Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel) Read online

  She stared at him for a moment. He was right. It unnerved her, just a little, that he saw that in her.

  “You’ll have the list soon,” she said again.

  “Good. Do you have any ideas on who would do this to you?”

  Eve knew he was thinking about Tony.

  “My father is dead, Charlie. You know I killed him. This can’t be about him.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe associates, or someone he owed money to?”

  “After two years? Why wait that long for a payout?”

  “To catch you off guard.”

  His answer sent chills down Eve’s spine. She shook it off, refusing to believe that this was about Tony. That part of her life was over. She made sure of that when she put two bullets into him, and taking one herself.

  Harris saw the refusal in her eyes and changed directions.

  “Do you have any enemies you can think of that would want to hurt you this way?”

  Eve smiled grimly.

  “I’m a successful woman, Charlie. You don’t get that way without stepping on a few toes.” She leaned back in her chair, lacing her fingers together. “It could be other gallery owners who don’t like the fact that I can afford all of the priceless art. Or, protestors that think the art I feature is morally reprehensible. I have a drawer full of threats.”

  “Why have you never reported those threats?”

  Eve laughed.

  “I have been doing this a while, Charlie. If I were to report every threat I had from bible thumpers, I’d be known as the woman who cried wolf. You’d never know when the threat was actually real.”

  “It’s real now.”

  “Yes, it is,” Eve’s mood turned somber.

  Harris leaned forward, recognizing the resolve in Eve’s eyes.

  “Let me take care of this, Eve.”

  She held his gaze for a moment. “Billy can help.”

  Billy Donovan was an agent for the FBI, and though he helped Eve when she needed it with Tony, Harris didn’t trust his motives.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Eve.”

  “You think he is attracted to me.”

  It wasn’t a question, but a teasing statement. Still, Harris answered.

  “He’s a man. Of course he’s attracted to you.”

  “You’re a man, Charlie.”

  Harris shifted in his chair, uncomfortably. He couldn’t deny feeling a certain attraction to Eve. Hell, he was a red-blooded male, wasn’t he? But, he knew his boundaries. Harris wasn’t so sure Agent Donovan did.

  “I’m married.”

  “So is Billy. So am I.” Eve sighed. She had to think about the gallery, not the feelings that people may or may not have for her. “He has connections beyond your jurisdiction, Charlie. Use his resources.”

  Harris nodded curtly. If this is what Eve wanted, he would give that to her.

  “No one else, Eve. Let’s keep this legal.”

  She knew he meant James. James often fell on the wrong side of the law. An occupational hazard, but extremely beneficial for anyone who needed answers.

  “When this happened before it was just me, Charlie,” Eve began. “I lost everything in the fire that destroyed my gallery before, but I survived and I rebuilt. Now, there are people here that I love.”

  She leaned in, pointing towards the furthest wall.

  “My daughter is in the next room.” Eve moved her point towards her door. “Lainey and Mikey are downstairs sorting through this mess. It’s not just me anymore. I will do whatever I have to do to keep them safe.”

  Harris knew she meant that. She took a bullet, could have died, to save Lainey when Tony came to Eve’s gallery that fateful night. Both women reported that Tony had surprised them, holding Lainey at gunpoint before Eve somehow talked him into letting her go. He couldn’t know that Eve promised her father her body in exchange for Lainey’s life. The report claimed that Eve and Tony struggled before the gun was discharged three times, hitting Eve once in the stomach and Tony twice, killing him.

  “The last time you involved others, they got hurt or dead, Eve,” he reminded her.

  She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “I didn’t involve Pauly, yet he was beaten—almost paralyzed—just so Tony could position a man in my parking garage. The only involvement Christine had in this was knowing where I went on vacation. She was severely beaten for information, which she lied about to protect me. Katherine involved herself with Tony. The only reason she is alive today is because I helped her. Meredith dug herself in too deep with dear old dad, not my doing. And, Jackie …” Eve’s voice wavered. She would feel guilty about Jackie until the day she died. The young woman had no involvement whatsoever in the battle between Eve and her father. Yet, she was murdered for the contemptible fact that Eve had spoken to her. While she may not have involved them herself, she knew all that happened was on her. She would cross lines if it kept everyone safe.

