should stop. I’m probably traumatizing her. Along with a college fund, I’m going to need to save for her therapy for life.
“They make Mommy say things.”
“Say things? Like what?”
She sniffles. "About you."
Something cold settles in my stomach. Is Eva feeding information to the Bratva about me? About my family?
"Did Mommy tell them things about me?"
She shrugs. “She told them to let me go.”
I could read that in so many ways.
In the past, Eva has always kept Mirabella with her.
This time, she had them bring Mirabella home.
Did she pretend she had info to save her daughter?
Or did she arrange this beforehand like Alessandro suspects, but only if Mirabella was left out of it, knowing she’d be safer with me than Ivan?
“Mommy said ‘sunshine’.”
My brow furrows. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a special word. I have to run.”
I close my eyes as I realize the extent Eva has gone to stay away from the Bratva and us. How she’s raised Mirabella to act in dangerous situations.
“When will Mommy be home?”
I press my lips to her forehead. “Soon, Princess."
As Mirabella drifts toward sleep, the pieces start shifting in my mind, but I can’t make them fit.
One thing’s for sure.
When I bring Eva home, I won’t shy away from finding out the truth. I can’t afford to have Ivan one step ahead of me.
Or my daughter having to live by code words to stay safe.
30
EVA
Consciousness comes to me in waves. My eyelids feel heavy, almost impossible to open.
Where am I?
I try to sit up but my head throbs. I look around the room, taking in the heavy drapes that don’t let in any light.
