Total Meltdown (Hellfire Series Book 7)

by Elle James

  Which meant leaving his children, yet again.

  Lily’s words hit him again. His children had lost their mother. Having one parent around was better than none.

  Tony lay in his bed long into the night. thinking through his options. In the wee hours of the morning, he finally fell asleep and immediately dreamed of a spunky redhead throwing him to the ground and making mad, passionate love to him.

  When he woke, he was disappointed to find the pillow beside him empty.

  Chapter 4

  Lily spent the weekend hitting up all her contacts, searching for another position as an au pair for the summer. Every lead landed in a dead end. Most people reserved their au pair ahead of the summer. They were already flying off to exotic locations with someone else, not Lily.

  By Monday morning, she was facing the fact she’d be stuck in Hellfire for the summer. She loved her family, but she saw them throughout the school year. And Lily loved visiting new and exciting countries. There might be a day when she married and had children of her own, at which time, she wouldn’t get to travel as much, and probably wouldn’t want to. Now, in the prime of her life, while she was ready, willing and physically capable, she wanted to travel…just not alone.

  It wasn’t the fear of being accosted; it was more a fear of being alone. She’d grown up in a houseful of people. Her four older brothers had made certain their lives weren’t boring. If she’d ever needed a shoulder to lean on, her father, mother or one of the boys had been there.

  Perhaps she could talk Lola into going on a trip with her. Maybe they could hop on a cruise ship for a couple of weeks or fly down to the Virgin Islands and snorkel and laze on a beach.

  The more she thought about it, the more she liked that idea. So, it wouldn’t be for the entire summer as she’d planned, but it would be better than staying in Hellfire as the sun heated the dry Texas town.

  She was due to meet up with Lola and Daniel at the Memorial Day celebration at the fairgrounds that afternoon. If Tony Delossantos could be believed, he might be there with his son and daughter. Her heart fluttered. The man was infuriating, but still the most interesting thing about the day she had planned. Not that she was going to flirt with him. The man clearly wasn’t over the death of his wife. Lily didn’t want to be a rebound notch on the wealthy man’s bedpost. She’d spend her time convincing Lola that she needed a vacation away from the shoe store. She could shut it down for two weeks or have one of her staff run it while she was gone. Being a business owner, Lola could take off when she wanted. After all, she was the boss.

  Her firefighter beau, however, wasn’t quite as flexible. He would have to put in for time off. And really, Lily would want Lola to herself. Someone to share a cabin with. If Daniel came, he and Lola would want to be alone in a cabin of their own. Which would defeat the purpose of Lily taking Lola on the voyage.

  Lily was glad for her friends and family, but she wanted time away from Hellfire, exploring, seeing the world.

  The celebration at the fairgrounds started at noon and would last until after sunset that night when the fireworks would begin.

  Her brothers would all be there with their women, and Lola would have Daniel. They always included her on public outings but, just once, it would be nice to have a date of her own.

  Lily rode with her brother Beckett and his fiancée, Kinsey. They brought along a big basket of food to share with the rest of the family and a couple of blankets to lay out on when the fireworks started.

  The fairgrounds were hopping with booths and activities for the children, games for the adults, and the carnival had been set up in the big field where a Ferris wheel and tilt-o-whirls spun children until they barfed.

  The sun was out with a few of the big cotton-candy clouds that made the sky so pretty in the summer.

  Though she didn’t have the job she’d wanted for the summer, Lily couldn’t help but smile and join in the fun. She challenged Beckett to swing the mallet and ding the bell. Twice, he rang the bell, and she didn’t. On her third try, she made the metal pin slam to the top and rang the bell. Elated at her little victory, she turned to see Robbie chasing after his little sister, his father nowhere in sight.

  Lily handed the mallet to her brother Nash. “Your turn. I have to check on something.” And she ran after Robbie.

  The little guy had just caught up to his sister, who was giggling and laughing, trying to squirm out of her brother’s grip.

