The Temp (24 page)

57

“How are you feeling?”
Eve limped into the kitchen. “You’re hurt.” Trigger came round.

“It’s my ankle; I landed pretty badly on it last night. I didn’t feel it until this morning really. I think”-

“It would have been the adrenaline, it’s a benefit to our fight or flight instincts,” Trigger bent down and touched her ankle.

“Ow,” Eve jumped up from his touch, his hands still holding her leg. There was a closeness about it that sent her heart fluttering.
Last night.
Things had…transpired.

“You need to rest,” he put her foot down and took her hand as she balanced.

“I need to get home.”

“Not in your condition you don’t,” Trigger picked her up, a hand under her thighs sweeping her off her feet in seconds. She gasped as her arms locked around his neck. He carried her over to the sofa and draped her across it. Eve’s cheeks were hot red. Exactly like last night. There were words unsaid between them, feelings at the surface and now in the daylight she would be so transparent, things would look so different.

Trigger went into the kitchen and brought out a first aid kit from one of the cabinets. Eve had put on her jeans from last night in an effort to cover her bare legs, though she wished she hadn’t needed it, it had been painful. Her thighs were cut. Trigger rolled up her trouser leg to reveal a large blotch of blue. “It doesn’t look good. Maybe you should go to the hospital.”

“No,” her voice was resolute bringing some of the more confident Eve back to the surface. She couldn’t go to a hospital if those who were looking for her had her name.

Not like when she was with Roman. 

“Eve,” his gaze held hers. “You’re quite stubborn.”

“You’re quite strong.” There was a silence between them, she bit her lip.

“The best thing I can recommend is rest and keeping the weight off for a few days.”
Great.
As if she didn’t have enough to worry about. “Do you want to talk about last night?” Trigger knelt down in front of her. His eyes were crystal blue in the daylight.

“No,” Eve looked away her cheeks betraying her. Did he mean the kiss or those men?

“Eve,” his head tilted to the side, so Roman like. “Do you think those guys might have known who you were or do you think it was a coincidence?”

“I wish it were a coincidence,” her tear ducts brimmed at the corners. “I wish they were men looking for a good time and I was going to be their next victim.”

“You can’t mean that.”

“I do, because otherwise I’d have to accept they followed me from my house and knew who I was-meaning they probably know where I live and what I do and”-her voice caught in a shudder, the tears escaping down the sides. There was a sting in her chest; Trigger hadn’t been talking about the kiss between them.

“Eve,” he pressed a hand to her cheek cupping the tears on one side.

“What can I do?” she said. “What would you do?”

“We need a plan, a way to keep you safe.” 

“Like what?”

“Can you change your address?”

“Wouldn’t they know?” Trigger’s hands held delicately to her ankle. Eve wished he wouldn’t, all the blood was rushing to his touch and she needed to think, to concentrate. “I have a few weeks left on my lease.”

“Is there a back entrance to your apartment?” Eve nodded. “Can you enter without them seeing?”

“It’s down a side street, it’s possible they don’t know. It doesn’t get a lot of use.”

“Alright,” he paused. “If you stay there you can’t go through the front door anymore. You can stay here if you want.” 

“No.” Eve caught herself and sat upright. She’d said it too abruptly and caught the flash of hurt in his eyes. There was too much risk there, too much potential danger of another kind. 

“Is there someone else you could stay with for a while?”

“I can’t bring anyone else into this.” Eve shook her head thinking of Trisha, she’d never involve her and her son in this. Not anymore. This wasn’t their mess and she couldn’t bare the idea of putting them in harms way. Besides, they were moving soon. Soon enough they’d be gone and out of her life and her troubles.

…

It hit her.

“There is somewhere”-she stammered.

“Good. What is it?”

“You might think it’s dumb.”

“Eve.”

“Well it’s in the same building. What if I could make them believe I moved out and go through the back entrance? So maybe they eventually stop watching the apartment, because they think I’ve moved.”

Trigger was quiet. “It’s a long shot. How do you plan on doing that? You can’t fake moving out so easily.”

“I know someone who’s moving out. What if I occupy their place instead and move out of mine?” Trigger kneaded her ankle with his forefinger, skimming along the arch of her foot.

