Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 139934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 700(@200wpm)___ 560(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 700(@200wpm)___ 560(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
“It’s possible, Fyodor,” he conceded, “but not probable. Who is she to Evangeline?” He wanted the bottom line. He needed to know what he was most likely going to have to do before he went to that house and confronted her.
“She says they met briefly a long time ago. Evangeline had gone up into the mountains and there was a coffee shop. She’d dreamt of owning a bakery and wanted experience. She also needed a job. She met Ashe while out hiking and Ashe told her the shop needed help, put in a good word for her and she was hired. That’s where she got her experience as a barista.”
“Was her name Ashe Bronte?”
Fyodor shook his head. “It was Ashe Mostafa. She told Evangeline she was in trouble and needed a place to stay and make some money. Ashe claimed she saw the articles about our marriage and speculation on whether or not Evangeline knew the truth about her husband.” He rolled his eyes. “If Evangeline can read or listen to the news, she knows what everyone else knows.”
“She knows the truth and she’s accepted it, Fyodor. We’re all in this together. The hell with others who make judgments without knowing.”
“In any case, Ashe claims she saw the articles and came here hoping Evangeline would help her.”
Timur downed the last of the scotch. “What else?”
“Evangeline lent her the house and told her she could work in the shop. She asked me to tell you that she needs this favor from us, to just back off and accept Ashe is no threat.”
Timur raised an eyebrow at his brother.
Fyodor shook his head. “I didn’t answer her. I’ve always told her the truth if she asks me questions. Make this quick, Timur. Kill her or clear her. But do it fast. Evangeline is going to champion this woman.”
“Damn it.” Timur heaved a sigh. He didn’t want to hurt Evangeline any more than he wanted to kill Ashe.
“Evangeline was alone in the world for a long time. She climbed out of the mud—or the swamp might be a better way of putting it.” Fyodor shook his head. “She doesn’t have a lot of friends, and this woman means something to her. But if Ashe is setting Evangeline up, if she plans to hurt her in any way, I want it stopped. You understand me?”
Of course, he understood. Timur sipped the scotch. Preying on his sister-in-law was a very stupid thing to do. Targeting her was worse. He changed the subject and told his brother the plan to hit Ulisse’s shipment in a couple of nights. His brother was highly intelligent and always tweaked the plans and made them much better. Timur wanted his input.
3
TIMUR had always liked Evangeline’s house. It was small and comfortable, but very spacious. The front door opened into a small foyer, but that opened right into the living room, which was quite large, with high ceilings. That room went into a dining room and the kitchen. There weren’t doors separating the spaces and one could talk back and forth from any room.
All the lights were out in the house and the heavier drapes were pulled, something Evangeline rarely did. She liked the night to come in through her windows. Fyodor had had to teach her that if she had lights on, people could see in when she couldn’t see out. Drapes or no drapes, Timur could see in the dark. He had only to call on his leopard’s vision.
The locks were good ones—and there were a lot of them. Too bad for the occupant that he had the keys. Even if he hadn’t, he would have been able to get in. He was good at picking locks. More, he could take apart alarms if needed. His leopard’s acute hearing allowed him to hear the faint hum some alarms gave off, warning him of their presence. Of course, he knew the code for Evangeline’s alarm system.
Evangeline fit with them. She might be too compassionate, and she might think the best of everyone, but she fit. Timur knew she would back them with a ferocious fury if needed. There had to be something about this woman—beyond their brief friendship—that had her believing in her innocence. He hoped he believed just as strongly. He wanted that more than he’d wanted anything in a long time—for Ashe Bronte to be innocent.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and he opened it cautiously with one hand, staying clear just in case she was awake and had a weapon. The moment he touched the door and it moved inward, the overpowering scent in the room hit him and his leopard went wild. Wild. Insane. Crazy. He nearly fell to the floor as his body rippled and contorted, the cat desperate to claw his way out and take over their shared form.