Eve (4 page)

He nodded. “I could tell.”

“None of the neighbors will talk to the police about what Rick Larazo and the rest of the gang did. And the guys were gone by the time the ambulance came. They’re not going to believe me, either. I’m too young.” She added in disgust, “They never believe anyone under thirty.”

“And you’re just a little over halfway there.” He grimaced. “Dammit.”

“I’ll get around it.” She finished her coffee. “I promised Rosa I’d go talk to some of the neighbors and try to persuade them to tell the truth about what they saw.”

“You really want to help her, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Any way I can.”

“Then, if you can’t find someone to tell the truth because Larazo’s got them scared, get one of the potheads in the place to lie and say they saw it. It shouldn’t be hard. Just slip them a joint. There are addicts in half the apartments in the building.”

“I don’t deal drugs,” she said sharply.

“Whew.” His eyes narrowed on her face. “Did I hit a nerve?”

She ignored the question. “Do you deal?”

He shook his head. “But if it came to a choice of paying someone a few joints to help your friend keep her kid, I’d do it in a heartbeat. It’s a shitty world, and you have to pick both the weapons and the battles.”

“Not drugs.”

He nodded. “Whatever you say.” He was silent a moment. “But you have to know that I’m not like you. I won’t lie. I’m not what you’d call a good guy. I do whatever I have to do to survive and get what I want.” He paused. “It’s not always safe to trust me.”

She couldn’t look away from him. He was telling her the truth. She could see it in the intensity of his eyes, the tautness of his lips. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have to trust you.” With an effort she managed to pull her gaze away. “You’re nothing to me.”

He chuckled. “Liar. Telling the truth should go both ways, Eve.” His smiled faded. “But maybe I’m asking too much. This is hard for you, isn’t it? Sometimes I think you’re tough as nails, then you surprise me.” He reached out and touched the soft hair at her temple. “How many guys have you made out with, Eve?”

His fingers were warm against the sensitive skin of her temple and were causing her pulse to leap as if to reach out to that touch.

He muttered a curse. “Dammit to hell.”

She could feel the heat rise to her face. “I don’t want to talk about this. It makes me feel … It’s none of your business.” She moved her head so that he was no longer touching her. She jumped to her feet. “I’m going to go back to the development and ring some doorbells.”

“I’ve got wheels. I’ll take you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to go with you. I don’t want this. It’s not a good idea.”

He rose slowly to his feet. “Maybe not. Probably not. But I’m not going to stop. I need it too much. I told you I wasn’t a good guy.” His eyes were suddenly glittering recklessly. “What the hell. If I wasn’t the first, someone else would be. I don’t know what’s happened to me, but I’m going to go on until we’re both drunk and dizzy with each other.”

Drunk and dizzy. Eve felt that way already, and it was scaring her. “You listen to me,” she said fiercely. “You’ve been telling me all the things you want to do with your life. That’s fine, go do them. I’m not going to be a play toy for anyone. You think I don’t want to get out of the slums and make something of myself? I’ve worked at all kinds of jobs since I was twelve years old, and nothing is going to keep me down.” She started down the hall toward the bank of elevators. “Not my mother, not you, not anyone.”

“I wouldn’t keep you down. I’d help you fly, Eve.” He held her gaze as he added softly as she got on the elevator, “We’d both fly. It might not be for long, but how we’d soar.”

He was the last thing she saw as the elevator doors closed.

He stood with legs slightly parted, worn, faded jeans hugging his muscular thighs. He was tall, strong, but there was nothing bulky about that strength. He looked graceful, yet … tight. Sensual and wired and completely in tune with his body. Like a powerful machine, tensed and ready to move.

Ready to perform.

And heat was tingling through her as she stared at him. She wanted the door to close and block out the sight of him.

Yet when it did, she felt as if he was still with her. She didn’t want to feel like this. It bewildered her. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t familiar with sex. Sex was everywhere. She had seen sex on street corners, on the landings of the development, heard the sounds in the next room when Sandra brought home one of her men. Sex was what had drawn all those boys to Rosa and given her a child to raise. But it had never affected Eve. She hadn’t understood it.

She understood it now. It had a name.

John Gallo.

CHAPTER

3

“I DIDN’T SEE NOTHIN’.”
Mrs. Smythe scowled. “I told the cops. Leave me alone.” She slammed the door in Eve’s face.

Eve drew a deep breath. It was the ninth door that she’d knocked on. Two of the occupants had been too stoned to even understand what she was talking about. The others had been either indifferent or clearly afraid. All of them were very annoyed to be disturbed in the middle of the night.

Too bad. If she’d waited for morning, the hospital might have already made a decision to turn the baby over to DEFACS. She had to get Manuel away from them right away.

She turned away. Don’t get discouraged. She still had other doors to try, other people to try to persuade. All it would take was one person, one witness, and Rosa would be safe.

“Eve!”

She turned to see Rosa running up the stairs. Her face was glowing and she was carrying a sleeping Manuel in her arms.

“They let you take him?” Eve smiled jubilantly. “That’s wonderful. Did your papa convince them what a great mom you are?”

