Hostage: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) by Jas T. Ward & KB Worlds

Author:Jas T. Ward & KB Worlds [Ward, Jas T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KB Worlds LLC
Published: 2020-09-09T23:00:00+00:00

14

With each sentence Evan wrenched free, Lily felt her heart rip. It twisted his voice, his face and body tense with anxious nerves. When she lifted her free hand to touch the other cheek, he flinched as if her existence had been forgotten. She hoped that reminding Evan he wasn’t alone would bring him back to her. Here and now. “I don’t see you ever being a bad man, Evan. You did whatever you had to do to take care of those you loved. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”

He looked away, and she continued to cup his face gently to restore his focus to her. “What happened to them? Liza and Freddy?”

Lily realistically prepared for Evan to shut down. She prayed he wouldn’t, but she wouldn’t blame him if he did. As far as Lily knew, Evan never showed vulnerability. Surely this wasn’t the first time he had allowed himself to be. That wouldn’t be a surprise, either—controlled, uptight, hardass Evan. Now Lily knew why he needed to be. Not wanted, but needed. She knew all about protective measures, using a coping tactic to avoid dealing with pain. Agony lurked beneath a facade. It held Evan hostage from any future. One with happiness, love…

Her.

And even if it meant he wouldn’t find it with her, she wanted Evan to have it with someone.

“What happened, E?”

His eyes locked on hers—flashing deep rage. Lily believed he wasn’t directing it at her but toward someone else. “You ever heard of Al Capone? The gangster?”

Lily frowned and lifted a shoulder as she moved to clutch the blanket in her hands. “Of course, I have. I’m a librarian and a history buff. Al Capone. Gang leader, murderer, prohibition, gun runner—” Evan raised a brow. The slight motion cut her off. Realization as the pieces fell together. “You were in the nineteen-twenties. You said you became a dangerous man. Holy shit, Evan. Did you work for Capone?”

He nodded. “Yes. I bused tables at one of his restaurants on the east side. I assume I made some sort of impression. He hired me to collect protection money. Gin transport all over the city. I started out at the bottom and worked my way up. Finally, I was able to support Liza. Give Freddy the life he more than deserved.”

He sagged exhausted against the wall. Lily took his hand and led him to the cot. “What year did it start?”

Evan closed his eyes and whispered, “A few months after Freddy was born. I was enlisted by the gang the tail of winter in 1926. By the end of 1928, I stood two men from the top. A driver and enforcer for the right-hand man to Capone. A man by the name of Jack McGurn. We called him Machine Gun after his weapon of choice. But Lily, let’s make no mistake. Working for Capone had nothing to do with being evil. A wrong choice was taken.” He turned his head to regard her. “I didn’t tell Liza.

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