now, she knows you’re safe and she knows I’m going to make sure of that. She’s willing to wait, but not for long. She wants to get to know her mother.”
Eloise clutched the couch, her stomach roiling, a white-hot heat of fear flaring through her system. She hadn’t managed to eat any breakfast and now she felt empty, so empty. But this emptiness didn’t come from lack of nourishment. It came from that deep, gaping hole in her heart. She’d missed out on so many things.
“I can’t see her, Jackson. It’s too dangerous for her. I can’t see her ever.”
He got up to come around the couch. “Listen to me. We’re so close to capturing Martino and when we do…it will all be over. You won’t have to hide anymore. Then it won’t be dangerous for either of you.”
“You can’t promise me that,” she said, anger giving her strength. “You promised me that once before, remember? And I almost lost my baby girl. I gave her up to protect her and I won’t change on that. I have to stay away from her for the same reason.”
His hand on her arm steadied her, but the warmth she felt from his touch only added to her misery. Because she’d put him in danger, too. He’d die for her; she knew that. And she couldn’t have that on her conscience. Not now, when she had yet another threat hanging over her like fog over a mountain. If Jackson found out she’d witnessed Meredith’s death, he’d go into double time trying to save her. She couldn’t risk the exposure or the scrutiny. Or the guilt that would come if something happened to Kristin or him.
She whirled, gathering her purse as she headed up the stairs. “You’re right. I have to leave. I have to get out of here.”
“Wait,” Jackson called, stomping to the bottom of the stairs. “You can’t run away without my help, Eloise. Not this time.”
She pivoted to stare down at him. “And you can’t come in here and announce that after twenty-two years of no other choice, Jackson. I’ve done nothing but run since the last time I saw you. And you did suggest that I might need to move.”
He held on to the banister. “Yes, but just to a safe house. I’m here to see that you don’t have to go anywhere permanently again. If you’ll let me help you. I’m telling you—you don’t have to do this by yourself anymore.”
“Yes, I do. I have to protect Kristin. And you.”
He followed her to the landing, grabbing her to pull her around. “Don’t worry about either of us. Kristin is with a good man now. And he knows how to take care of her.”
That declaration floored Eloise. “She’s…happy?”
“I think so. His name is Zane Black and he cares about her. He’s the P.I. I mentioned. He went through the same thing—he was adopted and he recently found his brother.”
“She fell in love with the man who helped her track me down?”
He nodded. “What are the odds?”
His words echoed her earlier thoughts. Eloise knew the odds, though. Hadn’t she fallen in love with her protector all those years ago? But that love hadn’t survived the Mob, even if seeing Jackson again made it feel as strong as ever. She couldn’t give in to that notion; she’d just lose him all over again.
Ignoring the keen loneliness that shrouded her soul, Eloise said, “I’m glad she found someone.”
“Me, too. Zane is crazy about her and now he has his brother, too.”
“Good, then he has his happy ending. And if I leave her alone, maybe Kristin will have one, too.”
“She will. They’re engaged but she wants you at their wedding.”
Eloise closed her eyes, imagining Kristin walking down the aisle, smiling, happy. But then another image came into her mind. That of her daughter lying dead, surrounded by crushed white roses. “I can’t go. I won’t risk that. As much as I’d love to be there, I won’t ruin her special day.”
Jackson held her with a hand on her arm, his gaze moving over her face with that same concentration she remembered so well. “You’re still stubborn, I see.”
She took that as a compliment. “I’ve learned to take care of myself. I didn’t have any other choice.”
“I can see that, too, but this is a real threat and we’re dealing with a dangerous man. And this time, I’m not letting you go anywhere—not without me.”
The phone rang again. Eloise pushed past Jackson to answer it. He followed her back downstairs, a finger to his lips. “Be cool,” he cautioned.
Eloise thought her head might split open from trying to be cool. Taking a deep breath, she answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
“It’s me again.” Verdie. And she sounded strange, her voice raspy.
“What is it?” Eloise asked, fear pouring over her. She could feel the sweat popping out down her spine. She knew what was wrong already. She knew and she was helpless to do anything about it.
“The police were just here, honey.” Verdie inhaled a deep sob. “It’s about our little Meredith, and it’s bad. It’s so bad.”
“What?” Eloise looked down at the floor, acutely aware that Jackson was hanging on her every word. Her stomach clenched, her heart rate increased. She felt as if she’d just finished a long marathon. But she knew this run was just beginning all over again. “What is it?”
“They found Meredith dead this morning, Ellie. In the woods just beyond her apartment. Two officers were here asking questions. It’s awful, just so awful.”
Eloise found a chair, managed to sit down. “Oh, no. I can’t believe that. I—” She stopped, unable to lie to her friend. “Do they know what happened?”
“No. They asked a lot of questions, took notes. They don’t know and if they do, they ain’t talking. Her husband is pretty shook up, according to these two. You know he’s a cop, remember?”
“I remember.” Shook up. Eloise remembered seeing Randall Parker last night. He was standing over his wife, crying. He was sorry, all right. Sorry that his unbridled anger and unyielding control had caused him to kill a beautiful young woman. But now, she imagined he was shook up because he had seen someone up on that landing last night. He’d obviously moved the body and now he was probably afraid that person would come forward soon to reveal him as the killer.
Had he already figured out it was her?
“I remember,” she said again, her mind screaming the truth. “I’ll be right there, Verdie.”
“No, don’t come. We’ll just shut down for the day, if I can get rid of this pretty-boy coffee-slurper. He seems mighty interested in what’s going on. Must be one of those crime junkies. It’s just so horrible.” Verdie sniffed then started crying all over again.
“Get him out of there and close up,” Eloise said, forcing back the tears that would come soon. “I’ll come down—”
“Honey, don’t bother. The cops are on their way to your house to question you. I gotta
