Page 79 of Accepted Precedent
“Fuck,” I mutter, then demand, “Don’t park.”
“What’s wrong?”
Leaning forward, I point. “Him. That’s the guy who said he was driving me home.”
Carl taps a few icons on the dash screen. “I’m sorry, but I have to call him.” He drives past the drop-off area, and Mickey picks up after what feels like eternity. Without giving Mick a chance to greet him, he rattles off, “Boss, we have a Code Three-Twenty-Nine.”
“Where’s Evelyn?” Mick growls, his voice booming through the speakers.
Chapter 33
Mickey
My mind is racing a mile a minute. No one hurts my family and survives to see the next day. The call crackles with static, but as I’m pulling up to the building, his car passes me. With the tinted windows, I can’t tell if Evie is with him, and my heart plummets. I make a U-turn and follow them, then hang up and call Kristin—she may have been the last one to see her.
She doesn’t pick up, so I try Ileah. After two rings, she answers with fear masked in her tone, “Hello, Mr. Gallagher. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Where’s Evie?”
“She’s supposed to be with you for the ultrasound appointment.”
“She’s not. Her driver called with a code that means she’s in danger. Where are you?”
“I’m driving Jaclyn home, then dropping off Kristin. Is Evie okay?”
“She fuckin’ better be.” I click the large red button to end the call and try Carl again.
“Mr. Gallagher, I’m sorry. I had a bad connection.”
“I’m right behind you on the highway. Where’s my wi—Evelyn?” While I stop short of calling her my wife, in every sense of the word, she is—paperwork means nothing to me. I’m the one who slid that ring on her finger, not Andrew.
“I’m here, Mick. I’m so sorry!”
“Evie, angel, you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I think so. There was a man at the restaurant who said he was supposed to drive me. And just now, he was standing out front of the doctor’s.”
I white-knuckle the steering wheel. “Why did no one call me?”
“Because it was no big deal.”
“No big deal?” I growl. “Someone is stalking you, and you think it’s no big deal?”
“It’s fine, I’m fine. Will you please tell Carl to go back? I need to get back for our appointment.”
“Fuck the appointment!” My heart is thundering in my chest, and I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, love. If someone is targeting you, we need to keep you safe.”
“What about Jaclyn and Ileah? Someone could be following them too.”
I slam the steering wheel. “Fuck!”
“You know the babies can hear you,” she reminds me. Even in the middle of evading a potential stalker, my angel’s sass never falters. “What’s the matter? Do you know who the guy was?”
“I’m sorry, Evie. Carl? Once you make sure there isn’t a tail, can you drive her to Finn’s?”
“Of course, Mr. Gallagher.”
She says something to him that I can’t make out. If anything happens to her, I’ll burn down the whole world until I find the arsehole who followed her.
