Chapter Seventy-nine Estera Roberts’ POV (Present Time)

I still couldn’t believe he was here — right here in my house with my children, or should I say our children? My eyes followed him as he paced back and forth speaking to someone on the phone. And by the sound of it, it appeared the person on the other end was a lawyer. I am still in shock at the possibility of Antony Dallas finding out my mother knew about him and his daughter and had gone ahead to get rid of both her and my father. Who knew if he had intended to wipe out the entire family? That would have been the case if I was also in that car.
Perhaps he had figured I was too young to know anything, and that my mother didn’t keep proof. I doubted my mother mentioned the recordings. Maybe those were her own insurance against lawsuits or something equally threatening or perhaps it had been for the girls in case they ever decided to report their abusers and she was called to testify.
Whatever her reason or reasons were, I doubt she informed Mary Antoinette. Otherwise, I would definitely not be left alive and my childhood home would have been invaded and thoroughly searched for the evidences so they could get rid of them.
The very thought that my parents' killers had been so close to me all these years scared me. I supposed I should be glad Edward Sterling hadn’t decided to invite Antony to my crucifixion. I doubt he would have wanted me alive, especially if he had been able to connect the dot and link me to my parents. I was vulnerable then and even more so now with Ro, and Adrian. I wrapped my arms around myself, terrified at the thought of anyone hurting my kids.
My eyes settled on Evan again, something he said pricked my ears.
“How many of your men can you loan me? I need well trained men here and now,” he said and I knew then he was talking about protection for me and the boys. I felt a bit relieved. He’d said it before, I suppose he meant it when he said whoever wanted to hurt me now would have to go through him. I took a calming breath, accepting that this time, I was not alone.
“Roberts?” Cole called making me direct my eyes to him. I automatically smiled at him. He looked tired and I felt terrible for dragging him into my troubles.
Cole Foster might not be the love of my life, but he was someone I could easily see myself spending a lifetime with, that is, if I never met Evan. And the disheartening thing was Cole knew it too which made it extra hard to let go. But now with Evan physically here, and evidently laying claim to me and his children, I could only imagine what Cole must be feeling. It’s been exactly two month since we returned from Colombia when I had to tell him the entire truth about my encounter with the Sterlings -- eight weeks since we decided to try and keep our relationship platonic until I was able to gear up the courage to approach Evan. But like before, I never did get the courage. I suppose the universe was sick of me being a chicken shit and brought him right back to me.
Cole gestured to me to meet him at the front door and I followed as he exited the door.
“It’s late, Cole, don’t tell me you want to leave. You can stay here, you know we have room—” I said in a gentle tone. He let out a bust of short laughter, framing my face he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“I think if I do that the neighbors would have to get the police to restrain your man,” he replied.
“Evan? Come on, I will talk to him … ”
“Trust me, it's best I go. Looks like he is going to be a while on that phone. Antony Dallas would not know what hit him.”
“He is pretty fierce with protecting us, huh?”
“That is the way it should be—”
“I am so sorry about this whole thing, springing him on you like this—”
“Roberts … I think I should better let you know that I knew he would come. I made sure of it—” Cole said, holding my gaze. My eyes darted in their sockets as I returned his silent scrutiny. Did he say he made sure of it? He must have seen the confusion on my face because he added, “I let him know where he could find us. I sent a copy of that Medical magazine to him so he would know.”
“What? Why?” I asked, wondering why he would do that if he truly wanted to be with me.
“I am not going to lie. I figured if he knew for certain where to find you and couldn’t be bothered then … then we can have a lawyer contact him about a divorce—”
“Cole, but—” It was on the tip of my tongue to revolt at the very thought of it, to let him know I would never ask Evan for a divorce then paused and almost bit my tongue, thinking of how insensitive that would appear. He saved me from the blunder when he raised a hand to silence me, urging me to listen to him.
“But I knew the man in that story you told me would not willingly let you go. I was prepared for this— shit, let me rephrase that, I thought I was prepared for this, but clearly I was grabbing at straws. I knew he would come. I can not say that I am not disappointed, but I am also happy for you. Because I know you love him. I contacted him because I know you love him.”
“I love you too, Cole—” I whispered, giving him an earnest gaze.
“I know you do, Roberts, but what we have is different from what you had and still have with him. I have seen you two together. There is this fire between you that we don’t have. I decided to accord myself a little intelligence and not fool myself into thinking you might forget him. You two never even scratched the surface of the love you feel for each other and that is not good baggage to carry into another relationship. I know I told you I didn’t want to be the guy who holds the fort for the main guy. But I suppose that is all I can be with you for now,” he said and framed my face. “If that fire between the two of you ever dies, you should know that I will always be waiting…”
“Cole—”
“Don’t worry, Roberts, I will always be here for you and the boys. And if there is anything I can do to help Evan Sterling keep you three safe, I will gladly help,” he said, pressed his lips to my forehead and stepped back. He flashed me a warm but sad smile and hurried down the porch stairs.
I wrapped my arms around myself, watching him walk to his Jeep.
The door to the house came open and Evan stepped out. My heart lunged in the wall of my chest at the sight of him, resisting the urge to pinch myself just to be certain I wasn’t in some bizarre dream and would wake up to find Evan gone and had to admit it was some cruel illusion kindled by my lonely heart.
He gave me a mysterious gaze and then directed his eyes to Cole. When he made as if he was going to go after Cole, I reached for his forearm, making him revert his gaze to me. I shook my head, silently pleading for him to let him go. Evan searched my gaze for about a minute, I have no idea what he was hoping to find or saw. He then gave me a warm smile, patted the back of my hand and hurried down the stairs. I watch with my heart in my throat as Evan walked up to Cole. The other man stopped by the driver's side of his Jeep when he saw Evan approaching and I didn’t miss the apprehensive glance he threw my way.
With Evan standing in front of Cole directly under the garden light, I couldn’t help but compare the two men. Cole had a tan skin tone with Chris Evans’ build, the American actor, who played Steve Rogers in Captain America. Evan was taller with broader shoulders like Can Yaman, the Turkish actor who played Can Divit in the Turkish television series Erkenci Kus (Early Bird) and with honey skin tone.
They both looked beautiful. Two intelligent men, the alpha males of their world, right here on my porch, trying to lay claim to me.
My heart was running a mile per second as I waited in suspense for what Evan would do. And was seriously amazed when I saw him hold out a hand to Cole in form of a handshake. I saw a smile stretched out Cole’s lips. He took Evan’s hand and shook it. I could be wrong but reading his lips, I think he said thank you. I let out a shaky breath when he directed his gaze at me, raised his hand to wave and entered his car as Evan walked back to join me.
“What was that about?” I asked, searching his gaze.
“Drawing my enemies close,” he rasped. I couldn't help smiling up into his face.
“What did you tell him?” I asked as he drew me against his side and shepherd me inside the house.
“I told him he is welcome to come over to see the boys and you of course anytime he like. But then he has to accept am not sharing you,” he replied and I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face hard to his massive pectorals. He drew back a little to cup my chin.
“I am not sharing you, Estera,” he repeated in a husky, fervent voice that pulled at my heartstrings. His deep blue eyes were quite intense. My eyes welled with tears.
“I am yours, Evan, now and always—” I whispered with tears streaming down my face. He lowered his face to press a kiss to my hair, wrapping me up in a hug. I felt my legs suspended in the air.
“Good, we are on the same page then,” he muttered.