“Cam.”
Shit. That tone didn’t bode well for the coming conversation. Maybe he could still escape and preserve his good mood for a little while longer. He eyed the door, but decided against making a run for it. Wilde men didn’t run.
He blew out a breath and faced his brother. “If you’re gonna start in on me about the supposed contract that’s on my head, don’t. I already talked to Greer about it.”
“Yes, I know. And then you turned the conversation to Greer’s problems.”
“Rightfully so. Have you looked at him lately? There’s something fucked up going on with him.”
“I’m aware.” Reece perched on the edge of Jude’s desk and crossed his feet at the ankles. Several beats of silence slipped by as he sipped his coffee.
“And…?” Cam prompted.
“And Greer’s not the issue right now. We need to focus on this problem of yours first.”
Jesus Christ. Why wouldn’t his brothers get off his back about this? He had it handled, and for their own sakes, they didn’t need to be involved. “It’s not a problem, Reece. Nothing has happened to me. Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m telling you, this whole thing about a hit was just Soup’s way of prying money out of me. So, drop it.”
Reece heaved a sigh. “You know, you have a really bad habit of deflecting—”
Cam held up a hand as buzz from the scanner caught his attention. Domestic dispute between a mother and her daughters. Drugs possibly involved. Injuries reported. A detective already at the scene…
Reece’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that—”
“Eva’s house. Fuck.” As his heart lodged like a rock in his throat, he dropped the files he was holding and bolted for the door, but Reece caught his arm.
“Whoa, I’ll drive. You work on getting a hold of Eva.”
Chapter Eighteen
As Reece hit the highway breaking every speed limit, Cam’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Eva’s name appeared on the display, and he snapped it up, air exploding out of his lungs in relief that she’d returned his frantic calls.
“Are you okay?”
She drew a breath that shook. “Mom attacked Shelby.”
“I know. I heard it on the scanner. Are you okay?”
Silence.
His heart damn near stopped. “Baby, answer me.”
“Cam.” Her voice broke on his name. “I need you.”
“I’m on my way.” He thumped the dashboard with his palm. Reece all but stood on the gas, and twenty frustrating minutes later, they were pulling up behind a swarm of police vehicles.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who recognized her address.
His feet hit the pavement before Reece had the Escalade in park. Several of the officers recognized him and pointed to the ambulance backed ass-end to the curb in front of Eva’s house, but when he looked inside, he found two paramedics talking sedately over a petite blond woman. Strapped down to the gurney, she was out cold.
Eva’s mother.
It was the first look he’d ever gotten of the woman, and he saw little resemblance between Katrina Bremer and Eva. Wherever Eva was dark—hair, skin, eyes—Katrina was light. Why that relived him, he couldn’t begin to guess.
One of the medics noticed him standing there and nodded toward the house. “Cardoso’s inside. She and her sister are okay.”
“Thanks.” Without another thought for the woman who had brought Eva into the world, he spirited across the yard and up the steps. Reece met him at the door and followed him into the house.
First thing he noticed was the scent of pot clinging to the air. The second was Eva, standing at the kitchen counter with her back to him, pressing a bag of frozen peas to her sister’s swollen eye. He wanted to cross the space and sweep her into his arms and got half way to her before remembering himself.
Friends.
She’d called him as her best friend, not her lover.
He slowed his pace and drew in several calming breaths before speaking. Just seeing her unharmed and in one piece would have to be enough. At least until he got her alone. “Is everyone okay?”
Eva spun and lurched forward a step like she wanted to throw herself into his embrace as much as he wanted to scoop her up and hold her. He even spread his arms to catch her, but she stopped short, and her cheeks filled with color as her gaze darted around the room. He tried to tell her with his eyes that nobody would blame her for breaking down, for leaning on him for comfort, but she only straightened her shoulders and answered his question.