Page 42 of Elevating Eve

“Jonathan!” Eve yelled, and she wasn’t the only one. She and Alice both tried to grab onto him as he advanced on Warren, but he pulled out of their grasps as easily as if their hands were made of smoke.

“You son of a bitch!” Warren roared, holding a hand over his nose, blood slipping through his fingers. “Get this maniac away from me. You all saw him attack me. Call the police.”

“Jonathan, stop!” Maisie ran up, holding her daughter on her hip. “Who cares what that asshole thinks?”

Ignoring all of them, Jonathan grabbed a fistful of his uncle’s shirt, hauling him up from where he’d toppled to the ground. But before he could get another punch in, Leo and Aiden leapt into the fray, grabbing his arms and pulling him back. “Come on, man,” Leo said, struggling to keep his grip as Jonathan fought to get away. “It’s not worth it. You know it’s not.”

For a moment, it looked as if Jonathan would break away from them. But then Rafe and Camden arrived. The two men looked as though they could bench press Jonathan if they wanted and had no trouble hauling him away from his uncle and outside.

Eve ran after them, the rest of the Fairford Manor crew right on her heels.

As soon as they pushed through the doors and out into the sunlight, Jonathan wrenched away from the other two men. This time, they let him go, and he stalked off several steps, letting out something halfway between a scream and a growl.

“Jesus, Jonathan,” Leo said as he hurried through the doors. “I know the guy’s an asshole, but come on. It’s your dad’s funeral. Get it together.”

“Did you hear what he said?” Jonathan demanded, keeping his back to them.

Sighing, Leo said, “Yeah, he called you a pimp and said a bunch of stupid shit about Eve. He’s not the first to say ignorant shit like that, and I’m sure he won’t be the last. The moron has no idea what he’s talking about.”

Eve held her breath. That wasn’t what set him off. Not even close.

“No,” Jonathan forced out between clenched teeth. “He said I killed my dad. He said it’s my fault he had a heart attack.”

Everyone except Eve tensed, all at once.

She stepped forward slowly, wanting to give him plenty of time to ask her to stop. When he didn’t say anything or move away, she placed a tentative hand on his shoulder.

Jonathan shoved the hand away. “Don’t touch me right now.” So much anguish filled those words. “Please.I’m too angry. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Okay,” she said softly, resisting the urge to fiddle with her ring. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m not afraid you’ll hurt me.”

“I already hurt you.” He gasped out a strangled half-sob. “My whole fucking family thinks I hurt you.”

“And that,” Aiden said in a kind, level voice, “is none of their goddamn business.” He moved up beside her, but ventured no closer, careful to give Jonathan his space. “Our subs have the power to stop us with a single word. Just because some prejudiced Neanderthal doesn’t get it doesn’t make it untrue.”

Mason took position at Eve’s other side, looming almost a foot taller than her. “There are seven Doms and six subs out here right now. And I guarantee you every single one of us has more kindness and respect in our pinky finger than your uncle has in his whole body.”

“Don’t let him make you ashamed of who you are,” Eve said, almost pleading. “There’s something my dad used to say all the time. You should never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t go to for advice.” She thought of how deeply she’d failed at that since her father died, resolving to do better from now on.

“I wouldn’t even ask that guy for a restaurant recommendation,” Zach said. “I sure as fuck wouldn’t let him tell me how to live my life.”

Just then, the doors opened behind them, and she turned in time to see his mom and sisters come outside. Maisie must have handed her daughter off to Sean. “Uncle Warren’s gone,” Maisie said, taking in the strained gathering with worried eyes. “When he realized no one was on his side, he stopped all his bullshit about calling the police and slunk out the back door.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Lucy added. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that. Especially not today of all days.”

None of the tension eased out of Jonathan’s body, but he did finally manage to turn. “Thank you. All of you. You’re the people I care most about in the world. I appreciate you having my back.”

It took Eve a moment to realize he included her in that group.The people I care most about in the world.

She fell a little bit deeper.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” he continued, sounding almost robotic now. “I think I’ll take a walk before I come back inside. Not giving anyone a chance to respond, he turned and strode away, shoulders stiff and tense, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Eve’s chest ached as she watched him go. She longed for something she could do to ease his pain—to take away this current desire to be on his own. If it was in her power, she’d do anything to make that happen.

Resolve flowed through her as she followed the others back inside. This wasn’t a time for impotent hopes and worries. Not when Jonathan so clearly required her help.

What she needed was a plan.

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