Chapter Thirty-One

Eve straightened when she heard Jillian cry out, followed by a shot. Oh God! She had to go. Miles might come back. She stared down at Cade’s body. Alex was no longer here. Her heart ached at the thought. Alex wasn’t here. She inhaled the cold night air.

She hated the feeling that was surrounding her—it was so strong, so painful it crushed her from the inside. She sniffed. But it had happened. She had been touching Cade’s body when she felt Alex go. One second Cade’s body was giving off Alex’s heat and the next second, nothing. She sucked in a choppy breath and felt the tears continue to fall. He wasn't here anymore. Her lips twitched as she tried not to cry, but she couldn’t help it, her heart was just ripped in half. She covered her face and cried, heartbroken, into her hands.

After a few minutes, she finally pushed to her feet. She had to think about Noelle. She had to get home and get Noelle and Gran away in case Miles came looking for them.

Turning towards the lake, she did what Alex told her to do. She walked into the water. The tears sliding down her face as the cold water surrounded her. Her shoulder throbbed but the cold water helped numb the pain. Why couldn't it do that with her heart? She made it over to the opposite side of the lake and crept by a dark four door sedan which, she assumed belonged to Miles and out onto the main road.

Numb and cold, she started towards town. She hadn’t walked very far when a car came down the road from the direction of the lake. It was travelling at such a high rate of speed she only just moved out of the way before it reached her. She jumped into the trees on the side of the road when it came to a stop. She hid behind a large evergreen and held her breath.

Was it Miles? Did he see her?

She heard voices and a man ask, “Are you sure that was her?”

“Yes that was Eve.”

Jillian? Was that Jillian? No her mind was playing tricks on her.

“Eve Sinclair,” the man called out. “I’m Detective Trevor Daniels. I have Jillian Reid with me.”

Eve had almost fallen to her knees when he’d called out to her. She vaguely remembered Alex saying something about Trevor wanting to arrest Miles. Chilled, she moved out from behind the tree and stumbled to the road where a bald man with a red goatee stood next to Jillian.

He helped her up the small gulley next to the road, where Jillian rushed to her side. “Eve. Are you okay? How did you get here?”

She suddenly felt very cold and shivered. “I swam across the lake like Al…Cade told me too.” She lowered her head, feeling her heart break into tiny pieces.

“Where is Cade? I heard so many shots I…” Trevor frowned at Eve. She couldn’t hide the fact that she had been crying, she didn’t want to. The man she loved had just been killed, her heart was in two pieces and she didn’t know if it would ever heal.

She shook her head and whispered, “Miles shot him.”

Trevor handed her the blanket he pulled from the car. “That doesn’t mean he’s dead. Maybe just passed out.”

Eve shook her head again and explained, “The bullet entered in his lower back and came out his upper chest and then hit me here.” She pointed to the hole in her shirt. She then drew the line the bullet had followed across her own chest. “I can’t even begin to imagine how much damage it did.” If she thought about it logically, Alex shouldn’t have been able to speak to her at all. That’d proved how strong Alex had really been, telling her what to do while suffering a great deal of pain. She exhaled a choppy breath as new tears gathered. Pain. She closed her eyes and prayed. Please God don’t let him be in anymore pain. Let him have peace.

She swayed and let Trevor lead her to his car. She leaned against the side as he checked her shoulder and commented that it didn’t look too bad.

“What about Miles?” she asked quietly. “I heard you scream. I thought you were…” She didn’t want to say the word, there had been too much death tonight, and she was afraid that if she uttered the word it might trigger another disastrous event.

Jillian shook her head, her lips suddenly trembling. “It’s okay.” Trevor moved to her side and wrapped his arms around her. Eve’s smile at the tender show of affection didn’t last long.

Jillian leaned into Trevor as he spoke over top of her head. “Miles was trying to kill her. I did what I had to do.”

Eve nodded, understanding perfectly. Miles was dead. Jillian and her baby were safe, she was safe, and Noelle and Gran were safe. Looked like everyone was safe.

She stared off into the trees on the side of the road. Did Alex even know? She shifted her eyes around the area. Could he be here watching? She would never know she couldn't see the dead. She chuckled to herself. How crazy was this? For years she had been terrified at the thought of seeing the dead and now, with the idea that Alex might be close, she wanted more than anything to have that ability. Just so she could see him, even if it was only for a minute.

