A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you are enjoying this one.

Chapter 11

Jason put his beer down and stretched. It had been a really long day and he was glad to finally get a chance to relax. Looking at his watch, he realized it was almost time to call Evangeline and he slightly smiled, right before his door flew open. Her face is contorted and he knows something is very wrong, so he swallowed her up in his arms without question. "What's going on?"

Johnny shrugged. "I don't know much, just that she got a call from the guy from the docks."

He moved to the couch. "I need to know everything. Are you okay?"

She nodded, relieved to be in the safety of his arm. "I got a call, asking how was my swim."

His gaze swung to Johnny.

"He said that we went far back and had spent time together. He's enjoying the game and that is probably what scares me the most. I just can't think of who it could be."

"Could it be an ex?"

"I don't think so. I never dated any psychos."

"I need a list."

Her brow rose. "Of all my boyfriends?"

"Yes, and friends from when you were younger."

"I'll work on it."

Johnny stood. "I'll have Stan go over it and see if he can hunt them down."

"Thanks."

After Johnny left, Jason took a good look at Eva who is spooked. "What can I do?"

"I just need to feel safe."

He is glad she had chosen him. "I will do everything I can stop him."

"I know."

"You'll have to tell your dad?"

She nodded. "Not tonight. Can I just sit here with you for a while?"

"Of course."

He pulled her onto his lap and they got comfortable. Initially, anger flowed through him because someone was messing with her like this and then that was replaced with fear. What if he couldn't protect her?

She felt him tense and met his gaze. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"That's a lot of nothing."

"I just—I'm scared that he'll get to you again."

Her eyes are sad, but she tries not to cry. "You can't be everywhere. If he wants to get to me, he will."

"Don't say that." He knew it was true, but he didn't want to hear it.

"I don't want to lie to myself. I mean, I trust that you will do your best, but we both know how these things go." There had been a few times where people had come after her family in the past.

He is silent for a long time as one bad scenario after another filter through his mind.

"I guess this weekend is off?"

"It's probably safer to postpone it."

She watched him curiously, wondering what his plan had been. "Okay."

"Stay with me tonight. Please."

She nodded and settled against his chest. Before long, she had fallen asleep and he carefully stood and carried her up to his room and when he laid her on his bed, her eyes shot open as she panicked.

"It's okay. You fell asleep."

She sighed. "Do you have something I can sleep in?"

He nodded and got a t-shirt from his drawer and handed it to her. "Will this do?"

"Thanks."

After she disappeared into the bathroom, he quickly changed into some sweatpants and got under the covers.

She opened the door and he sucked in his breath at the vision of her in his shirt and then she turned out the light and crawled in next to him, snuggling against him.

"Your feet are cold."

She moved. "Does that bother you?"

"No. I don't feel cold like everyone else."

She moved them back and pressed them against his leg, trying to suck his heat. "Thanks."

He smiled and rubbed her arm and then kissed the top of her head. "Rest."

A few minutes later, he heard her breathing even out and smiled. It just felt right having her in his bed.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next morning, Lisa panicked when Eva wasn't in her room.

Layla ran out into the hallway. "What's wrong?"

"Your sister isn't here."

Layla smirked and her mom shot her a look. "I'll call Johnny." His tired voice finally answered on the fourth ring. "Hello?"

"Hey. Evangeline didn't come home and I was wondering…"

"She's with Jason. She had a scare last night."

"What happened?"

"I think she wanted to tell you."

"Thanks."

Her mother waited for an explanation and when she got it, she is scared. There is always a risk that her family could get hurt and they had come very close to tragedy in the past. "We're going to Jason's," she announced, leaving Layla to scurry to get dressed. She needs to make sure that her daughter is okay.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The pounding on the door made Evangeline jump into a sitting position.

"I'll take care of it," Jason said sliding out of the bed. It had better be an emergency, or the person on the other side of the door is dead.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair as he moved down the stairs in his bare feet. The pounding continued, so he quickly closed the distance and jerked the door open.

"Where is she?" Lisa asked, moving past him.

Layla gave him an apologetic look and then smirked at his bed head.

