Change of Harte (Harte, #2) (Harte Series) (13 page)

‘You okay? What did you go outside for, it’s freezing,’ Eva asked resting a tray with piping hot coffee on the table. ‘Hope I wasn’t too long, was I? Couldn’t find the decaf stuff. I can’t drink coffee this late or I’ll be up all night.’

Julian couldn’t help but smile, and Eva’s rosy cheeks told him he that she didn’t miss the innuendo.

‘I just needed some fresh air, that’s all.’

Eva raised her eyebrows and jiggled her whole body, jokingly. ‘Yeah. Phew. It all got a bit intense back there, didn’t it?’

Eva picked up her coffee, sat on the couch, and tucked her feet up beside her. She looked comfortable, content. Relieved to have cleared the air, maybe.

‘Put that down,’ Julian said, looking at the cup. He was about to bring all that contentment crashing through the floor. He didn’t want her spilling hot coffee on herself in shock or throwing it at him in temper. And he really couldn’t guess which reaction she might have.

Chapter 28

‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘Because he’s your father, Evangeline, and you deserve to know.’

‘But I didn’t want to know.’

‘We can’t always get what we want. Fucking hell, you know that better than anyone.’

‘Is that why you came here? Because you knew? You knew he was dying.’

Julian nodded.

A deep howl cried out from inside her, like someone had just scooped the sound out of her very core. It scratched her throat but she wanted to do it again. And again, and again. Her head hurt, like someone had reached inside her skull and dug their nails into her brain. Suddenly, there was no air in the room, and she had to get out. She forced on her boots lying in the hall, left the laces open and rushed out the front door toward the elevator. Her fist pounded the button relentlessly, copying the thudding of her heart against her chest.

Fuck
.
No. No. No.

She’d always thought there was more time. More time to hate him. More time to hide from him. More time to maybe forgive him. And now time was up. Julian had taken her decision away. He should have told her. He had no right to keep something so huge from her.
No fucking right.

Eva burst through the main door of her apartment block and stood on the quiet street. It was dark, the moon was struggling to peek out from behind thick clouds, and the sparse streetlights barely managed to offer a foggy, golden hue. Julian rushed through the doors a moment later. He didn’t say anything; he simply took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shivering shoulders.

Heartbreak wasn’t just a metaphor; it was a physical pain. A crippling hurt in her chest, the more Julian spoke the more the pain doubled her over. She’d always thought she was broken, but she was wrong. She realised she was only ever dented. Because now, this very second—standing there in the icy sleet, with the man she loved destroying her with his decision—now she was broken. Now her soul was shattered into a million pieces. And now, she knew she’d never be whole again.

She hated him. She despised him, and all she wanted was to wrap herself up in his arms and pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist. That it never had and it never would again.

Anthony rounded the corner and swerved up on the footpath in front of them, forcing them to jump back or be hit by the front tyre.

‘Jesus,’ Eva squealed, almost losing her balance. ‘What’s this, the fucking cavalry?’

Julian didn’t reply. He opened the back door before the car had reached a complete stop, grabbed Eva by arm, and shoved her ahead of him.

‘Get in.’

‘No. No way. I’m furious with you right now; don’t you get that? I’m not going anywhere with you.’

‘Get the fuck in, Evangeline. This isn’t open for negotiation.’

‘I said no.’ Eva pulled away from him. ‘I hate you.’

‘That’s great, baby. You can hate me with your ass on the backseat.’ 

Eva’s whole body hurt. Her legs shook like twigs in the freezing wind, and she knew at any moment she might collide with the icy ground.

She felt Julian’s hand press against the back of her head and she crouched in response. His other hand pushed against the small of her back, shoving her into the car. Her face mashed against the soft cream leather of the backseat. He jerked the door shut as the tyres screeched and they sped away.

Chapter 29

Julian opened the curtains, just enough to let the moonlight slice through the darkness of the room. He clenched his left fist and thumped it against his chest until it almost hurt. He exhaled hard, lightheaded for a second as too much alcohol coursed through his veins. His tie was strangling him. He ripped it off, followed by his jacket and belt. His opened his shirt and flopped back into the large armchair sitting lonely in the corner by the floor-to-ceiling window. He hadn’t played in years, he didn’t even know if his fingers would remember how but just reaching for his guitar now offered solace. And Christ, he needed something, or he might lose his mind.

The zip on the leather case was stubborn and jammed more than once but he persevered and savoured the feel of the cool oak guitar under his fingertips. His knees rested comfortably under the familiar weight, his shoulder leaned forward slowly, and his fingertips found their way to the chords without him having to think about it.

He sighed hard with each strum, taking his frustration out on the strings. It helped. He played more. And more. One chord followed another and soon he was lost in the music. Lyrics passed his lips. His voice was soft and raspy from too much gin, but perfect and poignant in the stillness of the night.

“You brought out the best of me,

a part of me I never see.

You took my soul and wiped it clean,

our love was made for movie screens.’’

