Evie just smiles. “The guy who purchased me like I was a fucking cow is—was—a very dangerous man. The kind who doesn’t tolerate being crossed. The kind who would target my family and friends if he ever found out I was still alive.”
Her chin quivers, but she carries on with her heartbreaking story. She is so amazingly strong. “Dane and I had to assume different identities and go into hiding. We made the man think we were dead so he wasn’t actively looking for us. That’s why I couldn’t contact you or my family. Jules, I am so, so sorry for that. I know you… you… were… so… worried.”
Evie’s breathing hitches between each word, and I shake my head. “Are you crazy? Don’t apologize to me for keeping yourself safe, Evie Bouvier. Don’t you dare!” My demand is delivered with a vehemence I feel to my soul.
She presses her fingers over her mouth and nods, whispering, “I know.” A man’s torso suddenly appears behind her, and large hands rest on her shoulders.
“Who is that?” I ask, snappier than I mean to, and Evie lets out a short laugh.
“This is my husband, Dane.” She looks up adoringly, and the man bends to kiss her softly on the lips. He’s freaking huge, with long black hair and a full beard. When he rests his chin on Evie’s shoulder and looks at me, his eyes are dark and dangerous. I suppress a shiver.
Thisis her husband? Holy hell, the man looks like he could eat someone and then pick his teeth with their bones.
“Hi, Juliette. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I… hi,” I say, a little flustered at the intensity of Evie’s husband.
She reaches back and pats his cheek. “Honey, stop looking like you’re about to do something felonious.”
“Sorry, Wildcat.” He kisses the side of her neck. “I’ll let you two talk.”
“Would you go get Paulie, please?”
“Who’s Paulie?” I ask when Dane disappears.
Evie’s lips widen into a grin. “He’s our baby boy.”
My hand goes to my throat and my voice turns raspy. “You have a baby?”
She nods happily. “He’s nine months old, and just the most beautiful little boy.” Glancing offscreen, her face visibly brightens. “There he is. Come to Mommy.”
Dane sets a little angel on her lap. The child has black hair like his father and blue eyes like his mom. He wears a mint-green onesie and flaps his arms happily.
“Well, hello, Paulie,” I coo, and he pokes his little pink tongue in and out of his mouth. “God, Evie, he is precious.”
Dane kneels beside Evie’s chair, his eyes affectionately on his little one. When Paulie grasps his dad’s finger and pulls it to his mouth, Dane’s smile mellows the harsh edges around his eyes, andhe doesn’t look quite as intimidating. He looks more like a big, slightly scary teddy bear.
I croon and twiddle my fingers at Paulie, and he bounces and babbles. He loves attention and obviously gets plenty of it from his parents, who hang on his every movement and smile.
Something pools in my belly, a vivid longing I can’t quite explain.
When the baby tires and lets out a little whimper, he’s gone from Evie’s lap in an instant, and I hear what sounds like a lullaby in a deep, melodious voice.
“Is he singing to the baby?” I ask, barely managing not to squeal. Because sa-woon!
My best friend looks to the side as the singing drifts away, and then she returns her gaze to me, doing a little shoulder wiggle now that we’re alone.
“He always does that,” she gushes. “If Paulie shows even the slightest bit of displeasure, Dane has him on his shoulder, singing Italian lullabies. He’s going to spoil him to pieces.” Her sappy smile tells me she’s not all that worried about it though.
“He seems like a good dad.” I pause. “Is he a good husband?”
Evie crushes her eyelids closed, as if remembering something unpleasant. “He’s the absolute best, Jules.” She opens her eyes, which are now swimming with tears. “I had a bit of PTSD after… everything. A lot of triggers. I was afraid of the dark and of closed spaces.”
“Oh, honey,” I sob, my tears returning at the thought of what she’d gone through to give her those fears.
“I’m okay now, thanks to Dane. He was beside me, getting me through every nightmare and freak out.” A fat tear drops down her cheek. “He saved me in so many ways.”
“I guess your family knows you’re okay now?”
