Page 95 of Holding on to Chaos
“Well, I don’t bake biscuits naked. If that’s what you’re asking.”
Eva grinned. “I don’t know. You look like you’ve got some smolder in you.”
“The smolder died a long time ago,” Eden quipped. “It’s mostly smoke and cobwebs at this point.
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Eva was examining an oversized clawfoot bathtub in the third story of a fanciful turret listening to Eden describe the hand-painted wallpaper in the bathroom when her phone rang.
“Aunt Eva?”
“Yeah, Evan. What’s up?”
“There’s someone in your house.”
Eva’s stomach dropped. She held the phone in a white knuckled grip. “What do you mean ‘someone’?”
“There’s some weird lady. Frizzy hair. I heard glass break, and she went inside, and I don’t think she used a key. Roar’s at a sleepover and Mom and Beckett are out with Lydia and I—”
“Evan lock your doors. Right now.”
“Okay.” She heard the snick of a lock and Diesel’s big dog bark.
“All of them, okay, bud? I’m on my way.” She’d pushed too hard. She thought she finally had the situation under control, and she’d only made it worse. And now Agnes was striking back.
“Should I call the sheriff?”
Damn it all to hell.
“I’m calling him right now, and then I’m going to call you back. Don’t open the door for anyone, okay? And keep Diesel with you.”
“Geez. Okay. Okay. Is she crazy?”
“She’s not nice,” Eva said quickly. “And I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
With a rushed promise that she’d call him right back, Eva hung up and dialed Donovan.
“I need your help,” she said, choking on a sob. “Someone broke into my house, and Evan’s at home alone.”
“Eva—” he began.
But there was no time for explanations. Not with Agnes just steps from Evan. “Just please, Donovan, get there fast. I’m on my way now.”
“Eva, stay where you are—”
But she was already hanging up on his order as she pushed the accelerator down. She dialed Beckett and Gia’s house, but the line was busy. She alternated calling the house phone and Evan’s cell. The minutes dragged on, achingly slow. Even as she whipped the wheel around One Love Park, Eva felt as if everything was in slow motion. She couldn’t get there fast enough. She’d pay for this. That’s what Agnes told her.
Eva beat Donovan’s police cruiser into the driveway by half a second. She jumped out and sprinted for the back door of the house. “Evan!”
Donovan caught her around the waist, lifting her feet off the ground and spinning her around. “Stop.” He gave the order with a steely calm that had the fight leaving her.
He put her back on her feet, one strong arm still holding her around the waist.
“Trust me, Eva.” He started for the backyard, hand on his gun.
“I’m coming with you,” she announced, shadowing his long-legged gait.
He swore quietly. “Stay behind me.”
