Free Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel) by Jourdyn Kelly Page A

her from the direction of the shots. “Shots fired! Shots fired! 5153 is on scene. Get units here, now!”
    “Charlie! Eve is in there!” Lainey felt the hot trail of tears flow down her cheek. Was Eve hit? Was she alive? If she was shot, how was she going to go through this again?
    “James is with her! Get down! I need to make sure you’re safe before I can go back in.”
     

     
    It seemed like a goddamn eternity before Eve was able to leave the building and see for herself that Lainey was unharmed. Police officers flooded the building, and Eve was questioned before being released.
    When she stepped outside, she saw Lainey and immediately went to her, wrapping her arms around her. Eve held Lainey closer, feeling Lainey’s body shake with sobs.
    “It’s okay. I’m fine. Shh, baby, I’m fine. I’m right here.”
    “You have blood on you.”
    “It’s Branson’s, honey. Not mine.”
    “What happened? God, Eve, I was so scared!”
    “I know. Me too. I have no idea what happened. One minute, we were talking to him, the next his brains were scattered on the wall.”
    Eve cursed softly when Lainey’s body jolted.
    “I’m sorry, Lainey. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “Eve?”
    She turned to look into Charlie’s worried eyes.
    “You should take Lainey home. I’ll stay here and get as much information as I can.” He paused for a moment, watching her. “This is now a murder investigation. My jurisdiction.”
    “It wasn’t me, Charlie.”
    “I know. I was here, remember?”
    “I mean, it wasn’t me they were after. I was two feet away from Branson. If they wanted me dead, it would have been easy.”
    Lainey gasped, and clung to Eve’s hand.
    Harris nodded, but he wasn’t sure Eve was entirely right. Multiple shots were fired. The shooter could have just missed his target. “I’ll get info, and give you what I can. In the meantime, stay out of this. Let me handle it. This isn’t just about stolen art anymore.”

 
     
    Eve dropped Lainey off before pulling into her own driveway next to Adam’s car. He was home early, and she had blood splattered all over her. Perfect. She blew out a breath, and sat there for a minute, laying her head back on the headrest. She had hoped to be able to take a shower, and get her thoughts together before having this conversation with Adam. So much for that. And, after what happened today, there was no keeping it from him anymore. With a deep breath, she got out of the car and went inside to face her husband. Shit. He’s going to be pissed.
    Adam was furious. Eve had promised him she wouldn’t keep things from him anymore, and he had to hear what was going on from Agent Fucking Donovan. It pissed him off even more that Donovan was in on this, since Donovan clearly had feelings for Adam’s wife. He heard her pull into the driveway—this time his heart was pounding out of anger more than lust—and waited. She must know he wasn’t happy, because she’s taking her sweet damn time coming in the house. Adam took a deep breath to try and calm himself when he heard the door open. He would give her a chance to explain. At least, that was his plan before she walked in covered in blood.
    “What the fuck, Eve?!”
    “Where is Bella?”
    “Jack and the boys are watching her. So, again, I ask; what the fuck?”
    “Baby …”
    “Don’t! You’re covered in fucking blood !”
    Oh yeah, he’s pissed.
    “It’s not mine,” she said evenly.
    Adam threw his hands in the air. “Well, thank fuck for that!” His eyes bore into hers. “Why did you keep this from me?”
    Eve’s brows furrowed in confusion. How did he already know?
    “I got a fucking call from Donovan, Eve.”
    Fuck. That, for sure, pissed him off more. She knew Adam didn’t trust Billy’s feelings for her.
    “What did he say?”
    “I want to hear what you have to say!”
    “Baby, I’m covered in blood. I watched a man die today …”
    “It really sucks that that isn’t the first time that’s