Elle James - Full Force

As they pulled up in front of the three-story mansion with its many gables and arches, several men descended the marble staircase from the front door. Three women followed, one of whom Emily recognized as Grace. And the other, her friend Riley. The front porch lights shone down on the third woman’s gray hair. That had to be Charlotte Halverson. Emily had seen pictures of her in the news and in the papers.

Mustang pulled to a stop and shifted into Park. Before he could get out and around to the other side of the truck, the door opened and Declan held out his hand for her.

Emily pushed the blanket off her lap and accepted the assistance to get down from the truck.

Grace, the first woman to reach her, wrapped her in her arms. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

“I’m okay. Mustang got there in time.” Emily briefly hugged her back and then pulled away. “Sorry. I’m soaked and I’m sure I smell.”

Grace’s brow furrowed as she held Emily at arm’s length and raked her gaze over her from head to toe. “What happened?”

“We’ll fill you all in when Emily’s had a chance to get out of those damp clothes,” Mustang said.

“Right.” Grace hooked Emily’s arm. “We’ll find you something to wear. I have enough clothes here, I might as well move in permanently.”

The gray-haired woman stepped forward. “I’ve left an open invitation for you and Declan to take the west wing.”

Grace smiled at her employer. “Charlie, this is my friend, Emily. Emily, meet Charlotte Halverson, my new boss.”

Emily held out her hand. “Nice to m-meet y-you,” she said, her teeth rattling. “And th-thank y-you.”

“Oh, pish.” Charlie took Emily’s hand and frowned. “Your hands are like ice. Inside. Now.” She grabbed Emily’s other elbow and marched her up the steps. The door opened as if automatically.

Once inside, Emily saw a man dressed in a suit, holding the door handle, standing at attention.

“That’s Arnold, my butler,” Charlie said. “Don’t let him intimidate you. I can’t get him to wear anything but a suit.” She winked at Arnold as she passed him. “But I can’t live without him, so he gets his way more often than not. Isn’t that right, Arnold?”

“Yes, Mrs. Halverson.” Arnold gave her a slight bow.

“Charlie. I’ve told you to call me Charlie.”

Without changing his expression the butler nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Charlie shook her head and gave a wry grin to Emily. “Please, call me Charlie. Mrs. Halverson was my husband’s mother.”

Emily forced a smile past her chattering teeth. “Charlie,” she repeated softly.

“Mrs. Halverson, would you like me to escort your guest to a bedroom?” Albert asked in his flat, expressionless tone.

Charlie waved a hand. “No need. Grace and I will take her.” She charged across a smooth white-marble foyer and started up the stairs.

Feeling like she was being dragged along by a freight train, Emily looked back over her shoulder, her gaze searching for and finding Mustang’s.

“I’ll be here when you get cleaned up,” he said.

She gave him a quick smile and followed Charlie up the stairs, Grace bringing up the rear. Why she should be relieved Mustang was staying, she didn’t know. Surrounded by Grace and Charlie, Emily should feel reassured. However she’d never had a man point a gun at her, much less discharge it in an attempt to kill her.

Mustang had been the one to save her. She felt confident that if her attacker tried again to kill her, Mustang would keep him from succeeding. Knowing he was sticking around made her feel much better.

Although Emily had been in a number of posh hotels and opulent embassies, she’d never been inside a multimillionaire’s mansion. Everywhere she looked, what appeared to be priceless objects were perched on tables, in alcoves and hung on the walls. She imagined she could pay her rent for a year with even one of the vases or paintings.

Charlie turned right at the top of the staircase. “You can stay in the Banyan Room while you’re here.”

“Thank you. But as soon as I can, I’d like to return to my apartment.”

Grace grabbed Emily’s arm. “Sweetie, you can’t go back to your apartment as long as that maniac is still out there.”

Charlie nodded. “Agreed. And I have plenty of empty rooms. You’ll stay here.” Her tone didn’t allow for argument.

But Emily couldn’t put her life on hold. “I have a job. I work at the university. I have students to teach.”

Charlie shook her head. “Honey, you can’t teach if you’re dead.”

A lead weight settled at the pit of Emily’s belly.

“And if you show up at the university, who’s to say your attacker won’t show up, as well?” Grace added. “You would be putting your students at risk of being caught in the crossfire.”

The lead weight twisted in Emily’s gut. They were right. “But I can’t hide here forever. I have bills to pay.”

“Then we’ll have to figure out who attacked you.”

“You can’t do it on your own. I’m the only one who knows my life. I won’t stand by and let others put themselves at risk for me.”

“Then I’ll assign one of Declan’s Defenders to protect you and help you figure out who has it in for you.” Charlie crossed her arms over her chest. “In the meantime, you need a safe place to sleep. Your apartment isn’t that place. I have enough security wired into this estate, you won’t have to worry about anyone getting in.”

Emily smiled and hugged Charlie. “Thank you. If you hadn’t sent Mustang to help me, I wouldn’t even be here to have this conversation.”

“Any one of Declan’s Defenders would have done the same. But since Mustang saved your life, he now has a vested interest in keeping you alive.” Charlie waved toward the room. “While you get cleaned up, I’ll have a word with Declan about assigning Mustang to protect you.”

Warmth spread through Emily’s body, loosening the knot in her stomach. Despite her desire to get back to work, she didn’t want to put herself or her students in danger.

Charlie left Emily and Grace and headed for the staircase.

Grace chuckled. “Charlie is a force to be reckoned with.”

“Yes, she is,” Emily agreed.

“But she has a heart of gold and would do anything for you.” Grace touched Emily’s shoulder, guiding her to the other side of the bedroom where a door led to an attached bathroom. “While you get a shower, I’ll gather some of my clothes.”

Tears filled Emily’s eyes. “Thank you, Grace. You saved my life.”

Grace laughed. “I didn’t save your life. Mustang did.”

“Because you had him sent to me.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more afraid in my life.”

“Honey, I know what you mean,” Grace said, her voice tight, her lips pressing together briefly. “I’ve been there.”

Emily nodded. “Yes, you were. Back when Riley went missing.”

“Declan was there when I needed him. He and his men went to bat for me, and for Riley when things got sticky for her, too. They’ll help you. And Mustang’s a good man. He’ll take care of you.”

“I want to say I don’t need anyone to take care of me but...” A shiver shook her wet frame. “Apparently I do. I’ve never had a man shoot at me or hold a gun to my head.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Grace pulled Emily’s bedraggled form into her arms. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Hopefully the team can help figure out who did this to you and why.” She turned Emily and gave her a gentle shove in the direction of the bathroom. “For now, get cleaned up and warm. Everything will look better once you are.”

“Thank you, Grace.” Emily entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her, leaning against it to keep from falling. Another shiver shook her, and another, until her entire body quaked with the tremors. She knew it was shock setting in. If she didn’t get into a warm shower soon, she didn’t know what would happen. She could pass out or die from hypothermia. After Mustang went to the effort of saving her, that would be a crappy way to repay him.