the wall. “Take a breath, Evelyn."
"This is ridiculous. I haven't committed a crime.” She was weary. Maybe he would turn her in. Maybe he was going to turn her in. But to who and for what? “You believe me, don't you?” Her breathing was frantic. “Joshua, you believe me. I haven't committed any crimes, I swear it."
"They say you killed Nikolai. His body was found in a barrel not far from a bar in Eastern Kentucky.” Joshua searched her face. He knew she wouldn't have been able to lie to Grace, and that the tale she told was true. She didn't kill the man. She had no reason to, and in the physical condition she was in when she got here, she couldn't have stuffed a man in a barrel. No way. He searched her reaction to the news.
"Oh God, I didn't ... he was alive I swear.” Evelyn slid down the wall. Joshua kneeled in front of her. If he believed she killed Nikolai, she would burst. She had night terrors over the men she had killed though she had no choice at the time. “I knew him, and now he's dead."
"Tell me what happened.” Joshua hated this for her. Her life kept getting worse, and he kept getting more involved. In fact, he knew there was no turning back. He would see this through to the end.
"Joshua, I tried to find my sister. I was supposed to meet a contact. It was afternoon but dark from the storm. The bar was closed of course. Nikolai was there, said he had to talk to me. I went out back. Sure, I caught a couple people he was unable to track. He hated me for that, but when he reached in the car and swung the two by four, I wasn't expecting it. I defended myself, but he was alive when I left. All three of them were alive."
"I believe you.” Joshua put his hand on her face, and she jumped like she thought he was going to smack her. “Evelyn, look at me."
Her big doe eyes looked up into his clear green eyes and saw the concern he couldn't hide. She jumped; it was a natural reaction. Men didn't raise their hands to comfort her, so she wasn't used to it.
"Evelyn, you have to trust me, implicitly. You have to tell me everything. I won't hurt you. And I'm not turning you in. I told Stevens you were headed to West Virginia. That was for his safety and yours. You have to stay here with me, and I have to trust that you will."
"I'll try.” Evelyn really wanted to stay, but he was putting himself at risk. She didn't want that.
"No, woman, you'll do, or I'll tie your ass up everyday before I go.” Joshua meant it. He had the key to her car, and she had enough gear in there he could contain her if he had to.
Evelyn laughed. It was a stressful laugh, the kind you would hear at a funeral or another inappropriate place. The thought of him tying her up should have made her furious. She could easily be out the door right now. He was vulnerable. His body language showed how much he trusted her because she could knee him in the groin just by lifting her leg, and without any real tactical effort. But the thought of being tied up by a man just seemed so far fetched and unreal she could only laugh.
"Evelyn, are you all right?” His gaze grew wary, and his brows drew together.
"I'm fine.” She collected her senses. “I'll stay, but I'll have to go shopping."
Joshua shook his head, stood, and held a hand out. When she took it, he pulled her from the floor. The woman boggled his mind. She went through her moods so fast no man could possibly keep up. He thanked God for the psychology classes he filled his electives with. He thought about his therapist Bob who had helped him deal with his partner's death and understand Candace's actions. He might give him a call, get some advice on this.
"There are shops on the waterfront, and a few places in Morehead. I can go get you what you need.” Joshua exhaled. He hated shopping, except for groceries, and he needed to do that, too.
"I can take care of that myself.” Evelyn straightened herself and pushed her hair back undoing the ponytail and then refastening it.
"You're
"This is ridiculous. I haven't committed a crime.” She was weary. Maybe he would turn her in. Maybe he was going to turn her in. But to who and for what? “You believe me, don't you?” Her breathing was frantic. “Joshua, you believe me. I haven't committed any crimes, I swear it."
"They say you killed Nikolai. His body was found in a barrel not far from a bar in Eastern Kentucky.” Joshua searched her face. He knew she wouldn't have been able to lie to Grace, and that the tale she told was true. She didn't kill the man. She had no reason to, and in the physical condition she was in when she got here, she couldn't have stuffed a man in a barrel. No way. He searched her reaction to the news.
"Oh God, I didn't ... he was alive I swear.” Evelyn slid down the wall. Joshua kneeled in front of her. If he believed she killed Nikolai, she would burst. She had night terrors over the men she had killed though she had no choice at the time. “I knew him, and now he's dead."
"Tell me what happened.” Joshua hated this for her. Her life kept getting worse, and he kept getting more involved. In fact, he knew there was no turning back. He would see this through to the end.
"Joshua, I tried to find my sister. I was supposed to meet a contact. It was afternoon but dark from the storm. The bar was closed of course. Nikolai was there, said he had to talk to me. I went out back. Sure, I caught a couple people he was unable to track. He hated me for that, but when he reached in the car and swung the two by four, I wasn't expecting it. I defended myself, but he was alive when I left. All three of them were alive."
"I believe you.” Joshua put his hand on her face, and she jumped like she thought he was going to smack her. “Evelyn, look at me."
Her big doe eyes looked up into his clear green eyes and saw the concern he couldn't hide. She jumped; it was a natural reaction. Men didn't raise their hands to comfort her, so she wasn't used to it.
"Evelyn, you have to trust me, implicitly. You have to tell me everything. I won't hurt you. And I'm not turning you in. I told Stevens you were headed to West Virginia. That was for his safety and yours. You have to stay here with me, and I have to trust that you will."
"I'll try.” Evelyn really wanted to stay, but he was putting himself at risk. She didn't want that.
"No, woman, you'll do, or I'll tie your ass up everyday before I go.” Joshua meant it. He had the key to her car, and she had enough gear in there he could contain her if he had to.
Evelyn laughed. It was a stressful laugh, the kind you would hear at a funeral or another inappropriate place. The thought of him tying her up should have made her furious. She could easily be out the door right now. He was vulnerable. His body language showed how much he trusted her because she could knee him in the groin just by lifting her leg, and without any real tactical effort. But the thought of being tied up by a man just seemed so far fetched and unreal she could only laugh.
"Evelyn, are you all right?” His gaze grew wary, and his brows drew together.
"I'm fine.” She collected her senses. “I'll stay, but I'll have to go shopping."
Joshua shook his head, stood, and held a hand out. When she took it, he pulled her from the floor. The woman boggled his mind. She went through her moods so fast no man could possibly keep up. He thanked God for the psychology classes he filled his electives with. He thought about his therapist Bob who had helped him deal with his partner's death and understand Candace's actions. He might give him a call, get some advice on this.
"There are shops on the waterfront, and a few places in Morehead. I can go get you what you need.” Joshua exhaled. He hated shopping, except for groceries, and he needed to do that, too.
"I can take care of that myself.” Evelyn straightened herself and pushed her hair back undoing the ponytail and then refastening it.
"You're
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