Page 78 of Ruthless
She barely heard Gideon leave the room. Her focus was on her father and the sorrow in his eyes. She hadn’t seen him like this since Samuel was killed. She’d been fifteen at the time, and seeing her big, strong father break down had almost crushed her. She was learning, though, that no matter how old she was, seeing her papa in pain wasn’t easy.
They quietly talked about the good times. The Christmases and Easters that had always meant so much to them as a family. How at each birthday, until she had moved away, her papa would sit with her and eat cake and ice cream. He was a busy man, but he always made sure she knew how much he loved her.
His eyelids grew heavy and then closed. She waited for several more minutes, absorbing this time with him, cherishing it. She could have lost him today. And though he didn’t appear to be in physical pain, she knew the blows that had been dealt today could well destroy him. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to find out who had done this to them.
Eve kissed her father’s cheek and stood. Gideon was leaning against the wall, at the door, waiting for her. She hadn’t heard him return and appreciated that he hadn’t interrupted those precious moments with her papa.
Even while grief and heartache threatened to bombard her, energy and determination flooded through her. She and Gideon were professionals who hunted bad guys for a living. They would damn well find these bastards and put them down.
Both were silent as they headed back to her apartment. With all that had happened in just a few hours, her mind whirled with a litany of the things she needed to do. First, she would go to the hospital. Alex needed to know she was there for him. On the way, she would call General Aubert, head of Search and Rescue for Ile de la Lune. He had to have an update by now on the search for Nicolas’s plane. All resources needed to go to finding her brother and his family. If Ile de la Lune needed help, she knew without a doubt a dozen agencies from other countries would be standing ready to assist.
After that, she would contact the intelligence officers and demand the latest on where these attacks were coming from. She would light a fire under them and—
A hand landed on her shoulder, and Gideon growled softly, “Why don’t you go take a shower? I’ll make us something to eat.”
The thought of putting anything into her knotted stomach wasn’t something she wanted to consider, but she knew her body. Without fuel, she would be no good to anyone.
She smiled her appreciation, grateful for his quiet strength and support. “Thank you for being here for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Drawing her into his arms, he hugged her close and whispered, “I’ll be with you for as long as you want me.”
Breathing in his familiar masculine scent, she drew strength from him. What would she do without him? She never wanted to find out.
Before he released her, he kissed her softly, his mouth moving softly and oh so gently over hers as if he was cherishing and savoring her taste. It was the sweetest and most loving kiss she’d ever received. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she forced them away. Now was not the time, but when this was over, she wanted to spend time with him, alone, exploring and discovering each other like never before.
His arms slowly fell away from her. “Go on and shower. I’ll fix us something light.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Reenergized from those moments in Gideon’s arms, Eve returned her mind to the tasks ahead of her. If she stayed on course, she wouldn’t allow in the horrendous grief that knocked fiercely at her heart. Letting that sorrow take over would do no one any good.
She managed to maintain that iron will until she was beneath the hot blast of her shower, and then, just for a moment, she allowed the grief to consume her. The sound of the pulsing water covered her harsh sobs of anguish. Several moments later, she pulled herself together. She had learned at an early age that grief could cripple if you let it. That would never be her again. She had a job to do, and it was time to do it.
Drying quickly, she braided her wet hair, threw on a pair of khakis and a long-sleeved black T-shirt, slipped into her most comfortable flats, and she was ready to get to work. Knowing Gideon would insist that she at least try to eat, Eve headed to the kitchen. She stopped and took a moment to appreciate the sight before her. The table was set, coffee steamed in a cup he must have just poured, and croissants, jam, and butter sat in the middle, along with a platter of scrambled eggs and bacon.
He nodded toward the table and shrugged. “A little heavier than what you wanted, but you’ll need the protein.”
He was right, and the fact that he knew her so well and was sharing this burden with her without forcing his thoughts and opinions on her meant so much.
Pulling out a chair for her, he said, “Have a seat.”
“Such a gentleman. Your parents raised a good man.”
His crooked smile held a hint of sadness, and she knew he was likely thinking of his own losses and what he’d endured.
Wasting no time, she dug into breakfast, feeling stronger with every bite. When she was almost finished, he went to his feet. “Almost forgot the orange juice.”
“I’m so full I’m not sure I can swallow anything else.”
“You need vitamin C.”
She finished up the last few sips of coffee and then gave him a grateful smile when he handed her a small glass of orange juice. She swallowed it in three gulps and handed him the empty glass. “Happy now?”
He shook his head, his eyes sadder than she’d ever seen them. “Not even remotely.”
She grabbed his hand, alarmed. “Is there news? Did someone call?”
“No. No news.”