  “Mari,” Robbie said through gritted teeth, struggling to maintain his hold. “You have to stay with me, or you’ll get lost.”

  “Quiero jugar,” she said and wiggled free. She took off in the opposite direction from her brother and ran into Lily.

  Lily reached down and plucked her up into her arms. “Well, what have we got here?” She smiled down at the prettiest little girl she’d ever seen. She had glossy black curls that almost had a blue tinge and the biggest brown eyes fringed in thick black lashes.

  “Mi nombre es Mari,” she said. “Tengo cuatro años.” She held up four little fingers.

  Though the little girl spoke in Spanish, Lily understood. Her name was Mari, and she was four years old.

  “Hi, Mari.” Lily dipped her head toward Robbie as he came to a skidding halt in front of her. “Is this your brother?”

  Mari nodded. “Eso es Robbie. Él es mi hermano.”

  “And are you supposed to stay with your brother?” Lily asked.

  Mari’s eyes widened, and she nodded.

  “Papi is gonna be mad,” Robbie said, a scowl marring his smooth forehead. “He’ll never bring us back to the carnival again.”

  “I’m sure he’d understand,” Lily reassured them. “Let’s go find him before he calls out the search dogs to find his children.”

  Robbie’s eyes rounded. “He’d call out the search dogs?” The little boy shook his head. “We’re going to be in big trouble.”

  Mari’s eyes welled with tears. “Problema.”

  “Hey, hey. There will be no crying when Miss Grayson is holding you. You wouldn’t want to get my pretty new blouse wet, would you?” Lily touched the emerald green fabric. “Do you like this color?”

  Mari nodded.

  “What color is it?”

  The little girl shook her head and buried her face against Lily’s shoulder.

  Lily turned to Robbie. “Does your sister speak any English?”

  “Only when she wants to,” he replied. “She gets to go to kindergarten when school starts back. Maybe she’ll be in your class.”

  Lily’s brow twisted. The child didn’t speak English? Robbie had never spoken Spanish in her class. How was it that his sister wasn’t as fluent in English as her brother?

  Lily had another bone to pick with Robbie’s dad. She glanced around, searching a sea of faces for the one so much like his daughter’s.

  When she spotted him, her knees grew weak, and she broke out in a sweat. He hadn’t even turned in her direction yet. When he did, her heart fluttered, and she thought she might have to run.

  How did the man have such an impact on her?

  If she could, she’d set Mari on her feet, point her in her father’s direction, and then Lily would turn and run as far and as fast as she could.

  In the end, Lily walked slowly toward him and waited for the man to face her with his inky black-brown eyes. As she drew closer, she feared her knees might fail her altogether.

  Tony’s heart beat so hard in his chest he couldn’t catch his breath. It had been at least three minutes since he’d last seen Robbie or Mari. How had this happened? They were two children with short legs. How could they get away from him so fast and be gone for so long?

  He’d been standing at one of the food trucks, ordering a funnel cake and lemonade for Robbie. He’d given his son strict instructions to hold onto Mari’s hand and not let go. For exactly thirty seconds he’d glanced away. When he’d turned back, both of his children had disappeared into the crowd of people who’d assembled from all over the tri-c
ounty area surrounding Hellfire.

  All Tony could see was adults with their hands on their children. No Robbie and no Mari. He knew he should have kept them at home, safe on the ranch where they knew their boundaries, and he knew their hiding places.

  Tony was on the verge of shouting for everyone to stop where they were and look for his children when he spied Nash Grayson, an off-duty sheriff’s deputy. If anyone could help him, Nash could.

  He strode up to the cowboy and the woman whose hand was hooked around his elbow. “Please,” he said, trying to hold back the desperation threatening to overwhelm him. “I can’t find my children.”

  Grayson’s brow drew together in a deep V, and he got right down to business. “How old are they, what do they look like and what are they wearing?”

  “Robbie is six with brown hair and green eyes. He’s wearing a superhero T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. Mari is four years old with black hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing a pink and white shirt with ruffles on the shoulders and pink shorts.