  Eve sucked in a breath, releasing it slowly through her nose. “My resources go far beyond yours or Billy’s,” she continued. “Beyond the limits of the law. If that’s what I have to do, that’s what I will do …”

  “Stop talking, Eve.” Harris lifted a hand. “I looked the other way two years ago. I’m a captain now. I can’t look any way but the right way.”

  He stood.

  “You do what you have to do. Just don’t tell me about it.”

  Moving to the door, he paused and turned to Eve.

  “Get me the list, and Agent Donovan’s number. I’ll have the best I have working on this. We’ll be out of your hair as soon as we can.”

  After Charlie left Eve, she emailed him Billy’s information, emailed Billy with a head’s up and emailed James with the new development. Eve knew she was taking the easy way out, not picking up the phone and discussing this personally, she just didn’t care. Between Lainey and this mess, Eve was wiped. Completely, emotionally dispirited.

  Eve bit back her sigh when she heard Lainey’s light tap on her door. She couldn’t even drum up the energy to call out.

  Lainey waited, disheartened when Eve didn’t respond. With a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and pushed the door open.

  “Eve?”

  “I can’t, Lainey.” Eve spoke quietly, her head shaking back and forth slowly. “I can’t. I can’t do this with you. Not now. I can’t fight with you.”

  The despondency echoing through Eve’s voice pained Lainey. Eve was strong, rarely showing emotion other than passion. For years, Eve didn’t cry. Not even after her mother’s death. Eve told Lainey that she was just unable to cry. It wasn’t until Eve had deliberately hurt Lainey, in an effort to keep her safe, and Adam (for the same reason), that the tears came.

  After that, Eve had been more forthcoming with her emotions, but only to a certain degree. She still kept her deepest feelings in check when she felt scrutinized.

  “Eve, honey, I didn’t come in here to fight with you. I came to apologize.”

  Eve stared warily at Lainey, saying nothing as Lainey planted herself in the plush leather chair in front of Eve’s desk.

  “You don’t believe me.”

  Eve sighed. “Are you doing this because of what happened here at the gallery?”

  “No.” Lainey’s body was stiff with fear, but she forced herself to relax. With a façade of calm, she sat back and crossed her legs. “I’m apologizing because I’ve been an idiot.”

  Eve could sense Lainey’s internal struggle to remain casual. She rose slowly, striding over to sit next to Lainey. Her black pencil skirt and white button down shirt (with the top three buttons undone, of course), hugged her curves impeccably. Her red stilettos were high enough that when she sat and crossed her legs, the skirt inched up, and Lainey couldn’t help but glance at the muscles that twitched in Eve’s amazing legs.

  Eve caught Lainey’s glance, as well as the hungry look in her eyes before she wiped her expression c
lean. She felt the pang of desire and guilt hit her at the same time. Shit.

  “Lainey, it’s not idiocy. Do you think I don’t feel what you feel? That I don’t think about you, about what we had?”

  “You don’t show it,” Lainey whispered.

  “Because I know it would hurt you. I was selfish two years ago. No,” Eve continued before Lainey could speak. “I was. I knew what you were going through with Jack, but I didn’t stop what was happening between us.”

  “I didn’t let you.”

  A small smile touched Eve’s lips. “I was drowning, Lainey. I couldn’t give myself to Adam. Not fully, and it killed me. He was slipping through my fingers and there was nothing I could do about it because I couldn’t open myself up to him. You walked into my life, and I felt a breath. For once in all of those years since my mother died, I felt a breath.”

  Lainey’s heart stuttered at Eve’s admission. But she didn’t have time to revel in it before Eve continued.