“Trigger?”

“It’s a risk. If they think you’ve moved out they might not think you’d be stupid enough to simply move down the hallway. It’s possible.” Trigger met her gaze, a grim shadow settling under his brow. “Doesn’t mean I like it.”

“I know.”

58

Eve limped into Trisha’s place.

“Oh my god, what happened to you, sweetie?” Trisha said.

Eve used a hiking stick to keep the weight off her ankle. She flopped onto the lounge. Jack jumped up onto her lap.

“I tripped down a dark alley,” Eve said on auto. It was the line she’d rehearsed all the way back to her apartment. Trigger had ordered a Taxi and helped her through the back door which led around the side of the building. It didn’t pass through the front of the apartment so chances were whoever was watching was at the front, if it was just one. Besides, the back alley was completely deserted.

Eve hoped it was a good sign.

“What in the hell were you doing in a dark alley? Honey, that doesn’t sound like you,” Trisha narrowed her stare, hands on hips.

“I was desperate,” her doe eyes implored as Trisha brought on her mothering voice. “I needed food. It was late. I thought I could just go to the shops and I tripped. A nice man helped me up and when I woke up this morning it hurt like a”-Eve looked at Jack and covered his ears and mouthed the rest of her words. Her stomach growled. “I haven’t eaten much since then.”

“Oh sweetie,” Trisha sat down next to her.

“Any chance you’ve got some food handy. I kinda didn’t make it to the shops with everything last night.” Eve’s eyes rounded, her puppy face full on, the one Trisha couldn’t say no to, hoped she wouldn’t.

“Sure, you can hang out here, while I pack.”

“Oh, right,” Eve glanced at the boxes. “Do you know who’s taking your apartment when you go?”

“I think they’re advertising it next week.”

“Do you mind if I contact them?” Trisha went to the cupboard and retrieved a plate.

“Isn’t this one a mirror image of your one?” she chimed as expected.

“Your view is better than mine,” Eve lied. Well, it was a half lie. Eve’s window faced out to the next building, Trisha’s looked out into the alley and part of it to the front street, not the best hiding spot though she wasn’t going to stand in front of the window anytime soon. The view wasn’t much better. “Plus you’re kitchen’s more up to date than mine.” At least there was truth with the kitchen.

“Sure, I’ll find the number and give it to you.”

*

A few days later, Eve limped out of the front of the apartment carrying a box. She placed it into the back of a white unmarked truck; Trisha had rented it for the move. Despite the injury Eve had insisted on helping out, especially bringing boxes out into the truck. The idea had alarmed her, frankly it was like face time for her observers to see and deduce she was leaving.

Trisha had gone to run errands and Eve had insisted on carrying the few boxes left out to the truck in the hopes that whoever was watching would believe it was her leaving. Her apartment was close to empty. Eve had moved furniture into Trisha’s place already. The plan was on its way. She prayed,
please
, the observers would believe it.

Observers, yeah right! If they really were who she feared they were, they wouldn’t observe for long. Hopefully they’d follow the moving truck, notice Eve wasn’t at the new address, return back and lose Eve altogether after she didn’t show up at the apartment again.              

It was a long shot.

*

Jensen snubbed out his third cigarette in only two hours and yanked out his phone.

He was in deep shit with Beareman, Cotes and the Boss. He hadn’t understood before. Now he was starting to. This girl was special.

“It looks like she’s moving away,” he said after he’d dialled the number. He gave the details of what she’d been doing. A look in her window had confirmed there was significantly less furniture. He wasn’t talking to the Boss, never directly. It was Cotes on the other line. Jenson sighed, at least it wasn’t Beareman.

There was a rumble on the other side, Cotes was drawing breath, his lungs not what they used to be. “Follow the truck and keep a safe distance this time.”

“Ok will do,” he said after a moment, he tried to sound chipper despite his apparent failure. “I’ll follow the truck and see where she ends up.” He could already hear the dial tone before he stopped talking.

59

“Eve,” Nick beamed.
“I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Her cheeks pinked immediately.
Nick,
she’d never known how he felt and seeing him there was as if she were seeing him for the first time.