He jumped, feeling a hand on his shoulder. ‘I didn’t know you could sing,’ Eva said.

Julian put the guitar down and turned around to give her his full attention. ‘You didn’t sleep for long.’

He was disappointed. She had cried until she was weary, and he had really hoped she’d get a long rest. She needed it.

‘I’m sorry,’ Eva said crouching on the ground and putting her head on his knee.

‘For what? You’ve done nothing wrong.’

‘For my reaction. Jesus, you practically had to kidnap me to get me back here. I’m so embarrassed.’

Julian looked around his oversized sitting room and shook his head. ‘Don’t be. Shock does things to people. The kicking me in the balls bit was a tad harsh, though.’ Julian sighed, his groin still tender from connecting with her boots on the backseat of the car.

‘It’s just that I hate him so much, you know. Everything he did to me. To us. I hate that his blood runs through my veins.’ Eva scratched at her wrist like she wanted to tear the past out of her skin.

‘Any man who creates something as beautiful as you can’t be all bad,’ Julian said, taking her hands in his and bending down to kiss her.

Her lips were soft and salty and he knew she’d been crying again. Maybe she hadn’t slept at all.

‘I’ve thought about your offer,’ Eva said, sitting back onto the ground to look up at him.

Julian looked into her eyes.

‘Two weeks?’

Julian nodded.

‘Okay. I will come to Dublin with you for Christmas.’

‘Good. There is no need to go back to your apartment. I will have everything you need waiting for you in Dublin. Clothes, make-up, everything, okay?’

‘That’s very sweet, Julian. But obviously I have to go home first. There’s stuff I need there. I can meet you at the airport later.’

Julian stood up. ‘No. You can’t go back to your apartment.’

‘Erm, you’re being ridiculous, Julian.’ Eva half laughed.

Julian’s back teeth grinded and he exhaled short and sharply. ‘Evangeline, this isn’t open for discussion. The flight leaves soon. Anthony will take you to the airport.’

‘Me? Aren’t you coming, too?’

‘I have somewhere I need to be. I’ve chartered a second flight. I’ll be right behind you.’

‘What? Seriously? You’ve somewhere you need to be?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re sticking me on a plane back to Ireland, and you’re not even coming. Eh, no. No way. I’ll wait for you. What’s the point in two planes?’

‘I’ve told you. This is not open to discussion.’

‘Balls, Julian. Either this is open to discussion…’ Eva lifted her hands above her head and air quoted while pulling a face. ‘Or I’m not going. Simple as.’

‘Okay, Evangeline. Let’s discuss this, shall we? As we speak, I have a beautiful hooker sleeping off a cocktail of fuck knows what in the next room. I was almost killed last night trying to get her the hell out of trouble and I’m paying her pimp off today with an exorbitant amount of money so he won’t come after us. There, how’s that?’

Eva shook her head. ‘Don’t be such a dick, Julian. Like I’m going to believe that crap.’

‘Why did you ask, then?’

‘Because I really thought you’d offer me the respect of telling me what in the hell you are doing. You know, like regular people do. People who don’t turn up after six months, announce your father is dead, and offer to take you back to their place for the holidays. Normal, Julian. I just thought we could do normal for once.’

‘It’s a business transaction, Evangeline.’

‘Okay.’ Eva smiled. ‘Thank you. But why do we need separate flights?’

‘I can’t tell you that.’

‘Why? What are you buying?’

‘Something very precious.’

Intrigue splashed across Eva’s face. Julian loved when her eyes sparked like that.

‘Is it...?’ Eva blushed. ‘Is it something for me?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is it a surprise? Is that why we have to fly separately?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you want me to stop asking questions so I don’t ruin the surprise?’

‘Yes.’

Julian took Eva’s hands in his, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her forehead softly. ‘Are you hungry? I can get Mrs. Cartwright to fix you up something.’

‘Pancakes?’ Eva beamed.

‘Sure.’

Chapter 30

Julian walked into his study, checking his phone. The call he was waiting for still hadn’t come in. Instead, his email and message inboxes were a shrine to Shelly’s name. He had endless calls and texts from her, all in a similar vein, fucking him out of it. She was less than impressed when Julian rang earlier and ordered her out of his house. And she was borderline explosive when Nathan was the one he had called to come and pick her up. But Shelly’s turbulent love life was the last thing Julian gave a shit about right then. Nathan wasn’t exactly his first choice, either, but with Anthony’s services needed to get him and Eva the hell away from her apartment, Nathan was a necessary assistant. He scrolled through a sea of profanity and anger in his message inbox to finally find the line that read Shelly was safe back at the hotel.

Lock the doors.

Don’t let ANYONE in.

Don’t let Nathan out.

You’ll hear from me soon.

Julian hit send on his text and sat back in his desk recliner and his hands sank into his face. He’d get Nathan his goddamn story but on his terms. And he wouldn’t get a word until Eva and Melissa were on the other side of the pond. Safe.