“I have to call this in,” Trevor interrupted her wishful thinking. “Will you be okay here with Jillian?”

Eve struggled, opening the blanket hanging around her shoulders for Jillian. Trevor helped her rest against the car and pulled the blanket around both women. “Call out if you need me.” He didn’t leave until Jillian promised.

Standing next to her, Jillian hugged her close.

She smiled, but doubted it looked genuine. “I’m so sorry, Eve.” Jillian gave her a knowing look, and lowered her voice, “About Alex.”

Eve nodded. What else could she do?

* * * *

When Alex opened his eyes he could hear whispering in his head, telling him what he needed to do. But it was hard to understand, the deep voice wasn’t clear. He rubbed his face and looked around. He was standing at the end of his bed in Memorial. His body was still in the same room, with the same blanket covering him. His beard and hair had grown longer, but the holes in his chest were healed. He looked around again and swore.

He was back. He was a median again and Eve was stuck out there, hurt with Miles hunting her. Or worse, she was dead.

Leaning forward, he gripped the metal rail at the end of his bed, squeezing so tight his hands went white. “No.” He wouldn’t believe that, she had to be alive. She was strong, a fighter, plus she had the Sinclair tattoo. She had to be alive, she had to be safe. But what if she wasn’t? What if Miles was hunting her, what if he had her?

A low growl vibrated through his body and the room began to shake. He couldn’t save her. He wasn’t able to save her because he was stuck in this fucking place. The idea had him moving his head back and forth in denial as the force of the vibration grew.

He remembered hearing Miles running towards the shed, had heard the gun shots. Eve. The idea of her lying dead in the forest by his parents’ cottage flashed before his eyes. “No!” he roared lifting the bed and slamming it back down, the force rocking his body in the bed.

“Easy, big guy. No need to trash the place.”

He whipped around and saw Justine emerging from the corner. He stalked over to her, blinding fury coursing through him and for the first time since she first appeared to him, the grin disappeared from her face. She backed away raising her hands. “Hey, calm down.”

“Where is Eve?” he roared. “I need to know, now!” He clamped his hands into fists, frustrated by his sudden lack of control.

Justine lowered her hands but still kept her distance. “She’s fine. She spent four days here and was released a couple of days ago when she healed faster than expected.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “No surprise there.”

“Four days?” Alex snapped. “How many days have I been gone?”

Justine smiled sympathetically. “It’s been a week.

A week!

“Miles?”

“Oh! He’s dead.” Justine grinned. Then, looking up, she rolled her eyes.

Alex looked up too, now used to the interruptions from above. “What are they saying?”

“That I’m not supposed to be so happy that Miles is dead,” she huffed. “They consider him a wounded soul and will heal him before he goes back out there.” She dropped her voice and leaned into him. “I don’t care. I’m still happy Trevor shot that prick.”

Alex straightened. “Trevor?”

“Yup. Cade told you he was a good guy. You should have had more faith in people,” she teased.

Relieved, he took a breath. Okay, Eve was alive, Miles was dead, and Trevor had shot Miles. “Where is Jillian?”

Justine’s smile turned warm. “She’s here. Down in maternity. The doc’s are nervous about letting her go because of everything that has happened. But Trevor has been great, taking care of mine and Cade’s funerals and coming to visit her every day. I think there might be something there,” she sighed. “God I hope so. I hate to think of Jillian being alone.”

Now that Jillian and her baby were safe, his job was done. He could move on! Fan-fucking-tastic! He thought sarcastically. Except, he could not just move on. He couldn’t go anywhere, he was still stuck being a median. What the hell was he going to do? He couldn’t do this anymore, he wanted a body. He wanted his body. “Now what?” He opened his arms. “I find Eve and have her merge me? I don't know if I can put her through that again.”

“Put her through what?” Justine snapped. “You dumped Eve, remember? Wanted her out of your life.”

He stared at her. Felt the guilt turn his stomach. Eve’s face filled the light and dark places in his mind. Her love filled his heart and her soul had healed his without him even realising she was doing it. He could breathe because of her. How could he want someone as precious as Eve to walk out his life? He knew now that he couldn’t live peacefully without her.

But even that wasn’t a possibility right now because he was a fucking median again.

“I remember. I was…”

“What?” Justine snapped. “You don’t deserve her if you plan on treating her that way.”

