Chasing Joshua by Cara North

what to say. What do you say when someone bares their soul and exposes their demons? He lifted his hands, opened them, and kissed the back of the hand on top.
    Evelyn didn't know what to do. It was probably the most tender moment in her entire life. She didn't let her foster mother, Stella, get this close to her. She tried, but Evelyn was afraid if she told her, Blade would kill them both. He was still out there, alive. She could feel it. She could feel him hunting her, had felt it all her life. She slid her hands from Joshua's and wrapped her arms around him. Never in her life had she felt like this toward a man. She told him the secret. His huge chest was like a solid wall. Pressing the left side of her face into his chest, she practically crawled into his lap.
    "He's going to kill me,” she whispered.
    "No, honey, no one will ever hurt you like that again. I promise.” Joshua was determined now more than ever to get to the bottom of this. There was one week left of school before Easter break, and he would spend that week figuring this out. He had to keep her here, keep her safe.
    "You can't keep that promise. You don't know who you're dealing with,” she pleaded.
    "Shhhh, breathe ... Just breathe,” he whispered.
    Joshua pulled her into his lap and pushed back onto the bed. His back stretched down to the large pillows allowing him to rest at an incline. Evelyn's hands slid from his back to his chest, and her face remained pressed into him tightly. Her eyes closed, and her breathing slowed. His chin was barely touching the top of her head. With each inhale she breathed him. He smelled like soap, and Joshua, like peace.
    Joshua's eyes began to feel heavy. It had been one hell of a morning and afternoon. Evelyn was warm in his arms. Her hair smelled like jasmine; that was Grace's shampoo. He knew her ribs had to hurt though she didn't grimace once. Of course the pain in her mind was probably greater than any body damage she suffered right now. He stroked her shoulder length hair and closed his eyes. She was safe now. He had to make plans to ensure her safety forever.
    Evelyn drifted into sleep, hearing his heartbeat, inhaling his scent. She had searched for peace all her life, studied the art of war, and fought for women who couldn't fight for themselves. She didn't allow herself to feel like a victim. She wouldn't accept that at eleven, she couldn't defend her mother, her sister. She could have tried. She carried his name, carried the scars he placed on her body. Blade taught her to never trust men. He taught her that her body was sinful and forced him to do things. And now, she broke every rule she had ever established for herself. She was trusting a man. She was in his arms. He was touching her, and she felt at peace. It seemed impossible.
    * * * *
    "I tried. She escaped!” Nikolai hit the ground with a thump. He didn't get up.
    "What do you have for me?” The man's voice cracked.
    "We have reason to believe she's in New York.” The voice was soft and uncertain.
    "Good girl.” He kicked the dead body of Nikolai Strong and looked back at the woman. “Clean this up."
    She moved quickly to grab Nikolai's feet and struggled to pull the body. Once he left, the other men in the room helped her.
    "Don't tell him I helped you, okay?” the tall one whispered. “Grab his arms."
    The short one grabbed his arms.
    "How is she?” the woman asked.
    "Free,” the tall one answered. “Hurt, but free."
    "You weren't supposed to hurt her.” The woman still whispered and kept an eye on the door. “What happened?"
    "Nikolai said we should follow Blade's orders. He wanted the money,” the tall one said. “She got her shots in on us. Look at my nose."
    "He'll find more hunters now.” The short one pushed the rest of Nikolai's body into the barrel. “No one legit will take it, but the money is getting too good. The worst kind of people will be after her."
    "You have to find her first.” The woman was pleading with the tall