He ached to walk back into the kitchen, where Eva and Mrs. Cartwright were catching up over messy pancake making, grab Eva, and take her to his bedroom and slide deep inside her until all the demons faded from his mind. But of course, he didn’t. His cock was just a nuisance now. He needed to concentrate and figure out how in the hell this twisted mess was going to work out.

He slipped the pay-as-you-go phone Anthony had picked up for him out of his pocket, and dialled a local number.

‘Hi, this is Sarge…’

‘Sponge Bob,’ Julian said, cutting across the person on the other end mid-sentence.

‘The girl?’

‘With me.’

‘Conscious?’

‘Yes.’

‘Needs medical care?’

‘Possibly.’

‘We’re on the way.’

‘Just you. No lights, no sirens.’

‘You can trust us, Julian. You are safe now.’

‘Don’t say my name again. Just you.’

Julian hung up. He sat by the window for an entire hour—waiting. The only movement he made was to occasionally drum his fingers against his bureau. When the unmarked car rolled up the driveway, cutting the engine off at the gate and freewheeling the last couple of hundred meters, Julian was at the door with a semi-conscious Melissa in his arms. He glanced back at the kitchen. He could still hear laughter and chatting. Mrs. Cartwright was an effortless distraction for Eva.

The handover was messy. Melissa attempted to kick him but her body was too exhausted for it to have any real impact. She threw up a couple of times on the doorstep, and when he finally managed to pass her into Sargent Hammond’s arms, she looked back at him with the same innocence and fear that he’d seen in Eva’s eyes before. The fleeting glance was more painful than any kick she could have managed.

‘Guard her with your life,’ Julian warned. He was uncomfortable letting Melissa out of his sight, but he was ticking time bomb. The bounty was definitely on his head, and he needed Melissa removed from that. Keeping her with him was like dangling her in front of Da Luca, all wrapped up with a bow on top. He had to let the feds take her, much as it sickened him not to be in total control. It was just for a matter of hours. Just until he knew Eva safe and away from all this. If Eva found out about her sister now, or Julian’s involvement, under these circumstances she’d lose her mind. He’d reveal all, but the time needed to be right.

He had another call to make. He walked across this office and doubled checked the lock on the door. This time he used his own phone. He hit call on the number that had appeared on his caller ID earlier and cleared his throat.

‘Yes,’ Mickey answered. ‘This is not a good time, Mr. Harte. I’m in the middle of getting my knob sucked.’

‘I didn’t know your brother was out of jail. Tell him I said hello.’

Mickey hissed. ‘Your mouth is going to get you in trouble.’

‘It’s not
my
mouth you should be thinking about right now, it seems.’

‘What do you want, Mr. Harte?’

‘No negotiation. I’ll leave ten million in a Sponge Bob duffle bag in Central Park.

‘Sponge Fucking Bob.’  Mickey choked on his own saliva. ‘Are you fucking with me, kid?’

‘Who says extortionists can’t have a little fun, eh?’ Julian sniggered. ‘No fucking, Da Luca. No me fucking you. And no you fucking Tamara. Ten million. Are we clear?’

‘We’re clear. But just so you know, I would have taken five.’

‘That’s your mistake, Da Luca. She’s priceless.’

Mickey’s teeth grinding echoed over the line like thumb tacks digging into Julian’s exhausted head.

Julian hung up and logged into his laptop to transfer funds into a dormant account. He pulled out the matching cheque book from his desk drawer and scribbled the word ‘Cash’ in block letters.
Sponge Bob.
Julian snorted, trying to think where the nearest toy store was so he could buy a kid’s duffle bag.

Julian made a third and final call and when the line picked up, the person on the other end didn’t speak. There were only two words to say.

‘Sponge Bob.’

‘Game on,’ Sargent Hammond replied.

‘Game fucking on.’

Julian followed the sound of laughter into the kitchen. Mrs. Cartwright and Eva were sitting at the island, bright smiles lighting up both their faces.

‘We saved you some,’ Eva smiled, sliding a plate toward Julian.

Julian smiled back. ‘Thanks. Maybe later.’

‘You have to eat something, Julian. You’ll waste away,’ Mrs. Cartwright added.

Julian shook his head at his housekeeper. He slipped his fingers through the back of Eva’s hair and pulled her lips onto his, leaving a soft, lingering kiss.

He drew back and studied every perfect line of her face. He wanted to remember every detail…just in case…
just in case
.

‘I’ve got to go.’

‘Now?’ Eva protested and Julian didn’t miss the worry hiding in the lines around her face. She knew something wasn’t quite right.

‘Now,’ Julian repeated. ‘I’ll see you at the airport, okay?’

‘Promise me.’

‘Evangeline Andrews, I promise you.’

Eva nodded. This time she asked no questions. Julian kissed her once more. Soft, warm, needing. He never wanted to stop; he never wanted to come up for air. But he did, of course he did, and he hoped she’d understand someday that he did it for her. He turned his back and walked to the front door. ‘Anthony, let’s go toy shopping.’