  “When I met you, I felt a connection with you. I didn’t know why at the time. In fact, I didn’t realize the reason until much later.” The wariness returned to Eve’s eyes. She hoped what she had to say wouldn’t hurt Lainey. “What we had, Lainey, was incredible. And, I was able to give you my heart because you were … safe for me.”

  Lainey gasped softly. “That wasn’t the only reason,” she whispered. She remembered the first time Eve had told her she was safe. Lainey knew then, just as she knew now that it couldn’t have been the only explanation of what happened between them.

  “No. Of course it wasn’t,” Eve said quickly. “But, it’s a big reason.” Eve took Lainey’s hand in hers, and continued. “You made it easy for me. You understood me, believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You even encouraged me to be open with Adam.”

  “I could see how you felt about him. And, anyone with eyes could see he was in love with you.”

  Eve shook her head and chuckled. “You still say that even when talking about us.” She rubbed her thumb across Lainey’s knuckles. “My point is, Lainey, we were safe for each other. We gave each other something that each of us needed. But, when it came down to it, we made the choices we knew in our hearts were right.”

  “What if we made the choice out of fear?”

  “Lainey, are you and Jack having problems?”

  “No, I told you we’re good. Which makes me feel horrible.”

  “You still love him.”

  “Of course I do.”

  “And, the sex?”

  Lainey flushed slightly. “It’s good. Better.” She hesitated for a moment. “Better than it’s ever been, actually.”

  Eve grinned. “That’s good.”

  “It’s great. I’m just confused.”

  “You saw Adam and me together, and you remembered what it was like for us. That’s understandable. But, Lainey, you don’t want to do that to Jack again. You don’t want to be with me.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s true, Eve.”

  Eve closed the distance between them, her lips a breath away from Lainey’s, her palm resting on Lainey’s cheek, and poised to kiss her. “Really?”

  “Eve.” Lainey put her hands on Eve’s shoulders. She didn’t push, but she held her steady.

  Eve smiled, shifted until her mouth was at Lainey’s ear. “That’s what I thought.”

  Lainey sat back with a frustrated sigh. “I hate it when you do that. When you say something, or do something you don’t mean just to prove a point.” She explained when Eve looked at her questioningly. “You did it when you asked me to leave Jack and be with you and now this.”

  “I told you then that just because I knew what your answer was, that didn’t mean I didn’t mean it. Or don’t want it.”

  “Ugh, you’re just confusing me more.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry.” Eve sat back, and clasped her hands in her lap. “My method is terrible, but it gets the message across.”

  “I agree on the method,” Lainey mumbled. She was done with this conversation. If she wanted to get over these feelings (and she desperately wanted to), she needed to get her mind off of it. “I saw Captain Harris earlier.”

  “Yes.” Eve obliged Lainey, and let the subject of the two of them go for now.

  “Why was he here? There wasn’t a murder.” Lainey’s eyes widened. “Was there?”

  “No. He heard the call come in about the gallery, so he stopped in to see what he could do to help. He’s going to work with Billy, and I have James on it as well.”

  Lainey blew out a breath. “Do they think this has something to do with Tony?”

  “That’s what everyone’s first thought is.”

  “But, not yours?”

  Eve sighed, and rubbed her temples to relieve the ache. “I don’t know, Lainey. Maybe I’m being naïve, but I just can’t see this being about Tony.”

  “What does Adam say?” Lainey watched Eve’s eyelids lower. “You haven’t told him?”

  “We’re not sure what this is. What’s the point of worrying him over some vandalism?”

  “He’s not going to like that, Eve.”

  “He’ll understand. Adam has so much going on, Lainey, I just want to have some idea of what’s happening here before going to him.” Eve stood and held her hand out to Lainey. “Until then, let’s see what we can do about putting this place back together.”

  Once the police were finished documenting, fingerprinting and basically making more of a mess in the gallery, Eve and Lainey got busy cleaning. Eve concluded that it was easier to have painters come in and repaint the walls, so they focused on the art. It hurt Eve’s heart having to discard of such beautiful pieces. She knew that insurance would cover their costs, but money was never Eve’s concern. Art has always been Eve’s way to express herself, or to escape from the hell her life had been.