  “When was the last time you saw them?” Grayson asked.

  Tony ran his hand through his hair, staring around at the crowd before him. “Approximately three minutes ago.”

  “Where?”

  “By the funnel cake booth.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the stand where he’d abandoned the confectionary delight and the ice-cold lemonade he’d been salivating over. He couldn’t even think about food when his children could be in danger.

  Nash pulled out his cellphone. “I’ll get my brothers to start looking right now. Then we can go to one of the carnies and ask to use their loudspeaker system.”

  “Anything, just hurry. Someone could have snatched them, or they could have wandered too close to one of the big rides.”

  Nash hit the buttons on his phone and pressed it to his ears. “Beckett, I’ve got Tony Delossantos with me. He’s missing a couple of kids.”

  “Did I hear someone say they were missing a couple of kids?” a familiar female voice sounded behind Tony.

  He spun to face Lily. In her arms was Mari, her head lying on Lily’s shoulder, a mischievous smile curving her lips.

  Beside Lily stood Robbie, his hand in hers, his eyes wide and scared. “I’m sorry, Papi. Mari let go of my hand and ran. I tried to catch her and bring her back, but she thought we were playing.” He shrank a little behind Lily. “You aren’t mad, are you?”

  Tony drew in a deep, steadying breath and dropped to a squat beside his young son. “Roberto, I’m not angry. I was scared I’d lost you.” He pulled his son into his arms and held him tight. “I know you tried. Mari can be a little handful. Thank you for staying with her. You are my hero.”

  Robbie smiled up at his father. “Really?”

  Tony nodded and straightened.

  “Never mind,” Nash Grayson was saying on the phone. “Lily found them. Call off the Amber alert. All is well.” He ended the call and grinned at Tony. “I’m guessing these are the children you were looking for?”

  Tony nodded and held out his arms for Mari. “Come on, chiquita.”

  Mari shook her head and buried it against Lily’s neck. “No, Papi. Yo quiero señorita Lily.”

  “Use your English, Mari,” Tony reminded his daughter gently.

  “No, Papi.” Mari clung to Lily, refusing to let go.

  Short of prying her loose, Tony didn’t know what else to do.

  “If it’s okay with you, I don’t mind keeping an eye on her,” Lily said. “She’s no bother.”

  Tony arched an eyebrow. “I’m not sure you know what you’re up against. She’s a master at disappearing.”

  Lily smiled. “I’ve been teaching kindergarten for the past four years. I’m pretty good at keeping up with the best of the hiding children.”

  “I’ll leave you two to figure out the children,” Nash said. “Kinsey wants me to help her pick a picnic spot for the family.” He raised a brow and turned to his sister. “See you later this afternoon? Text me if you want to know where. And Tony, you and the kids are welcome to join us. I think Kinsey packed enough food for all of Hellfire.”

  “I’ll be there,” Lily said.

  “Thank you,” Tony said.

  Nash took off toward a field of freshly mown grass, leaving Tony alone with Lily and his two children.

  “So, we meet again,” Tony said. “Since my daughter seems to be permanently attached to your shoulder, can I interest you in a drink? Ginger ale, isn’t it?”

  She shook her head. “Only at bars. I would love a lemonade.”

  “Done. I was in the process of securing said lemonade for myself and the kids, when the Houdinis performed their heart-stopping disappearing act. I’m beginning to think child leashes aren’t nearly as bad as they’re reputation.” He would have taken her arm, but Mari was using one and Robbie held Lily’s other hand.

  Upstaged by his own children.

  At least he’d found them. Or rather, Lily had. For a moment there, he’d thought someone had absconded with them. He didn’t advertise his wealth, but he was a very rich man. Not only did he have a working ranch in Texas and a hotel in Costa Rica, he had many other business pursuits, not to mention the money he’d invested wisely in the stock market. Anyone could have taken them and demanded a sizeable ransom.

  And Tony would have paid it to get them back.

  He waved a hand toward the food truck. “After you.”

