Page 17 of Righteous Enforcer
"You're alive," he says, but his tone isn't angry or accusatory. Not that it matters. His finding me complicates my life even more.
I glance between him and the bodies, not sure what to think. Mirabella shifts as she peeks at Adriano from the safety of my arms.
Adriano approaches us both slowly. "Eva. Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
I don't answer. I'm not completely sure that this isn’t some sort of hallucination. I clutch my daughter tighter
"I can get you somewhere safe," he continues, reaching toward me. "Both of you."
I flinch away from his outstretched hand. There's no relief, no joy at seeing him. Only fear.
"You weren't supposed to find me," I say. "You were never supposed to know I was still alive."
5
ADRIANO
I stare at Eva's face, taking in every detail. Four years of believing she was gone, of mourning her, of letting her death hollow me out and here she stands, alive and breathing.
"You were never supposed to know I was still alive."
Her words hurt nearly as much as the news when I was told she'd died.
Maybe even worse because that’s what she wanted. She wasn’t taken from me but left on her own accord and faked her death.
Something dark and violent stirs inside me. I just put three men on the ground for her.
Their blood is pooling beneath their bodies not ten feet away.
And this is her response?
Not gratitude. Not relief.
Just fear and regret that I discovered her deception.
"You're right." My voice is surprisingly calm considering how pissed I am. "I was supposed to grieve you every day for the rest of my life until it drove me fucking insane."
The little girl presses closer to Eva's side.
Eva's arm tightens around her protectively, as if I'm the threat here.
As if I'm not the reason they're both still breathing.
"I had my reasons," she whispers.
"Your reasons." I laugh. "I can't wait to hear them."
The words hang between us, and for the first time in four years, I feel something beyond cold emptiness.
Pure, undiluted rage.
I take a step toward them, and Eva shrinks back, pressing the child into the wall behind her.
The girl whimpers, her face half-buried in Eva's side.
The protective stance is primal.
She’s willing to take a bullet before letting anything happen to this kid.