"She's upstairs."

"What happened?"

Eva appeared, wrapped in a blanket and her mother hugged her tightly before pulling back.

"Why didn't you call?"

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking and figured my guard would let you know."

Lisa led her to the couch as Jason stood frozen where he was.

"I was at my office and got a call from the man who grabbed me."

"Evangeline! You should have come home."

"I—I needed to feel safe."

Her eyes traveled until she met Jason's stare.

Lisa sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you're a grown woman. I just worry about you." She is surprised that her daughter apparently was way more comfortable with Jason than she realized.

"Can—can I get you anything?" he asked.

Lisa shook her head. "No. I'm glad you were here for her."

There is pounding again and Layla opened the door to find her father on the other side. He had already spoken to the guard and knew what was going on.

Seeing the state Jason is in and then glancing at his daughter, he motions for Jason to follow him outside.

"How long have you been sleeping with my daughter?"

Jason groaned. "It's not what you think. She just needed to feel safe." Then Jason's shoulders went back and he gave Clarence a look of disbelief. "We're getting married soon. What exactly did you expect would happen?"

Clarence made a noise and started to pace, muttering under his breath. Part of him wanted to deck Jason for being smug and the other wanted to hug him for being there for her. Suddenly, he paused. "How are we going to protect her?"

"Either she's moving here or I'm moving back in."

The older man's eyebrow rose and before he could utter another word, Lisa appeared.

"I thought I'd rescue you before Evangeline went into the kitchen and got a weapon."

She appeared behind her mom. "Is everything okay out here?"

"No, it's not okay. Is he taking advantage of you?"

Her mouth dropped open and she purposely dropped the blanket, making Layla snicker behind her. "No. He was a perfect gentleman." Grabbing Jason's hand, she pulled him into the apartment. "We'll call you later."

Layla grinned. "Nice outfit," she said before picking up the blanket and throwing it at her sister. "I'll give you the gossip later." She disappeared into the hallway as Eva groaned.

"Sometimes he just drives me crazy. He's the one that pushed us together in the first place."

Jason started to laugh.

"What?"

"It's just—he was defending your honor."

"Just what did you say that made him so horrified before I walked up?"

"I told him that either you were moving in here with me or I was moving back in."

She chuckled. "You really don't value your life, do you?"

"He won't hurt me because Lila would kick his ass."

"True." She led him to the couch and he stretched out and she slipped in between his legs and laid on his chest. "You really want to stay with me?"

"I would feel better if you were near me."

"And I would definitely sleep better."

"Do you feel more comfortable there?"

"We just moved, so it doesn't matter to me." They would definitely have more privacy at the penthouse.

"I could work from here and we can get another desk for you.

She sighed. "Alright, you can have someone take me home and I'll get my things."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

There was another knock and Jason groaned. "Let's pretend that we didn't hear it."

She chuckled.

"Jason!" Sonny yelled.

"Shit."

The door opened and he and Skye walked in as Jason pulled the covers over them.

"We're not interrupting, are we?" she asked as she sat across from them.

Jason's eyes narrowed and Sonny sat next to his wife.

"Clarence just called. Did you have to piss him off?"

Jason smirked.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I'm fine."

"She's moving in here until we get this resolved."

Sonny's brow rose. "Does Clarence know?"

"Sort of."

Skye grinned. "Well, you two sure know how to shake things up. Sonny didn't even need coffee this morning."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." She is happy that the couple seems very close.

"Jason, I need to meet with you. We have to discuss coverage and everything else."

"I'm taking her back to her house and then we'll come back here and I'll call you."

Sonny started to object, but his wife touched his arm.

"I'll be working from home for the most part. I'm not leaving her."

Eva clenched her jaw to keep from smiling, but Skye caught the look in her eyes and grinned.

"Can I talk to you out in the hallway?"

Jason sighed. "Fine."

Stealthily, he pulled out from under her and she wrapped herself in the blanket and sat up. Once the men were out of earshot, Skye spoke.

"So, you looked cozy."

Eva blushed. "Yeah."

"I'm glad that you two are getting along better."