  Lily, holding Mari on one arm and Robbie’s hand with her other, fell in step with Tony.

  “Apparently, I need to work on keeping track of small children in a public place,” Tony admitted.

  “True.”

  “My housekeeper usually takes charge of them. She’s quite good at it. She has been with me since I was Robbie’s age.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “She has been sick.”

  Lily’s brow furrowed. “Is she going to be all right?”

  “The doctor said she had walking pneumonia, but that she’s on the mend. My problem is that I need to go to Costa Rica tomorrow, and I’m afraid to leave the children with Rosa while she’s still recovering.”

  “Then take them with you.”

  Lily made it sound so easy.

  “You don’t understand. I don’t have childcare there. I trust only Rosa with Robbie and Mari. I wouldn’t leave them with strangers.”

  “Then you need to postpone your trip until Rosa is well.” She gave him a twisted smile. “It’s not rocket science.”

  “Can we go to Costa Rica with you, Papi?” Robbie asked. “I want to go. I haven’t been since mama took us.”

  And that was a problem. Bringing Robbie and Mari would stir up more memories than Tony cared to recall. He was just getting past the sorrow and guilt. Seeing his children where they’d last been with their mother was bound to dredge up old memories.

  “Please, Papi,” Robbie begged. “Take us with you.”

  “I can’t,” Tony said. “Rosa isn’t well. She can’t come right now.”

  Robbie’s forehead wrinkled. “We don’t have to take Rosa; we can take Miss Grayson.”

  Lily gasped and held up her hand. “I can’t go to Costa Rica tomorrow.”

  “If not tomorrow, how about the next day?” As usual, Robbie was a persistent little guy. He went after what he wanted and didn’t take no for an answer.

  At any other time, Tony would have admired that tenaciousness.

  “Please, Miss Grayson.”

  Already she was shaking her head. “I can’t,” Lily repeated. “Besides, your father wouldn’t want me along.” She shot a glance toward the man.

  Tony cupped his chin, pretending to think hard on what his son had suggested. He couldn’t leave the children with a sick housekeeper. And he didn’t know who he could trust in Costa Rica who was good with children and could defend them if someone tried to hurt or take them.

  Based on what he’d seen of Lily, so far, she could do the job. She came from a good family. Everyone
in Hellfire knew the Graysons. She was a teacher, and she had some fighting skills.

  Finally, the most important factor was Robbie and Mari seemed to like her.

  “You know, Robbie, you might be on to something.” Tony turned to Lily. “Miss Grayson, do you have plans for this summer?” He didn’t wait for his response, already shaking his head. “Of course, you have plans. An independent young woman such as you will always have plans.” He turned away and stared at the crowd of people gathered for the day’s festivities. “Never mind.”

  For a long moment, Lily, Mari and Robbie didn’t say anything.

  Then a small hand slipped into Tony’s.

  He looked down at his son with those green eyes so like his mother’s. “Papi, you have to ask her really nice.”

  “No, you don’t,” Lily commented. “I can’t go to Costa Rica,”

  He caught her gaze and held it. “Why not?”

  “I…I…I don’t know you well enough.” She shifted Mari to her other arm.

  “You are a teacher, no?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “How many of your students do you know when the school year begins?”

  “None of them.”

  “But you give them the benefit of the doubt and get to know them.”

  “True. But they are, for the most part, harmless.” She lifted one shoulder. “Except Johnny Austin. He bit. You, Mr. Delossantos are a full-grown adult. I’d be going to a foreign country with little or no information about the man I would be accompanying. I’d be stupid or a fool to go without performing a thorough background check. I do that with all my clients before I go to foreign countries with them.”

  Tony cocked an eyebrow. “You do this often? Go with people you don’t know to other countries?”

  She frowned. “I’ve worked for the past four summers as an au pair. I travel with a family and watch their children while they visit or vacation in other countries. I help them, they pay my way, and the children and I get to see a lot of new and interesting places. It’s a win-win situation all around.”