Page 89 of Finding Eve
For national security reasons, Tara’s parents believed she died in a car accident. Worse, they believed it had been God’s will. A blessing he gave to save her from the pain and suffering she’d been about to endure.
“What is it, honey?” His tone encouraging, Adam waited until she lifted her chin and looked him in the eyes. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”
“I do.” Despite her vision going blurry, she took a steadying breath. “Tara was sick, her cancer had come back, and her doctors said she only had months left to live.”
“Oh.” Her brother pulled her in for another hug, and the strength of his embrace eased the pain in her chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” When they parted, her eyes still glistened, but the tears didn’t fall. “Mrs. Pisani gave me this.” From under her shirt, she pulled out a thin chain, and a delicate gold cross caught the light. “She said Tara would want me to have it.”
Adam lifted his hand until the cross lay flat in the center of his palm. “It’s beautiful.”
She nodded. “It wasn’t your fault, Adam.”
He let go of the necklace to brush his knuckle down her cheek. “It wasn’t your fault either.”
“I know that now. I’m sorry.”
“I am too.”
They stood in silence for a moment, their wounds over Tara’s death beginning to heal in the presence of the other. There were more hurts to overcome, and according to Dr. Christina, the process would take time. But for Gray, this was a damn good start, and going by his throat clearing, Adam thought so too.
“So, where’s Chase? Is he hiding from me, or did you break him already?”
Gray rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me? He’s made of reinforced titanium. I couldn’t break him if I wanted to. He took off with Grant as soon as we arrived. Something about a new mission and an ops plan needing review. Last I heard, there’s still no sign of Tak. Are we finally going full-on commando on Johnson’s ass?”
“No.” He brushed his hand over the back of his neck. “I have a few more things to sort before we storm the gates in Washington.”
“Well, that’s cryptic as fuck. You know Chase will just tell me anyway.”
“I’m not trying to be cryptic. The mission’s not a secret.”
“Then spit it out. The suspense is killing me. What’s got everyone so hot and bothered?”
“That would probably be me.”
Gray’s spine snapped straight as her eyes flew wide. The woman who entered the kitchen from Adam’s office wore a too-big T-shirt and a pair of his athletic pants.
With dark blue eyes, strawberry-blond hair piled in a messy bun, and curves for days, she looked gorgeous and homeless. “Who the fuck are you?” She ran her gaze over Adam while pointing to the bombshell for added emphasis. “Who the fuck is she,and why the fuck is she wearing your pants?”
“Grace Grayson,” he warned. “Be nice.”
“It’s Mackenzie, dickhead, and I am being nice. This”—she waved her hand up and down her body—“ismeon my best behavior. Are you going to introduce us, or do I have to use my imagination and assign the hot tamale a code name?”
The woman laughed and came forward, her hand outstretched. “Eve Langley. It’s nice to meet you. Adam said you were in Mallorca. I hope you had a nice trip.”
“Eve?” Gray looked her up and down as they shook. “You’re shitting me, right?”
“I’m sorry?” she said, her arm dropping as her gaze swung from Gray to Adam and back again. “Is there something wrong with Eve?”
Gray snorted. “Adam and Eve.” She flicked her fingers back and forth between them. “You know? The whole first man and woman thing. They were kind of like the original celebrity couple. Pretty sure they went by Evedam. Did you know, according to legend, all mankind is descendent from your two loins?”
Adam groaned.
“What? We’re all just one big happy family. It’s in the Bible.”
“You’ve never even opened a Bible. How the hell would you know?”
“I saw a cartoon once. So?” Gray turned to Eve. “Why are you here? What’s your mission? And how long have you been bumping hips with my brother?”