She shook her head. “He signed the release papers and left.” She was stroking the baby’s silky hair as she balanced him against her shoulder. “But I prayed and prayed, and God must have heard me.”

“Those doctors changed their minds?”

“They had to do it when the police called them.” Her brown eyes were dancing with happiness. “They couldn’t keep my baby.”

“Police?” She shook her head. “Slowly, Rosa. Why did the police call the hospital?”

“Because God answered my prayer.”

“How?”

“Rick Larazo went into the Third Street Police Station and told them that he was the one who threw my baby on the ground.”

“What?” Eve shook her head. “No way, Rosa. He wouldn’t have done that in a million years.”

“I know,” she said simply. “That’s why it had to be God who made him do it.”

“I don’t want to shake your faith in God, but I think there has to be some other explanation. I don’t think he would bother to deal—”

“But you can’t give me any other reason.” Her smile was brilliant. “God must just love my Manuel and knew he’d be happy with me.”

Give up. It was as good a reason as any other that she could think of, and it was making Rosa happy. “Who wouldn’t love your baby?” she asked gently. “I’m glad he decided to intercede.” Her tone hardened. “And I hope he used his influence to throw Rick Larazo into the hoosegow for the next twenty years.”

Rosa giggled and started up the next flight of stairs to her apartment. “I’ll pray, Eve. Maybe it will happen. He’s listening to me right now.”

As she heard Rosa’s door close behind her, Eve sank down on the bottom step. Lord, she was tired, and she had only a few hours before she had to shower and get ready for school.

It had been a strange and terrible night. But the ending had not been as bad as the beginning. Rosa would be able to keep her Manuel, and if God continued to be good to her, then maybe she’d soften her father’s heart enough to accept the little boy.

He answered my prayers.

Maybe he had, but by what means? Rick Larazo was an addict, and he’d been wild tonight. Even if he’d come down off whatever he was on, he wouldn’t have waltzed into a police station to confess. He would have known that they’d book him. Being locked away from drugs was a nightmare he wouldn’t have risked. He would have had to have been more afraid of what was outside than what awaited him inside that jail. What would that be?

I’m not a good guy.

I’d do whatever I had to do to survive and get what I want.

You really want to help her, don’t you?

John Gallo?

He had handled Larazo as if he were nothing, and it had taken him no time at all to knock him unconscious.

How long would it have taken, what terrible punishment would he have handed out, to force Larazo to actually go into that police station and confess?

And would he have done it if she hadn’t said that she wanted to help Rosa any way she could?

If not, then his act bound her to him in a dark, breathless intimacy.

It was all guesswork. John Gallo might not have been involved at all.

She got to her feet and started up the flights of stairs. She’d probably be able to go straight to bed. She doubted if Sandra would be home. She spent the nights with “friends” most of the time. She only showed up at the apartment once or twice a week.

No, she couldn’t go to bed yet. She hadn’t done her geometry. It seemed forever ago that she’d tossed that book in her book bag and taken off from the apartment. She’d have to do her homework before she could go to sleep.

Just as well. She was still wide-awake. She didn’t want to lie awake in her bed. She wouldn’t mind if she lay there and thought about Rosa and the baby.

But that wasn’t what she’d be thinking about. She’d be remembering how she’d felt when John Gallo had touched her.

And she’d be remembering that last glimpse of him before the elevator closed …

*   *   *

IT WAS FIVE TO ELEVEN THE
next evening when John Gallo walked into Mac’s Diner, where she worked.

“Hi.” He stood at the counter. “You get off in five minutes, don’t you?”

She tensed, then tried to say casually, “Fifteen, I have to do the setup for tomorrow.” She wiped the counter with her cloth. “What are you doing here?”

“It looks like rain. I thought I’d take you home.”

She shook her head. “I can take the bus.”

“I know what you can do.” He smiled. “And I know what I want you to do. But what are you going to do, Eve? Why should you take a bus when we’re both going to the same place?”

Because she didn’t know if she wanted to get in a car with him. Just standing here a few feet away, she was too physically aware of him. “I’m not sugar. I won’t melt in a little rain.”

He chuckled. “No, you’re not sugar sweet. That’s what I like about you. You strike sparks. I can’t forget how you tackled Larazo.” His smile faded. “But you should have had a weapon. You weren’t strong enough to handle him.”

“Maybe I should ask your uncle to give me lessons.”

“That’s a thought. Or maybe I can teach you.” Then he shook his head. “No, lots of body contact. It wouldn’t work. I’d forget what I was doing.”

And so might she. Why did every reference come back to the physical? No, she shouldn’t let him take her home.

He was studying her face. “Take a chance. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do. We’ll talk.” He thought about it. “Maybe.” Then he grinned. “It’s hard to be honest when I’m trying my best to convince you I’m no threat.”

He couldn’t convince her. He was a threat to her. No, it was her own emotions that were the threat.

“You have to leave. I have to finish my shift.”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “I’ll wait for you outside. I’m parked across the street. Old beat-up tan Chevy. It’s not pretty, but it’s transportation.” He didn’t wait for her to answer as he strode toward the door. “And it will keep the rain off you.”