“I only…”

She cut him off. “Let her go and find someone who will treat her right. It may take time but she will get over you.”

Her words hit him hard and he rebelled at the idea of another man loving Eve. “No.” He gritted his teeth. “I can’t let her go.” He lowered his voice and admitted, “I know I don't deserve her but I can’t live without her. And this feeling I have for her, it’s only growing stronger. It’s been this way since you first sent me to her. I don't understand it, but I know with my entire soul that I cannot live without her. I can’t let her go not when I know she loves me.”

“And you’re so sure Evening loves you?” Dawn asked as she stood in the doorway of his room.

He nodded, unfazed by her sudden appearance. “Yes.”

“I knew she did.” Justine drew his attention, giving him a stunning smile. Pointing her thumb towards Eve’s grandmother, Justine said, “But the old bird needed to hear it from you.”

Dawn entered the room and closed the door behind her. “Watch it young lady,” Dawn snapped.

Justine gave Dawn the worst salute Alex had ever seen. “Yes, ma’am.”

Confused, Alex asked Dawn, “How did you get past the guards?”

Dawn tossed her large bag onto the bed next to his legs. “A grandmother is allowed to visit her only grandson.”

Alex shook his head. Incredible.

“Alex,” Justine began. Her voice had dropped in tone and her normally mischievous eyes held a serious glint in them. “I would like to ask you one more question, before we can begin.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. “Begin what?”

“Do you love Evening? Enough to spend the remainder of your life with her?”

The question was ridiculous, but his answer was instantaneous. “Yes.”

“Evening will outlive you. You will grow old, but Evening’s aging will be slowed by her…” The Being in Justine laughed. “By her family’s tattoo.” Old and wise eyes studied him. “Would knowing this change your feelings towards her?”

“In the beginning when I first found out, but not now. The only thing that bothers me about all of this is what will happen to Eve and Noelle when I’m dead and buried.” Alex sighed, “I don’t like that they will be alone. I’ll have to figure something out for them.”

Apparently, the question was answered to the Being’s satisfaction because he received a slow but genuine smile.

Gracefully crossing to Dawn, the Being controlling Justine nodded to the older woman. “Nice to see you again, Dawn. Did you bring the address?”

Dawn smiled back like they were old friends. “I did.” Both Dawn and Justine looked over at him. Dawn winked knowingly.

“This has turned out better than I could have hoped for.” Justine placed her hands on her hips and stood, looking very masculine. “He will be good for her don’t you think?”

Dawn agreed then added, “And she for him.”

“Very true.” There was another approving nod before a serious expression crossed Justine’s pretty face. “I certainly hope you understand how precious the gift is I’m giving you? I would hate to regret my decision.”

“I understand and there will be no cause for regret,” Alex said with conviction.

The Being glided the short distance between them and glared at him. “Good. I would hate to come back and deliver my own personal form of justice.”

With that said, the Being moved back and stopped. Justine blinked several times before looking back to Dawn. “I really hate that. Everything better be cool?”

Dawn laughed. “Everything is cool. Now stop complaining, you agreed to it.”

“I know.” Justine rubbed her shoulders and wiggled her arms. “I don’t like when my soul is used like a sweater.”

Sighing, Alex joined the women. “Who was that who just threatened me?”

Dawn answered the question, “That was Raphael.”

Alex raised his eyebrows, surprised by the answer. He narrowed his eyes and clarified. “As in…?” He couldn’t finish, it seemed so unearthly.

“Yup! That’s him.” Justine grinned.

“Okay.” Dawn sighed, pulling a large leather bound book from her bag. “Let’s get moving before the nurses do their rounds.”

Alex stared down at the book. It was Eve’s book with the poem to merge him back with his body. “So that’s why you’re here.” He shook his head. “Eve said you were too old to merge.”

“She lied. But she only did it to protect me, so don’t go getting all mad at her.”

Of course, she was only protecting Dawn. He understood that now about Eve. She protected the ones she loved.

“Oh!” Dawn called pulling a chair next to his bed. “Before I forget…” She stepped next to him and pulled a card from her pocket. “You’re supposed to memorise this address.” She held it up for him. He read the address and knew exactly where the building was located.

“What is this place?”

Dawn turned the card over. “Ask for Ralph, he already knows why you’re coming.”

Alex grinned like a fool. He laughed reading the name on the card. “A Little Piece of Heaven Tattoo Parlour.”