by Elle James
Footsteps sounded on the pavement behind the woman. Declan raced toward them. “Mustang? Emily?” He ground to a halt and shook his head. “An ambulance is on the way. And I called the sheriff’s department and the police department and have them looking out for a dark sedan with no license plate.”
Mustang shook his head. “The dude will be long gone before anybody gets out here.”
Declan stepped up to Emily and held out his hand. “Grace sent us. You must be Emily.”
The woman took his hand and nodded. “I’m Emily,” she said softly. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
Declan chuckled and tipped his head at Mustang. “You’ll have to thank Mustang. He’s the one who came to your rescue.”
She raised her eyebrows and shot a glance toward Mustang. “Mustang? Is that your real name or is that a call sign?”
“Call sign,” Mustang answered. “Frank Ford.” He held out his hand and she took it, giving it a firm shake before releasing it and rubbing her hand on the side of her leg.
The wailing of a siren brought all three heads up at once. Lights blinked around the corner and an ambulance came to a stop beside Mustang’s truck. The EMT crew leaped out of their rig and converged on Emily.
She held up her hands and backed away. “I’m okay,” she insisted.
Mustang touched her shoulder. “Let them look you over. Even if it doesn’t make you feel better, it will make me feel better,” he said and stepped back to let the EMT crew get to Emily.
Declan fell in beside Mustang. “Did you get a look at the guy who attacked her?”
Mustang shook his head. “No, it was dark, and the guy wore a ski mask.” He stared in the direction the dark sedan had gone. “However, the man had a Russian accent.”
Declan’s brows rose. “Russian, aye.”
Mustang shrugged. “Not that I speak Russian. But it sounded like it to me, and Emily apparently can speak Russian because she said something in Russian when I tackled her.”
Declan chuckled. “You tackled her?”
With a frown, Mustang nodded. “I had to, to stop her from running out in the road.”
Declan shook his head. “That’s no way to make a new friend.”
Mustang snorted. “I wasn’t trying to make a friend. I was trying to save her from getting run over.”
Declan clapped a hand to Mustang’s shoulder. “Well, that will make Grace happy. She was worried about Emily.”
When the EMTs brought out a stretcher, they were stopped by an emphatic, No!
Emily shrugged out of the hands of one of the technicians. “I’m okay, I’m telling you.”
“Ma’am, being in a car wreck, and having the airbags deploy, can cause concussion. We’d feel better if you came to the hospital and had one of the doctors look you over.”
Emily shook her head. “At no time was I unconscious.”
“You don’t have to be unconscious to have suffered a concussion.” The EMT gripped her arm. “Please, ma’am, let us take care of you.”
She shook off his hand and backed away. “I’m okay and I can take care of myself.” She looked around, her gaze catching Mustang’s. “If I’ve suffered any injuries, my friends will make sure that I get to a hospital on time. Won’t you?” She directed her challenge at Declan.
Declan chuckled. “We’ll get her to the nearest hospital if she starts showing any signs of deteriorating health.”
The technician shrugged. “Have it your way.” He closed his kit and loaded it into the emergency vehicle. The two other technicians who’d gotten the stretcher out put it into the back of the ambulance and eventually the three of them drove away.
Emily turned and stared at the wreckage of her car. “I don’t suppose I’m going to get that out of the ditch anytime soon,” she said.
Again Declan chuckled. “No. The only thing that’s going to get that vehicle out of the ditch is a tow truck.”
Emily sighed and turned to Declan and Mustang. “I take it you’re my ride.”
Declan nodded. “However, you do have a choice between riding with me—” he tipped his head toward Mustang “—or with Mustang.”
Emily’s eyes narrowed as she stared from Mustang to Declan and back.
Mustang found himself holding his breath. He didn’t know why, and he didn’t know the woman, but he wanted her to choose him.
Though she was soaked with the equivalent of swamp water, he had come this far to save her. He didn’t want to let it end there.
For several seconds Emily chewed on her bottom lip. Then she drew in a breath, let it go on a sigh and nodded at Mustang. “I’ll ride with Mustang,” she said softly.
“Well then, let’s get you to Charlie’s place. It’s not too far down the road. That way you can get out of those cold, wet clothes. It’s starting to get chilly outside,” Declan said.
Emily nodded, a shiver shaking her frame.
Declan grinned. “I’ll see you there.” He spun on his heels and hurried toward his truck.
When Mustang tried to steer her toward his truck, Emily dug her heels into the pavement. “I can’t leave my purse and keys in the car.” She started toward the wrecked vehicle.
“I’ll get them,” Mustang insisted. “Stay here.”
He dropped down into the ditch and found his way into the damaged vehicle. After pulling the keys from the ignition, he took longer than he wanted to find the purse. Finally, he had what he needed and returned to Emily’s side.
Mustang handed her the purse and keys, gripped her elbow and led her to the passenger side of his pickup. He opened the door to assist her into the seat.