“I’ve been busy lately,” she smiled apologetically. The coffee shop was near empty on this day, Eve had chosen the off peak hour for her work and the peace and quiet.

“The usual?” Eve nodded, standing off to the side.

Her booth had two people sitting in it though it appeared as though they would leave soon. “How’s your writing going?” Nick said as she fingered her notebook in her bag.

Eve blinked, Nick never asked even if he presumed to know exactly what she came in here for. He’d kept it to himself like a secret.

She assumed he knew, after all how many people came in purely with notebooks and worked in them for hours like she did? None.

“It’s not. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” she blushed. Eve put the money on the counter and walked over to her favourite booth as soon as the couple vacated.

Trisha wasn’t working her shift until later today, yet Eve had craved her favourite pastime, even if the writing might not come easy. She fiddled with her pen as she waited for Nick to put the coffee on the table.

Nick was different today, stood straighter, broader and his hair shone brighter. His eyes glittered a brilliant blue as he lingered over her table a second longer.  “You look different,” he said pulling her attention to him.

Funny,
her head lopsided. “I was just thinking the same thing.” She could picture him as the high school heartthrob or quarterback of the football team; he was barely a year older than her in golden wheat hair, sparsely freckled cheeks and muscular arms.

“Oh.”

“Stressed I mean, you should come by more often. You’re always happier when you leave here,” he said, his cheeks turning a slight pink. Eve blinked again. Nick hardly ever spoke to her, except to smile. Now he was speaking to her as if they always spoke like this and it seemed natural, easy.

Why hadn’t they spoken properly before?

“
I am
always happier when I leave here,” she said, having Nick notice that he cared…she smiled down at her coffee.

…

“Eve.”

“Mmm.”

“Can I see you outside the coffee house some time?”

“Huh?”

Nick hesitated, shuffling from side to side as he stood there.

Eve’s mouth opened and closed.

“Can we um, I guess go out some time?”

…

“Ok,” her voice was so tiny.

“Huh?”

“Ok,” this time she smiled. Eve always liked Nick, always appreciated his appearance, his award winning smile. Maybe he was better suited to her than Roman or even Trigger. Maybe, maybe, maybe she should try to forget billionaires, sexy handlers and corporate espionage.

“How about tonight? Are you busy?”

“No,” it was the understatement of a century. Eve couldn’t remember the last time she really had something to do at night that didn’t involve herself and a TV, Roman Pierce aside. “I’m not busy.”
Oh
, admitting it out loud.

Nick lifted his wrist and for the first time Eve noticed a silver wristwatch on his arm. It was an exquisite thing far too pricey for a barista.

She didn’t know what to make of it.

“Can I pick you up at eight?”

“You have my address?”

“It’s the same at Trisha’s, isn’t it?”
old address
, she didn’t correct him as a pang invaded her. Eve nodded a tinge of warmth filling her insides. His eyes lingered on her face, “I’ll see you then.” He moved away from the booth.

“Wait,” Eve said. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” Nick winked in a way she’d never seen before. In a matter of minutes he’d gone from smiling and quiet to winking and asking her out on a date.

She hadn’t seen it coming.

*

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

There was a tense silence between them.

“I didn’t know what to wear,” Eve hesitated as she stepped out onto the front steps of her building; a step above his step coming to his head height. 

Nick wore a leather jacket and jeans, his hair flopping in a carefree way, his hands in his pockets. She took him in, the poster ad for a major underwear label.

“You’re perfect,” he said.

“I am?” Eve stepped down, their closeness catching her by surprise. She wore a simple blue dress flaring out at the sides and tapered in at the waist. Her shoulders were bare except for the shawl, her lips a delicate pink.

“So are you,” she whispered.

He laughed and turned away. “I promised I wouldn’t blush,” he shrugged. “Guess that’s not going to happen.” He smiled apologetically. “I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

“Why?”
“The time before last you came in with a guy, I thought he was your”-

“He’s not,” she said. “Sorry, it’s complicated. He was my boss.”

“Oh, right,” another tense silence filled the air. Having Nick from the coffee house stand before her out of his barista uniform was very disconcerting and
different.