  They separated what couldn’t be salvaged from what Eve hoped she could restore. If it was too badly damaged for her, she would spare no expense in finding the best restorers in the country.

  “Eve?”

  “Yes, Mikey?”

  “Ms. Cummings is here to see you.”

  Damn. Eve didn’t need Dee Cummings, resident ace reporter, coming in to the gallery and asking God knows what. But, Eve didn’t think she could turn her away. She had been instrumental in helping Eve bring down Tony and Maurice, even at the risk of her own life.

  With an inward sigh, Eve stood and turned to face Dee. Always dressed to impress, Dee complimented her light coffee colored skin with apricot slacks and matching jacket. Her hair was swept up in a simple, modern chignon hairstyle that accentuated her high cheekbones, and left her piercing hazel eyes unobstructed.

  “Dee. It’s always nice to see you.”

  Dee laughed. “Right. I think the only time you thought it was nice to see me was at your wedding. And, that’s because I bought you very nice China dinnerware. Hello, Lainey.”

  “Not true,” Eve smiled, and instinctively took a protective step in front of Lainey. No matter what was happening between them, Eve would always want to shield Lainey from anything upsetting. “Though, it is a nice set. What can I do for you?”

  “You could give me a statement about the break-in here.”

  Well, let’s not beat around the bush, Eve thought. “I have no information. This just happened, Dee. The investigation has just begun. How did you hear about it, anyway?”

  “I have my resources.” Dee was cryptic as always, but Eve would get answers if she needed them. “Since it’s so new, we’ll just go through the basics. How do you feel? Do you have any ideas on who would do this?” She studied Eve. “Do you think this has anything to do with Tony?”

  “Numb, no and no. There’s my statement.”

  “Eve, I know Tony is dead, but …”

  “But, nothing. Tony is dead and that’s it. There’s no more there. That part of my life is dead.” Eve felt Lainey stiffen behind her. She hadn’t meant the part with Lainey, but she couldn’t very
well say that now. Eve adjusted her stance insignificantly enough where Dee wouldn’t notice, but Lainey would.

  Eve’s answers certainly didn’t satisfy Dee, yet, she hoped it bought her some time. She took it as a positive sign when Dee dropped the subject. Eve knew, however, that Dee would be back, and she would be relentless. To her credit, Dee did promise to have her contacts look into things, and even though Eve knew this was more for Dee’s benefit than Eve’s, she didn’t mind if it helped speed along the investigation.

  For now, Eve was just ready to get home and put this day behind her. She didn’t want to think about all of the memories this has drummed up. It hurt too damned much.

  The aroma of Eve’s special spaghetti sauce filled the kitchen, along with the cooing and occasional word—or Bella’s version of a word—from Eve’s baby girl.

  Eve glanced over at Bella, making a silly face, causing Bella to giggle. It was one of the most precious sounds to Eve, so she made it happen as often as she could.

  Adam stood at the doorway of the kitchen and watched the two loves of his life. He couldn’t stop the goofy grin he knew he had, but who could blame him.

  “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to come over here and kiss me?”

  Adam’s smile broadened. He loved how she could feel him when he was near. He walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “Kiss you, of course,” he whispered in her ear, and turned her to face him. His lips touched hers gently at first, until he felt her tongue touch his bottom lip. He deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling together, and when she fisted her hands in his hair, he pulled her closer against his hard body.

  “Dada!”

  Eve laughed softly against Adam’s lips.

  “Apparently your daughter wants some attention.”

  Adam groaned half-heartedly.

  “We’ll finish this later,” he whispered, then turned and picked Bella up out of her highchair. “Hi there, little one. How’s daddy’s princess?”

  Eve watched the two of them together, and her heart filled with such joy. Her family, she thought. She smiled at Adam when his eyes found hers. When she felt tears—happy tears—she turned back to the stove.