"We're good. We haven't—"

Skye held up her hand. "You don't have to explain and I won't pry. You both look happy and that is enough for me."

"Is Sonny really mad?"

"He'll get over it."

The baby moved and Skye grabbed her stomach.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. The movement is hard to get used to."

"I can't even imagine."

"I won't trade the experience for anything though. Maybe someday, you'll know what I mean."

The door swung open.

"Is my husband ready to go?"

Jason nodded and as she passed him he said, "Good luck with that."

She smirked. "I know how to handle it."

He watched her get onto the elevator and then shut the door as Eva stood.

"I guess we should get dressed."

"I'm sorry if I caused problems for you."

She shook her head. "You didn't. I can handle my father. Is Sonny going to be okay?"

"He'll live."

They went upstairs and he showed her where the bathroom is in the guestroom and she gathered her outfit from the previous day and disappeared inside the room.

Jason smiled as he walked into his room, noticing that he had been doing that a lot lately—smiling, and it felt good. Getting the opportunity to get to know his future wife even better is one he wouldn't waste.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Evangeline threw some things into a suitcase as her sister walked into the room.

"Moving out?"

"For a while…"

Layla plopped onto the bed. "So, did you have fun last night?"

Eva rolled her eyes. "I feel like I'm having déjà vu."

"You look happy."

She stopped and looked up. "I am."

"Good. Then I won't tell you that John is—" Her voice was cut off when someone else joined them.

"Hey."

Eva swallowed hard. "Hi." She averted her eyes and continued packing and Layla refused to leave them alone when John moved closer.

"Going somewhere?"

Eva threw the top into her suitcase. "Why do you care?"

"Don't be like that."

"And just how am I supposed to be?"

He froze. While he understood why she had the tone, he just needed to see for himself that she is moving on or maybe he's just a sucker for punishment.

Jason moved behind him. "Is everything okay?"

Her eyes softened as she met his gaze. "It's fine. John was just leaving and then we can go."

"I heard about the call and I just wanted to make sure that you are okay."

"Jason is taking good care of me. You can go."

He nodded and then left and Layla took that as her cue to escape.

Roughly, she continued to slam things into her suitcase until Jason's hand stopped her and his strong arms pulled her into his chest.

She gripped the back of his shirt. "I'm fine."

"It's okay not to be."

"He just pissed me off."

"Because you're mad about the picture?"

She grimaced. "I know it's hypocritical, but it hurt. I honestly have no right to complain since I've kissed you—several times."

He pulled her chin up. "I'll never complain about that."

A soft smile graced her face. "Me either."

"I'm glad we're on the same wavelength. Now, if you're finished abusing your clothes…"

She pushed him playfully. "I'm almost done. I just have to pack my toiletries and grab my garment bag."

He nodded. "Just load me up. I'll take them to the car."

She began to hurry so they could get back to the penthouse.

After she was done, they went back downstairs and her guard advised her that he had dropped off her laptop and a box of casework at the Towers.

"Thanks."

Clarence stepped forward and gave her a hug. "Take care of my daughter." It is hard leaving her safety to someone else, but he's going to have to do that soon anyway.

She kissed her mom and gave her sister a hug. "You guys look pathetic. It's not like I'll be far away."

"We know," Lisa said.

Jason followed her outside and they slipped into the car, both breathing a sigh of relief.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Living with Jason is interesting. He is very quiet while he works, but she, on the other hand, likes to sing from time to time or hum—even talk to herself. Not once had he complained of the distraction, so she continued just being herself.

A few times, she had to leave the room because one of the guys came over to discuss business, something she was used to in her own home, but they coexisted peacefully. He didn't seem to mind if she stole a couple of sips of his beer at night and she didn't mind that he liked touching her in some way whenever they were close together. They slept side by side, but Jason never pushed it further.

Saturday morning came before they knew it and as Jason tried but failed to concentrate on a contract he was reviewing, he really wished that he could whisk her away.

There were several knocks on the door and he quickly answered it.

Brenda threw herself into his arms as she sobbed.

From across the room, Eva's head tilted, wondering who the hell she was.