“Where are we going?” he took her hand, the sudden contact surging to her abdomen. Nick was holding her hand, the same Nick who she’d seen so often. The same Nick who she’d never seen coming.

“We’re going down a dark alley so I can have my way with you.”

“Huh?”

“Joking,” he held up his hands in mock shock. Eve’s heart stumbled. It was a joke, a simple harmless joke. She’d forgotten what those were like. Should she be worried about Nick? She’d known him a while, though she hadn’t really
known
him. He was cute, he was approachable and friendly and quiet and all those things that shouldn’t ring alarm bells.

They continued walking and his hand slowly found hers again.

“I wanted to ask you out for a while, I wasn’t sure if you were interested.” Nick wasn’t looking at her.

“What changed your mind?” 

“I guess someone forced my hand,” he laughed to himself. They turned down a dark alley like he said they would. Her pulse sped up; her fingers were hot against his. Nick stopped and looked down at her. She was childlike in his presence. He was over six feet tall towering over her and could overpower her before she even screamed.

Her skin tingled. “Nick?” His lips pressed against hers in a flash. He pulled away a moment later. “What was that?” Eve exhaled.

“I don’t know, I couldn’t help it. I”-he squeezed her hand. “I guess I wanted you to know in case you couldn’t tell why I’d asked you out.”

“I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I wasn’t sure you’d feel the same way.” Nick took her hand and walked them further down the alley. Eve exhaled. It was Nick. How could she think he would hurt her? They turned another corner and came face to face with the Museum. “This is where I wanted to bring you. There’s a night time exhibition I think you’ll love.”

“I love the museum.”

“I know you do,” they went up the steps.

“How?” How did he know?

“Shh, you’ll spoil the surprise.”

Eve froze before the museum, the blood draining from her face.
“No,” her chest deflated. She’d been wrong about Nick, suddenly the danger invaded her. She didn’t really know Nick, although he did know her. A little too much. Too much. He knew she loved the museum. He knew where she lived. And he knew how she’d react to this exhibition.
This
exhibition.
Oh, god.

“This is exactly the look I wanted on your face,” Nick voice was emptier than she remembered. Eve couldn’t think, couldn’t escape it. Her past was here and Nick, had he planned this all along? Was he one of them?

In front of the museum stood a sign on a gilded stand.

The title bore; The real story behind New York’s most notorious families. 

“How long have you known?” her voice quaked, her chest heaving.

“Not too long, I shouldn’t have been surprised.”

“You shouldn’t? Who are you?”

“You know who I am Eve, come on let’s go,” Nick beamed a cool calm collected smile; the same one that had warmed her insides now iced her on the spot. Only a psychopath smiled in that way.

“I don’t want to go in,” Eve backed away. “I can’t.”

“I knew this would happen,” Nick’s hand held fast, “Eve, I promised them I would take you. Come on,” his determination caught her off-guard. How could it be Nick? Her past had come back to haunt her.
Nick. How could you?

“They’re here?” Eve squeaked.

Nick glanced at his silver wristwatch. Who still wore a wristwatch? Had they bought him? Paid him in advance? Endless possibilities went through her mind.

“They should be arriving any minute.”

Eve pulled away at him. “I have to go.
Please.
”

“Eve,” Nick put his arms around her enclosing her from behind. “The gang told me you might be resistant. Come on, I’ll walk you in.”
Gang?
Eve tried to struggle, finding Nick’s quarterback body wouldn’t relent. He was strong, too strong. Her chest rose and fell in sheer terror, the pain thickening like frostbite.

“Oh god, I can’t breathe. Why are you doing this? What did they promise you?” She needed to call for help, get to her phone. She tried to grab it out of her bag. Who would she call, Trigger? Tell him she was in trouble?

Nick snatched the phone out of her hand. “It’ll all be over soon,” he whispered in her ear.

Eve started hyperventilating. It was really happening.
This.

“Nick, please.” She couldn’t call Trigger. No one would help her.

He pulled her up the steps.

Eve was slow, knowing the trouble awaiting her. Nick,
no,
not Nick. They’d gotten to him, lured her here and would pounce on her any second.              

They,
not the blackmailers,
they…
her family.