Page 22 of Chaos Demons

I’d come here hoping to find out what had happened between him and Eva and perhaps convince him to apologize and see if she’d return to him. At this point, I just couldn’t live with her constant arguing over everything! There was just no way to talk to her sensibly and I was at my wits’ end.

But with the tableau before me, I got a pretty good picture of why she’d left: he’d knocked up some other girl and Eva had found out.

I turned to leave, without saying a word, when Trent sputtered, “Mrs. Baker?”

I paused in the doorway.

“Yes,” I said, the word clipped.

“Ah… this isn’t what it looks like,” he stammered.

Yeah… right. How many times had I heardthatline?

“She’s my sister,” he said earnestly.

I spun back to him, confused and horrified for a moment. “You knocked up your own sister?” Though even as I said it, I realized there were other options.

“What? No! That’s not my kid!” He sighed, running a hand over his face, smearing more grease over his features. “Please… just let me explain. Eva never gave me a chance to tell her what happened.”

Curious, I nodded. “Talk.”

“Close the door?” he asked quietly.

I did, leaning against it with my arms folded under my bust.

He rambled off his story, keeping his voice hushed. “My sister, Lisa, was married to a douche-bag. He wasn’t good to her and when it seemed like he might hurt their child, she took the kid and left. But her husband is also a powerful guy with friends in high places. She didn’t know where to go, so she came to me. I’ve been keeping her here, in the back room to keep her safe. But… I couldn’t tell anyone she was here. I told my guys her name was Lina, some girl I’d knocked up, and I couldn’t say anything to Eva… but she must have suspected something and came to work and found us. I know how it looks, but I’m just trying to be a good brother!”

I sighed. That, unfortunately, made sense.

This guy actually seemed like a decent fellow. He had a business and took care of his family. Perhaps he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. But I could see how always-angry-Eva might not see that.

“Do you love her?” I asked, then clarified, “Eva, my daughter?”

“I do!” he insisted.

“He really does. He can’t stop talking about her and how he’s so sad he lost her,” Lisa piped up. “Other than motorcycles, that’s all he talks about.”

I sighed. There was no way Eva would listen to anything I said so…

“You need to tell her that. You know where we live, stop by and I’ll let you in. Eva is a little… upset right now.” Boy was that an understatement. “But I hope to any god that might listen, that she’ll talk to you.”

Trent beamed. “Really? You think she’d have me back?”

I certainly hoped so.

“Yes,” I lied. I really had no clue at all whether she’d even listen to him, but I had to try.

He rose and came to me, making to shake my hand then thinking better of it, seeing how filthy he was. “Ah… thank you so much, Mrs. Baker.”

“Ms. Baker. I’m not married.”

“Ms. Baker, I really appreciate this!” He nodded like a fool — a love-sick fool, I realized — and couldn’t stop smiling.

Gods, I hoped this worked.

I left his shop and did a few other bits of running around town, before finally, reluctantly, returning home.

I could feel the animosity and turmoil even just standing on the street outside. I went in through the downstairs entrance and slipped into the basement, hoping Grey might be there. Luckily, he was.

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