"And why isn't there sign of forced entry?" Pissy Cop motioned toward the opened door of the apartment.
Eva's gaze dropped to the perfectly intact doorjamb. Her eyes glazed with horror. My gut twisted, pissed these fuckers were making her relive what had happened.
"We were busy trying to calm the babies after Pick threw him out. You showed up before we had a chance. Thanks for your quick response time, by the way."
Neither cop cared for her dry appreciation. "And the doorjamb?" Pissy Cop prodded.
Across the hall, the neighbor's door cracked open a few inches. "He wore a fancy suit," a timid voice from inside said.
The good cop stepped toward the hallway. "What was that?"
"The guy who showed up wore a real nice suit. He knocked on the door and she opened it for him."
I ground my teeth, wishing to hell the snoopy neighbor would shut the fuck up.
But the witness's account kept flooding across the hall. "She told him to leave and tried to shut the door in his face, but he stuck out his foot, stopping her, and finally got his way inside."
I drew in a sharp breath. "That son of a bitch," I muttered, wanting to find Eva's father all over again. And kill him at least three or four times.
"He was only in there a few minutes. Something banged against the wall once and there was shouting inside. Then this one came home." A finger appeared from the crack, pointing at me. "He had a couple with him. They all went inside. More shouting and banging followed. Then the fancy guy limped out, holding his side with one arm and his pants up with the other hand because they were unbuttoned. The other couple left a few minutes later. They looked upset."
Suddenly believers, the cops turned to Eva. "Did you know who he was?"
She hesitated before shaking her head. Then her gaze slid to me, her eyes begging me to back her up. "I'd never seen him before in my life."
"He had an old scar slashed across his cheek," I said helpfully.
Eva shifted the babies in her arms as if they were growing heavy, but her attention was focused on me.
"Anything else?" The good cop asked, tugging a notepad from his front pocket.
I shrugged, holding Eva's stare. "Like the neighbor said, he was in a fancy suit. I didn't notice much else, except he was white, mid-fifties, gray hair. Frankly, I wasn't paying much attention to detail because I was busy trying to rein in my temper enough to not kill him for touching her."
"Pick saved my life tonight." Eva shivered and kissed the top of Julian's head before she snuggled her cheek against Skylar's. "And maybe the lives of my babies, too. That guy just . . . he had a crazy look in his eyes."
From there on, we were deemed innocent. The cops asked a few more questions. I let Eva answer. And she rushed to me as soon as they took the handcuffs off. I lifted Fighter from one of her arms, and hugged the four of us together.
Pissy Cop left first. The other lingered a second longer, his gaze on Eva before he glanced at me. "Traded up, huh?"
My lips twitched as I looked at Eva. "Hell yeah, I did. And the other one left her kid with me, so I got the best of both worlds."
The cop chuckled and started from the apartment. "Don't forget to call if that guy shows up again."
"Will do." After I shut the door behind him, I rested my back against it, blew out a breath, and met Eva's gaze.
"Well, shit," she said, rocking Skylar in her arms. "That was definitely a first for me."
I have no idea why I thought that was funny, but I threw my head back and laughed.
Chapter 25
EVA
We didn't get the kids to bed until almost an hour after their usual bedtime. I caught Pick watching me a lot, as if he were waiting for that moment when I'd finally let the stress from the entire evening get to me and I'd fall apart. But I managed to hold it together.
When we finally slid under the covers, facing each other in the glow of the nightlight, I tucked my hands under my face and studied him across the bed as he did the same, examining me right back.
I'd been so sure the next time he had a night off, we'd finally get in some physical yumminess . . . but alas, my father had completely smothered that idea. Pick looked too scared to even touch me, which made me wonder how I'd ever gotten a kiss out of him in the bathroom earlier.
A soft smile lit his face. "What're you thinking?"
I smiled back. "I was thinking how sweet it was of you to get a babysitter for us tonight so we could go out."
He sighed. "Yeah, well, I'm sorry that fell through. I guess that's what I get for making plans."
I reached out to stoke his cheek. Then I straightened the ring in his eyebrow. "It was the thought that impressed me."
He continued to watch me as I groomed him, combing out unruly strands of his hair next.
"We were actually going to celebrate," he said. "I received a letter in the mail today. My annulment was finalized."