Sweet Evangeline (Moon Magic Book 2) (18 page)

Evangeline turned to her. “You haven’t?”

“No, but I can feel your darkness from across the room.” Evangeline didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t say anything. Over the years, she had been faced with prejudice and curiosity, but never before with such outright hatred and disdain. About that time, Eric and his father walked into the kitchen. She could tell that Eric had been the one to prompt the move to where she was. Frankly, the hatred radiating off the other woman unnerved her. “Do you know what the Scripture says about women like you?”

Evangeline did not answer. She refused to fight back against Eric’s father and his wife. Without waiting for an answer, Sylvia McAllister resumed her attack. “Scripture says, ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’” Without warning, the other woman stepped up and struck Evangeline hard in the face. “You are evil and I will pray every day that you soon die.”

The blow was hard, but Evangeline did not move to strike back or to get away. Eric however was not as still. “That’s enough,” he yelled. “Get out, Dad, and take this viper of a wife with you. Evangeline is the most perfect woman God ever created. She is gentle and sweet; she saved my life and l love her more than you could ever know. She means everything to me and if you can’t deal with that—well, I’m sure I don’t have to explain why I refuse to put her into a situation to have to deal with you ever again. You treated my mother abominably, but you won’t get the chance to treat Evangeline that way.”

“Your mother could have been a good woman. But, she got ensnared in Satan’s coils and I couldn’t save her. Did you know that she put a spell on me so that I would love her? She was evil and she tainted everything she touched.” Eric was appalled to see the light of insanity in his father’s eyes.

“My mother wasn’t evil. Evangeline is not evil.” It took every bit of control he had, but Eric managed to keep his hands to himself. “It would be best if you left, now.”

“We’ll be waiting, when you come to your senses.” The older man said as Eric held the door for them to leave.

“You’ll be waiting a long time.” Eric said as he shut the door.

Eric cradled her. Her fingers weren’t still; they held the material of his shirt as if it were a lifeline. “Eric, do you think I’m evil?”

“I think you’re an angel.” Tender kisses were pressed upon her eyelids, absorbing the tears that remained.

“I don’t want to come between you and your dad.”

“I haven’t forgotten what he did to my mother, what he’s doing to you is just a continuation of his small-mindedness and prejudice. He and I have next to nothing in common.” He pulled her closer to him, his fingers raising her chin so she looked into his eyes. “You are my life. It’s not a hard choice. If I have to choose between you and him. I choose you. Hands down. No contest. Do you remember when you said you would walk away from everything and everyone for me?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Don’t you realize the same is true for me? A hundred times over.” His large body covered hers, symbolically protecting her from anything or anyone that would cause her harm.

Evangeline joined her lips with his. One gentle kiss, then, she buried her head in his neck. “I love you.” She lay in his arms, trembling with need for him. Uncertainty flooded her soul. More than anything, she longed for him to seek her lips and his hands to move feverishly over her body as they had so often done before. He tightened his grip on her, pulling her close. But that was all. Later that night—there was more of the same—he held her, he cuddled her, but Eric made no move to make love to her. And she didn’t have the courage to instigate it herself. So Evangeline lay as still as she could, and longed for something that did not happen.

* * * *

Evangeline filled Tiger’s bowl up with cream. The kitten had perked right up, his hair had smoothed out and he no longer looked like a Rwandan refugee. Since the unfortunate incident with Eric’s parents, she had been subdued. Eric seemed to be completely supportive, never giving any indication whatsoever that the visit had made any difference in their relationship—except that for the past two nights they had slept in the bed together—just slept. And Evangeline was going crazy. He didn’t seem to want her anymore. He had to be having second thoughts about their relationship; that was the only explanation.

Going over it and over it in her mind, guilt was her constant companion. How could she live with being the reason he and his family had no relationship?

Despite the fact he had put their physical relationship on hold, Eric was beyond good to her, Evangeline couldn’t remember life before Eric. She didn’t want too. But what if his life would be better without her? He had left early that morning for a meeting with the chief. She knew he had put in for a transfer and she hoped he was doing it for himself and not just for her.

The doorbell broke her reverie. Who in the world? Evangeline went to the door. Standing there was a man, tall; dark, about her age. “May I help you?” She waited for a prick of trepidation to trouble her, after Clark she should expect the unexpected. But it didn’t happen. There seemed to be no threat from this individual.

He smiled. “Evangeline?”

“Yes?”

“I have a message for you.”

“A message?”

“Yes, from your mother.” He held out the drawing that proved his story. Evangeline took it in shaking hands and when she saw the statue of the Acadian Evangeline, she looked up at the stranger—ready to believe whatever he had to say.

* * * *

Eric couldn’t wait to get back to Evangeline. But then, that was the way it always was. He had good news; she would no longer have to hold her breath while he went out on another fire. The investigative unit would be a big change for him, but one gladly made for both of their sakes. Just thinking of Evangeline made his blood run hot; he wanted to make love to her. For the past two nights, they hadn’t made love, not even once. After the visit from his father, she had withdrawn. And even though she had spent the night in his arms, he hadn’t initiated sex. And neither had she. Not that he hadn’t wanted her, he wanted her with every breath he took, but he had also wanted her to realize he valued more about her than just her body. He loved her heart and her mind and her soul. But right now his body was screaming for a release only she could provide.

Opening the door, he walked right into the living room and what met his eyes caused his heart to crash to his feet. Evangeline was in the arms of another man. She had her arms around his neck and he was literally holding her off the ground. She was laughing and smiling and this other man was looking at her as if she was the dearest thing in the world to him.

But she wasn’t. She belonged to him, to Eric.

