Page 20 of The Warrior's Salvation

When I get home, Mum is there, sitting on the couch, looking up as I walk in. “Evie,” she says, her voice soft, full of concern. “You look pale. Are you feeling okay?”

I try to smile, but it feels strained. “I’m fine, Mum. Just tired. I think I’m getting sick or something.”

She stands up and walks over to me, placing a hand on my forehead. “You don’t feel warm. Are you sure you’re alright?”

I nod, my throat tight. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Just need to rest.”

She gives me a look that says she’s not convinced, but she doesn’t press. Instead, she wraps me in a hug, and for a moment, I let myself lean into her. It’s the only comfort I have left, even if it’s not enough to keep the fear from creeping into my mind.

Mom pulls back slightly, looking at me with that familiar, concerned expression. "You know, Evie, Elvin Murphy is a good man. Maybe if you didn’t have to work so hard, life wouldn’t feel so stressful. You could let him take care of you. You don’t have to do all this on your own. When you get married, you'll see."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, and her expectation presses down on me. I know she means well, but it’s the last thing I want to hear right now. I’m drowning in my own thoughts, my own fears, and I don’t want to talk about marriage to a man I don't love. She's right. He'd take care of me so I don't have to work, but I want to work. I like my job. She doesn't understand.

"Not today, Mom," I say, my voice strained. "Please. I just need some space."

She sighs, clearly disappointed, but nods before walking away. The door closes softly behind her, leaving me in the silence of my thoughts. I sink onto the couch and put the pillow over my face. I can't keep doing this.

14

LOCHLAN

Istep into the office already irritated as hell. Draco’s side hustle is getting reckless, and I'm the one left cleaning up his mess. It's not like we haven't smuggled drugs before, but fentanyl isn't some amateur shit you can casually throw into the mix and hope nobody notices. We run it hidden in plain sight, carefully packed alongside our legitimate prescription shipments—it's intentional, efficient, but dangerous as fuck.

Lately, though, the runners Draco's brought in are sloppy, greedy bastards who couldn't keep their mouths shut if their lives depended on it. And that puts all our necks on the line.

I roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension as I scan the office. Evie isn't at her desk, and something in my chest tightens immediately. She should've been here by now. I glance at Jasper, hunched over his computer like I imagine is normal for him, and he doesn't seem bothered by it. He's reckless.

"You seen Evie?" My tone is sharper than I intend, betraying the nerves beneath.

He lifts his head slowly, blinking like I interrupted something important. "Nope," he says, leaning back lazily in his chair.

My jaw tightens. Jasper’s attitude grates at my nerves, but I'm not his boss, nor am I his father. "You haven't noticed anything at all? She didn't say she was stepping out?"

"Sorry," he says dryly. "I was stuck on a call. Wasn't paying attention."

I bite back a curse and turn away, frustration gnawing at the back of my mind. Evie shouldn’t just disappear without a word—not after everything that's been happening lately. The union attacks, threats coming in from every direction—it’s too damn dangerous. I rub the back of my neck to disguise the worst of my frustration and turn.

Scowling, I cross the room, approaching two of our other guys standing near the coffee station, whispering like gossipy teenagers. Their conversation dies immediately when they see me coming. Clearly, they take my position here more seriously than Jasper.

"Where’s Evie?" I ask, keeping my voice steady, though tension coils tighter in my chest with every passing second.

The taller one, Greg, glances sideways at his buddy before answering. "Uh, saw her earlier slipping out. She looked like she didn’t want to be seen."

"Sneaking out?" I growl, irritation morphing quickly into anger. "Alone?"

Greg shrugs nervously. "Seen some guy out by the lot the other day, but this time I'm not sure."

"Some guy?" I ask, wondering if it’s the same slick twat I saw messing around the other day.

"Yeah, Suit, fancy car. Looked like trouble." Greg jerks his chin up and lifts his coffee mug to sip from it.

My pulse spikes instantly, fury seeping into my veins. Evie meeting with some stranger behind my back? I’d told her explicitly—I don’t share. This isn’t how things are supposed to work between us. A wave of protectiveness overtakes my anger, bringing with it old, buried fears. Memories of an explosion flash through my mind, a phantom heat on my skin. Maelyn's face is burned in my conscience.

I turn sharply, striding toward the stairs. My boots slam against each step, panic mingling with rage as I take the more active route instead of the elevator, fury building until my thoughts blur. By the time I hit the lobby, my hand is already reaching for my phone. I call her without thinking twice the very instant I see her car is missing.

She answers after two rings, her voice cautious, hesitant. "Lochlan?"

"Where the hell are you?" My words snap like gunfire, edged with barely controlled emotion.

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