She put her foot on the running board and it slipped, causing her to fall back into Mustang’s arms.
He held her until she had her feet firmly on the ground again. “You all right?”
She nodded. Color rose up her neck and into her cheeks. She reached this time for the handle inside the cab of the truck and helped pull herself up into the passenger seat.
Once Emily was settled, Mustang reached around her and clicked the shoulder strap of the seat belt across her lap. As he retracted his elbow, it brushed gently across her breast and he quickly mumbled an apology. A blast of electricity shot through him.
Emily’s breath hitched, as if she’d had a similar experience.
Mustang jerked his arm back and stepped away from the side of the truck, slamming the door firmly. He rounded the front of the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. Without another word, he started the engine and pulled out onto the road. The shock he’d felt had to have been static electricity. There could be no other explanation. There was no way he’d felt a connection with the cold, wet woman who’d showed a remarkable amount of spirit and courage in her escape from her captor. Mustang barely knew the woman.
Chapter Three
They’d gone maybe a little more than a mile when Mustang pulled off at a large, impressive stone wall and wrought-iron gate. Declan’s truck had just pulled through onto the estate and he waved his hand out the window for them to follow.
Mustang drove through and the gate closed slowly behind them.
Emily had heard Grace talk about her new employer, Charlie, or Charlotte Halverson, the widow of a wealthy philanthropist. Grace had gone on and on about the beautiful estate and how kind and caring her employer was to her collection of employees.
Having been the most recent recipient of Charlie’s kindness, Emily was anxious to meet the woman. If Charlie had not sent Mustang out to help, Emily was absolutely certain she would not be alive to appreciate the beauty of Charlie’s estate at that moment.
She glanced toward the man beside her, studying him in the light from the dash.
He was tall, with broad shoulders and a ruggedly handsome face. Something about his stoic countenance tugged deeply at Emily’s insides. Or perha
ps she was just grateful he’d arrived when he had and saved her from being shot. Either way, she felt closer to this man than any other stranger she had ever met.
Chills rippled through Emily. She fought to keep her teeth from chattering. Her clothes were damp, and she smelled like swamp water, but she couldn’t help that.
“S-s-so you work for Charlie?” she asked.
Mustang gave a curt nod. “Yeah.”
“W-w-what do you do for her?” Emily wrapped her hands around her arms and shivered in her seat.
He adjusted the thermostat on the dash to make it blow blessedly warm air. “She hired Declan and then he brought the rest of our team on board. I guess you could say we are kind of a security agency.”
“Does the agency have a name?” Emily asked.
Mustang smiled. “Declan’s Defenders.”
“So, Declan is your leader?” Emily asked.
Mustang nodded. “He was our team lead before. It just seemed natural for him to be lead of Declan’s Defenders.”
“Before?” Emily stared across the console at the man driving.
Mustang’s jaw tightened. “We were in the marines together.”
Emily nodded silently. She should have recognized his military bearing. The man didn’t have an ounce of flab or fat on him. And when he stood, he held himself straight, shoulders back and head held high, the countenance and bearing of someone who had been in the military, living under strict rules and guidelines.
Mustang shot a glance her way. “So what did you do to piss someone off enough that they want to kill you?”
Emily shook her head. “I have no idea,” she said.
“I seriously doubt it was a case of road rage,” Mustang noted.
Emily snorted. “Well, if it was road rage, he did a good job of it. He ran me off the road.”
“And chased you down with a gun.” Mustang’s brows dipped. “If I’m not mistaken, that man spoke Russian. And when I tackled you, you spoke in Russian, as well. What’s up with that?”
Emily ran a hand through her hair and stared out the window beside her. “I’m a Russian interpreter. No, I’m not Russian, I’m American, but I studied Russian in high school and college. I also studied abroad in Moscow for a semester. Now I teach Russian at Georgetown and I translate for people who speak Russian.”
“Was the guy who tried to kill you one of the clients you translated for?”
Emily pressed her lips together. “You know as much as I do. The man wore a ski mask. I couldn’t tell you if he was one of my clients.” A shiver shook Emily so hard her teeth rattled.
Mustang glanced at her again. “You’re cold.”
She nodded.
“Sorry, I should have given you this earlier.” He reached over the back of the seat, grabbed a blanket and threw it across her lap. “Wrap yourself in that. You need to warm up.”
Emily picked at the blanket. “I hate to get it all wet and smelly.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll wash.”
Mustang followed Declan’s taillights as they twisted and turned on the tree-lined road leading to Charlotte Halverson’s massive mansion.
Emily wrapped the blanket around her lap, thankful for the warmth. She would be sure to wash and return it when she got back to her apartment. Then she’d begin the hassle of getting her car repaired or replaced. In the meantime she was dependent on Charlotte Halverson and Declan’s Defenders to get her around. And she was thankful they’d come through for her when she’d needed them.
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.”