He was gone before she could reply.

She stared after him, her hand clenched on the cloth.

“Who is
that
?” Teresa Maddel had come out of the kitchen and was standing, gazing out the window at John Gallo as he ran across the street. “Hot, very hot, Eve.” She made a mocking gesture of fanning herself. “I don’t think you can handle him. You should leave him to me.”

Eve didn’t think she could handle him, either. Just those few minutes had made her feel uncertain.

“His name is John Gallo.” She began to fill up the saltshaker. “And you’re welcome to him.”

“I’ll take him.” Teresa was only half-kidding. “You don’t run across sexy guys like that every day of the week. Introduce me the next time he comes in.” She wandered back toward the kitchen. “And I’ll do the rest.”

Yes, Teresa would give him anything he wanted and ask for more. She was almost twenty, and some of the stories she told Eve were very graphic. Eve had a mental image of a naked Teresa moving beneath him and Gallo driving hard, fast, and—

Only the naked girl had suddenly become Eve, not Teresa. And the muscles of her stomach were tensing as he entered her and—

Don’t think of it.

Ready to perform.

She had thought that about John Gallo at the hospital. Tight, sensual, ready to perform.

She had spilled the salt. Her hand was shaking.

Stupid. She wasn’t this weak. It was only a crazy physical yen. She should be able to control it.

But Teresa had evidently experienced that same reaction and she was not going to control it. Maybe she had the right idea. Take any pleasure that came your way.

But she wasn’t like Teresa. She knew that sex had consequences that eventually caught up with you. Look at her mother, look at Rosa. She wouldn’t be caught in that trap.

She wasn’t that weak.

*   *   *

IT HAD STARTED TO RAIN
when she left the restaurant.

The tan Chevy was parked across the street.

She stopped, staring at it.

John Gallo got out of the car and stood in the rain, holding the passenger door open for her. “Come on. Hurry.”

The rain was pouring down his face, and his shirt was already starting to cling to his body. He didn’t look as if he even felt it.

He smiled and repeated softly, “Hurry. I can’t wait.”

Neither could she. She was running across the street. “You’re an idiot.” She jumped into the car. “Look at you. You’re drenched.” She leaned back in the seat. “Now get in the car and drive me home.”

“Not such an idiot.” He was in the driver’s seat and starting the car. “I needed something to help you make up your mind.” He slanted a glance at her. “And I don’t melt either, Eve. At least not in the rain.”

“I should have left you standing there in the downpour,” Eve said. “And I will next time. Or I’ll send out Teresa, one of the girls I work with. She wants to meet you.”

“Not interested.” He smiled. “And you wouldn’t leave me out in the rain.”

“Why not?”

“I might rust. I’m going to be too valuable to you for you to take the chance. You’re going to like the way I move.”

“Stop it.” She drew a deep breath. “You said we could talk. This isn’t talk. This is some kind of game I don’t know how to play.”

“I know how to play it. And it’s all I can think about.” He stared straight ahead, watching the windshield wipers brush away the rain. “Okay. Talk. How is Manuel?”

“Fine. It’s as if last night never happened.” She paused. “What did you do to Rick Larazo?”

“Who said I did anything?”

“What did you do?”

He didn’t answer for a moment. “You don’t want to know. It took a little persuasion to make him see that confession was good for the soul.”

“Why did you do it?”

“It was easier for me to remove Rosa’s problem than it was for you to do it.” He paused. “And you told me you wanted it.”

“As if that would make a difference.”

“It made a difference. I wanted to please you.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? Because I wanted you to please me. I thought there might be a return on the investment.”

“You thought I’d screw you if you did that for Rosa?”

He sighed. “If you want to put it bluntly.”

“I do. I hate people who beat around the bush. And I didn’t tell you to go after Larazo.” She added grudgingly, “Though I might have done it if I’d thought it would work. He deserved to be punished.”

“Oh, he was.”

“But I wouldn’t screw you as some kind of reward. That would be nuts.”

“It wouldn’t if it turned out to be a mutual reward. I was just hoping to sway you a little in my direction.” He lifted his brow. “Are you swayed?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll have to keep on trying.” They had reached the housing development, and he pulled the car over to the curb across the street from the project. “I’ve only just begun.”

The rain was pounding on the roof of the car and enveloping them in a rhythmic sound that had its own intimacy.

Intimacy. That was what Eve had been trying to avoid, and all of a sudden it was there, surrounding her.

“Thanks for the lift.” She reached for the handle of the door. “Good night.”

“It’s still pouring. Stay a minute until it lets up.”

“I have to get to bed. I have school tomorrow.”

“No mother waiting anxiously for her little girl?”

“No.”

“You were all bent out of shape when I mentioned drugs. You took it personally. Is she the user?”

She didn’t answer directly. “I hate what they do to you.”

He nodded. “She’s the user. I don’t like them, either. My uncle was on prescription drugs for a while, and it turned him into another person. Does she make it rough on you?”