Julian was pacing back and forth across the floor in Eve’s room as he thought about the recent events surrounding Devin’s background and his father Alistair’s involvement. Knowing that Alistair was in some way a part of Devin’s life scared Julian as he continued pacing back and forth. He now knew that there was no way to keep Eve in the dark about this, she had a right to know about Devin’s connections with Alistair. He then stopped pacing and walked over to the side of her bed to watch her sleep. The way she looked when she slept made Julian grin a little. She looked so peaceful, so relaxed and less troubled when she was like this. He slowly bent down and kissed her on her temple, before gathering up his things and heading towards his room.

The next morning, Eve was up bright and early getting ready to go to work. After she abruptly ended her morning talk with Devin yesterday... because of the site Pierce, she went back home, undressed and cried herself to sleep in the arms of Julian. The situation with Pierce was getting out of hand. No matter where she went or where she turned, she always felt that he was watching her…just waiting to make his move and that scared far worse than it did when she was younger. Looking over her appearance in the mirror once more, she turned around and headed out the door. Just as she was heading down the stairs, Julian came rushing up towards her.

“Eve!” Julian shouted.

“Julian, what’s the matter?” Eve said.

“You won’t believe this… come with me.” Julian said not waiting for her to reply as he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her down the stairs with him towards the living room.

“What’s going on?!” Eve said, confusion evident on her face.

“I was listening to the radio earlier, and I heard that there had been another homicide last night.”

“Are you serious?”

“Eve…” Julian said then hesitated as he stared at her.

“Julian, why are you looking at me like that? You’re scaring me.”

“I’m just trying to figure out how to tell you this.”

“Just say it.” Eve urged.

“P-Pierce was the one who was murdered last night.”

“Oh my god...” Eve said as her legs gave way and she fell onto the couch. “How?”

“He was found in an apartment tied up to a chair and blindfolded. And there’s more Eve.” Julian said as he sat down next to her on the couch.

“More?”

Julian nodded.

“The person who apparently killed him is someone you know…someone that you’ve recently become very close to.”

Eve looked up at Julian and tried to figure out who he was talking about. It took her a few minutes to realize what he was trying to say and she didn’t like it.

“No… Oh no… No.” Eve said shaking her head as she stood up on wobbling legs and moved away from Julian.

“Eve I’m sorry.” Julian said as he got up and went to reach for her, but she moved farther out of his way.

“Julian, please tell me that it’s not true.” Eve pleaded to Julian as tears started falling from her eyes.

“Pierce was found in Devin’s apartment, beaten, tied to a chair, blindfolded and shot in the head. Eve… Devin is dangerous and I will not have him coming for you. I won’t.” Julian said in a serious voice.

“That can’t be true! Devin didn’t even know Pierce. So he couldn’t have killed him. I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.” Eve said still shaking her head.

“Eve…”

“You don’t know him like I do Julian. Devin isn’t a monster! He’s a kind, caring young man. He’s no murderer.” Eve said then turned around and started walking out of the living room.

“Damn it Eve!” Julian shouted. He hurried up towards her, grabbed her by her left arm and spun her around to face him. The moment Eve’s fiery eyes met his, he knew he had made a mistake. Eve’s hand suddenly came out of nowhere as the palm of her hand connected with the side of his face. Julian was stunned to say the least, but he wasn’t about to let her leave at all. So he grabbed her this time by both of her arms and pulled her close to his body.

“Eve, the boy is dangerous and I can prove it!” Julian said to her as Eve struggled to get out of his grip.

“I know him Julian… He wouldn’t do something like this. You’re wrong and the radio is wrong. Now let me go!” Eve shouted.

“No! I will not let you go!” Julian yelled back at her. “He is dangerous Eve! Devin’s father had been getting checks from Alistair for years Eve, years! That boy is connected to my father and I don’t like it.”

“But Julian…” Eve whispered as she stopped her struggling and more tears fell down her face. Julian’s face softened a bit as he loosened his grip on her arms.

“Eve, I know you care for this boy, but I care more about your safety. He killed Pierce Eve. And just because I hated Pierce, he didn’t deserve to be murdered like that in cold blood…no one does. Devin is connected to my father and I’ll damned if any thing happens to you because of him. I can’t lose you Eve, I just can’t.” Julian said as he bent down and captured her lips with his.

Devin’s picture was all over the morning news, and on the front cover of all the newspapers in Harmony. He sighed then stumbled over the side of the nearest building. He was in deep trouble now. He didn’t have anyone to turn too, except his mother. Slumping against the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut as the pain that was causing severe discomfort in his shoulder intensified. He couldn’t go the hospital to get it checked out and he didn’t have anywhere go.

{Flashback}

Right after he stumbled out of his apartment last night, Devin wondered around the streets for a while. He was dizzy and nauseous, but he couldn’t let that stopped him, he needed to find a place to hide for a while. He continued walking for a bit until he came across a rundown house. He walked slowly up to the porch and then to the door as he pushed it open with what little strength he had left. He looked around for a bit, then suddenly his eyes became heavy, he lost his balance and soon after came crashing down face first onto the floor.

{end of flashback}

After leaning against the side of the building for what seemed like ten minutes, Devin stood up straight and began walking around again. Before he even realized it, he was standing across the street from the Crane mansion. It was a surprise to see that no one saw a young man with bloodstained clothing walking alongside the road. He looked up a bit when he felt a drop of water come into contact with his face. Without warning, it started raining hard and he needed somewhere to go. He was looking to his left for a spot to take cover when he heard the sound of a car just pulling out of the driveway to the Crane mansion.

Julian had just pulled out of the driveway and onto the road when the site before him caused him to hit the breaks hard. He really couldn’t make out the person’s face because it was raining so hard, but he could clearly see that the person appeared to have a lot of blood on his clothing and was walking kind of weird. He couldn’t just leave this person outside in the rain in the condition they were in, so he got out the car and called out to them.

“Excuse me, are you alright?!” Julian said out loud as the rain soaked his clothes. When the person didn’t reply, Julian walked a little closer. “I said are you alright?!”

Devin watched Julian as he called out to him as the rain continued to come down hard. He really didn’t know what to do, but then he thought about all that had happened since last week and recently. He found out that Julian Crane was his biological father, that he was forced to leave his mother while she pregnant and that he had didn’t know the real truth.

‘This may be my one chance to tell him everything… my one chance to ask him for help.’ Devin thought as he stumbled towards Julian.

Julian saw that the person was walking towards him and went to go help, but stopped in his tracks when he saw who it was.

“It’s you!” Julian said.

“Julian… you gotta help me…please.” Devin said before dropping down to his knees.

“The police are looking for you Devin.”

“I know that.”

“I’m not letting you nowhere near Eve.” Julian said seriously.

“You can’t keep her from me!” Devin cried out.

“What did you say?!” Julian spat venomously as he approached Devin cautiously.

“You can’t keep her from me!”

“Just watch me. I’m calling the police.” Julian said as he turned around and started walking back to his car while pulling his cell phone out of his pant’s pocket.

“You can’t do that! I won’t let you keep me from my mother!” Devin shouted.

Julian stopped dead in his tracks and dropped his phone. He slowly turned around and had this crazy look on his face as he stared at Devin.

“What did you call Eve?” Julian asked as his breath suddenly hitched in his throat.

“She’s my mother.” Devin whispered while looking Julian in the eyes as he started feeling dizzy.

Julian was taken back. Devin stared into Julian’s eyes for a moment longer before speaking again.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know…everything. Just please…help me…father…” Devin said before passing out in the middle of the road leaving a shocked Julian behind.