Page 15 of Claimed and Catalogued
My hand rests on Evie’s leg and she hasn’t moved it yet, though I’m pretty sure it’s because she’s in shock.
I need to stay calm. “I don’t intend to tear families apart, ma’am.” I try to hold my tone firm, but I can see that won’t matter.
“You know who this is, Evie?” her mother shouts across the table as the band launches into another upbeat Christmas tune.
I should’ve told her. I should’ve told her everything.
“Yes. I know this is the man who’s been sent to bring Cole in.” Evie says the words calm and careful as though she’s known this whole time.
Her mom reels back like she’s been slapped in the face. “You know he’s hunting your brother and you’re here with him?”
“Mom,” Evie says with a sigh, “Cole’s been running from one thing to the next for years. Maybe it’s time he—”
“You know he’s in this mess because of you, right?” Her mother snaps the words as though she intends for them to hurt. “That bar fight earlier this year. He messedyourex up. He protected you. Now you’re cozied up with the man who’s trying to take him away? You’re deranged!” A string of mismatched Christmas lights strung above the bar blink as her mother screams.
Evie flinches enough that I feel her spine stiffen and her breath catch. Her mom’s words hit their mark.
“That’s not fair.” Evie’s voice is tight as though she’s holding back tears. “Cole put Jeremy in the hospital. He was there for months. I didn’t ask him to do that.”
“You didn’t have to ask,” her mom hisses. “He’s always protected you. Poor choice if you ask me.”
I can’t stay silent!
“Enough.” I stand, my voice low and steady as I say, “It’s not on her that Cole made a decision to fight someone, and I’m not here to ruin your family. I’m here because he skipped out on a charge. That’s all.”
Her mom turns toward me with her jaw tight, her finger pointed. “You don’t get to speak. You don’t know this family, you don’t know what we’ve been through, and you don’t know how conniving that one is.” She moves her pointed finger toward Evie as though it holds some sort of power.
“Mom… what’s going on here?” Her sister steps to the side of the table, eyes still red, though I see now it’s not from tears. She’s been vomiting. The remnants are still on her dress.
“Your sister is messing around with the guy trying to drag Cole to jail.That’s all.” The mom redirects her gaze toward me. “You touch my son, and I swear to God, I’ll find you and I’ll murder you myself.”
“Mom!” Evie barks. “Stop! He’s just doing his job.”
“This isn’t a job!” she screams loud enough that the tables next to us stop and stare.
Evie stands with me, tucking into my hand, though I can’t quite figure why she’s going along with any of this. She loves her brother, and she wants to protect him. I heard it in her voice earlier at the bookstore. It’s why I was afraid to tell her I was a hunter.
“Just like you, Evie.” her mother snarls. “Some man shows you a bit of attention and you sell your whole family upriver forhim. Don’t bother coming to the wedding. I don’t want some low-life and his girlfriend floating around.”
Evie glances toward her sister, looking for support I’m sure, but nothing happens. The woman stands still as though she’s hooked to a chain and the mother’s leading it.
“I’m done.” Evie shrugs. “I’ve tried to be the good girl. I’ve tried to be kind. I’ve tried to love you when you clearly didn’t love me and look what it’s gotten me.” She shakes her head and pushes through the crowd of people gathered at the bar, her long hair floating behind her in a spring of curls.
I hate that she’s hurt, I hate that I have to watch it happen, and I hate that I can’t escort this woman to a jail cell. Sounds like she deserves it more than Cole.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? You want to protect your son, fine, but you don’t get to tear your daughter down to do it.”
The woman’s face turns sour, and she takes a step forward, the wrinkles on her forehead creasing so deeply that the shadows turn dark. “You don’t know shit about fuck. That girl causes trouble for everyone she knows. Crying about this, whining about that, never doing much of anything to fix any of it. Her brother has been the only person that stood by her, and now this…it’s a joke.It’s a joke, you’re a joke, and I meant what I said! I can put a buck down in a single shot, so try your luck.”
I nod slowly, biting back the grin that’s playing on my lips. “I’d love to see you try, ma’am.”
Before she can get out another word, I turn toward the door and head out into the snowy night, scanning Main Street both ways for the girl I know I won’t be able to stop thinking about.
The night is dark, and though the streetlights are illuminating partial spots on Main Street, the falling snow shadows a lot of the light’s reach. A car buzzes past, revealing alonger stretch. It’s then that I see my girl curled up on the stoop of the bakery.
She glances up as I approach, her eyes wet. “I’ve got my car parked near the bookstore. I can walk over there and get home on my own. I just wanted to apologize for all that. My family is insane.”
I shake my head and sit beside her, pulling her hood to the top of her head. “There’s nothing to apologize for. Everyone’s family is crazy. I’m sorry if—”