“Evangeline?” he choked out her name. Flashes of Jessica and her betrayal careened through his mind.

But upon hearing his voice, there was no sudden movements, no horrible looks of guilt. She pushed away from the young man and ran to his arms. To him, to Eric. He caught her easily and held her close. “Oh, Eric! Something wonderful has happened.” She fisted her hands in his hair and kissed him joyously.

Eric looked over her shoulder at the other man. There was disappointment in his eyes, but what man wouldn’t be let down if Evangeline left their embrace. Funny, he couldn’t muster up any sympathy. She was his. “What would that be, love?” His eyes never left the eyes of the man whose arms she had just vacated.

“My mother is alive!”

Well, that wasn’t what he had been expecting. “Tell me everything.”

They sat at the table together. Evangeline could barely sit still. She was torn listening to Zak’s explanation—wanting to call her family, and wanting to race to the car and head to her mother’s rescue. Eric kept a steadying hand on her arm. “Let’s take our time, sweetheart. Hear Zak out, we need to understand.” Looking at Zak, Eric tried to get the facts straight. “So, Aimee was taken by a man called Duvalier?”

“Yes. He used the time during the chaos of Katrina to kidnap six people, including myself. I was only eighteen at the time.”

“But how did he get away with it?” Eric asked.

Evangeline looked at Zak and then at Eric, then she added her insight. “Katrina was a nightmare for New Orleans. There was no law. People were desperate; there were even those with guns, preventing people from crossing bridges to safety. What usually made sense didn’t; what was once wrong was right, up was down, in was out. Nothing made sense.” Evangeline’s voice faded, remember the horrors of the darkest days in the history of New Orleans.

“Aimee said when the waters of the levee rushed into their neighborhood; she had been separated from her father. Trying to stay afloat in the deluge, she had clung to an overturned boat. When Duvalier and Black Eddie pulled her from the rushing water, she had no idea it was no opportune happenstance. They had been waiting for her. Even then that old wizard was blocking your mother’s psychic powers.” Zak spoke slowly and never took his eyes from Evangeline.

“And how did they get you?”

Eric watched the young man, watching his woman. He was having a hard time remaining civil.  He couldn’t blame the younger man for wanting Evangeline.  She was everything any man could want—but she belonged to him.  

“Black Eddie lured me with the hope that he knew where my sister had been taken. It was a lie, of course. And I never saw my family again—I don’t feel them anywhere—I don’t think they are still alive.”

“How terrible, Zak. You must search for them. But, where has Black Eddie and Duvalier been holding you and my mother?” Evangeline asked, every muscle in her body primed to get up and go after her mother.

“Shreveport.”

“That was where Clark was headed when he crashed.”

“The crash was no accident; Black Eddie messed with Clark’s head. He had no intention of killing himself; he thought he was coming back to the fold.”

“For what purpose did Duvalier use you and my mom?” Tears were streaming down Evangeline’s face.

“He has been using us to facilitate his organized crime efforts; drug running, casino gambling scams and money laundering. We have been forced to be tools so he can know where the police are, what the competition is doing, how to keep the casino from paying out, and aiding Duvalier’s mafia connections that do everything in Louisiana from marijuana farming in the swamps to influencing the passage of bills in Baton Rouge.”

* * * *

As Zak explained the situation, Eric’s blood pressure evened out. This kid couldn’t be a threat to him. Could he? There seemed to be no doubt where Evangeline’s loyalty lay. Since they had been sitting there talking, Evangeline had clung to every word that had come out of the boy’s mouth. But her hands had clung to Eric. She had not let him go, not since the moment he had returned home. Their chairs were almost touching, but Evangeline was more in his chair than in hers. She had threaded the fingers of one hand through his and the other was constantly rubbing a pattern up and down his leg. He knew she meant nothing sexual by it, she was taking strength from him—strength that he willingly gave.

“I want to go to Shreveport, Eric.” He was about to give her what she asked for, he would give her anything. But Zak’s words stopped him.

“They will be gone by the time you get there.” Zak’s words brought a frown to Evangeline’s face. Her hand tightened on Eric’s leg. Without thought, he covered her hand with his own.

“Where do you think they’ll be?” Eric asked pensively, already knowing the answer.

“New Orleans” At Zak’s low confession, Eric felt fatalistic about the admission. He had known all along this would end up in the Crescent City—a place he didn’t know, a place of mystery and danger. But he would follow Evangeline to the gates of hell, if necessary.

“Well, then that’s where we’ll go,” Eric heard himself say.

* * * *

With shaking hands, Evangeline picked up the phone. But before she could press the appropriate buttons, the phone rang in her hand.

But, of course, she should have realized this would happen. There was no way Elizabeth could miss information like this. Once it hit Evangeline’s head, Elizabeth had access to the astounding fact that her sister was still among the living.

“When were you going to tell me?” Evangeline was having a hard time reading her aunt’s voice. It didn’t sound right, and then she realized that her aunt was crying. And Elizabeth never cried.

“I was picking up the phone to call you, when it rang in my hand. You have impeccable timing as always.”

“So, it’s true? Aimee is alive?”

“That’s what Zak says.”

“And you trust this Zak?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’m coming over and we’ll call my girl together, okay?”

* * * *

It wasn’t hard to get the time off; but, he had it coming. Without stopping to confer with Evangeline, he called Tyler Garrison on his cell. He hadn’t known him long, but he trusted him implicitly. It turned out Elizabeth already knew and she was on the way to their house even now. “What do you suggest we do?”

Garrison let out a long breath. “I’m taking leave and heading to New Orleans with you. Was there really any question about that?” Not waiting for an answer he went on. “Have you talked to Jade yet?”