by Elle James
Total Meltdown
Hellfire Book #7
Elle James
Twisted Page Inc
Contents
TOTAL MELTDOWN
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
SOLDIER’S DUTY
Chapter 1
About the Author
Also by Elle James
TOTAL MELTDOWN
HELLFIRE BOOK #7
New York Times & USA Today
Bestselling Author
* * *
ELLE JAMES
Copyright © 2019 by Elle James
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Author’s Note
Enjoy these other books in the HELLFIRE Series
by Elle James
* * *
Hellfire Series
Hellfire, Texas (#1)
Justice Burning (#2)
Smoldering Desire (#3)
Hellfire in High Heels (#4)
Playing With Fire (#5)
Up in Flames (#6)
Total Meltdown (#7)
Visit ellejames.com for more titles and release dates
For hot cowboys, visit her alter ego Myla Jackson at mylajackson.com
and join Elle James and Myla Jackson's Newsletter at Newsletter
This book is dedicated to my best buddy ever, Chewy. Short for Chewbacca, this little spitfire of a Yorkie melted my heart from the first day I saw him. He’s been my shadow, my muse and my best friend. As he grows old, I love him even more. I know someday he will not be with me anymore, and I’ll be heartbroken. But I’ll have all the good memories of how funny, perky and devoted he was. Love you, Chewy!
Escape with...
Elle James
aka Myla Jackson
Chapter 1
“So, Lily, where are you going this summer?” Lola Engel stood beside Lily Grayson in the playground of the elementary school in Hellfire, Texas.
Lily sighed. “My job with the Pattersons fell through at the last minute. Mia Patterson’s mother had a heart attack. They didn’t feel like they could leave for their scheduled summer in Corfu, Greece this year.”
Lola shook her head. “Wow, I’d give my favorite Salvatore Ferragamo Gancini sandals to go to Greece.”
Lily chuckled. “That’s saying a lot. I know how attached you are to them.”
“After the fire, I wrote the company and had them find me the same pair and ship them overnight. I think I paid nearly half the insurance settlement for that pair. I just couldn’t sleep knowing I might not wear them again.” Lola gave a side-eye glance to Lily. “Don’t judge. I could have worse vices.”
Lily held up her hands. “I’m not judging. I love those shoes, too.” Her friend had a shoe fetish she didn’t really understand, but she loved the woman despite her quirks, or maybe because of her quirks.
“So, you’re not going to Greece.” Lola shrugged. “I could use a part time helper at the shop for the summer, if you need the money and want to stay busy.”
“I don’t really need the money. You know me, living at the family ranch, I don’t have to pay rent and I pitch in some for utilities, but I really don’t have many expenses. I could just spend my money and take a trip somewhere.”
“Or not and stay here and keep me company at the shop.” Lola raised her eyebrows. “You could teach me some more of that Krav Maga stuff, so I can kick some poor schmuck’s booty who tries to hit on me at the Ugly Stick Saloon.”
Lily shook her head. “You have Daniel now. No one’s going to poach on his territory.
Lola smiled. “I do have Daniel.” She hugged herself. “He’s so deliciously yummy and attentive in the—”
Lily shot a frown her direction. “Shh. Remember where you are.” She tipped her head toward the playground where the children climbed on the bars, played on the slide and swings or jumped rope.
Lola cover her mouth. “Sorry. I’m here to help you, not have the parents of your little angels filing complaints about what their child learned on the last day of school.” She stared at the children. “Although, they’ll learn it all sooner or later. They’ll be teenagers before we all know it.”
“Let it be later.” Lily glanced at her watch. “Thanks for helping with Field Day. The last day of school is always a challenge to keep them from climbing the walls. They have so much energy and are so eager to get out and do summer activities.” Lily smiled. “I’ll miss them. This class was so special.”
“Do you have a favorite student? You know, teacher’s pet?” Lola asked.
Lily shook her head. “Can’t do that. You have to love them all equally.” Although, there was one child she would miss the most.
Roberto Delossantos ran toward her with a wildflower gripped in his fist. “Miss Grayson, look what I found.”
Lily squatted down beside the little boy who was small for his age, but so precious with his light brown curls and green eyes. His smile always brightened her day. She held out her hand. “What have you got?”
“A flower for you.” He held out the offering with a huge grin.
“Thank you, Robbie. It’s beautiful.”
“Do you know what it’s called?” Robbie asked. Throughout the spring, Robbie had brought her every wildflower the playground had to offer so that she could tell him what it was called. She’d had to brush up on her flowers to answer him.
Lily examined the bright orange flower with the equally bright yellow tips on each petal. “That’s called a Fire Wheel or Indian Blanket.”
He beamed up at her. “It’s pretty, like you, Miss Grayson.” His smile slipped. “Do we have to stay home for the summer?”
Lily pulled the little guy into a hug. “Oh, sweetie, we don’t have school during the summer.”
He wrapped his arms around her neck and held on tight. “But I want to stay here with you.”
Lily untangled his arms from around her and held him at arm’s length so that she could look into his eyes. “I won’t be here, Robbie. The school will be closed. Besides, the summer is meant for you to spend time with your family.”
A small frown drew his dark brows together. “But my father will be in Costa Rica.”
Lily frowned. She knew Robbie’s mother wasn’t in the picture but wasn’t sure why. Just that she wasn’t around. At all. “You have your little sister. She’ll be happy to have you at home. Who will you be staying with?”
“Rosa,” Robbie said. “She keeps us during the summer.”
Rosa was the woman who dropped him off and picked him up at school every day. She was listed on his emergency data card, along with his father. But Rosa was an older woman, probably in her mid-fifties.
He gazed at his shoes. “I don’t want to stay with Rosa.”
“Have you talked to your father?” Lily asked.
The little boy shook his head then lifted it, his eyes wide.
Lily wondered if Robbie’s father was abusive. He rarely came to the school. Only twice during the school year had he come to collect Robbie, and only because Rosa had been on vacation or sick. Lily’s heart hurt for the little boy.
“I’m sorry, Robbie. I wish I could be with you during the summer, but I’m sure you’ll have fun anyway.”
He hugged
her again, burying his face against her neck. “When I grow up, I’m going to marry you, Miss Grayson.”
She hugged him back. “When you grow up, you’ll change your mind.” Again, she set him to arm’s length. “Now, it’s a beautiful day. Go play.”
The little boy ran off to climb on the monkey bars.
“I believe you have an admirer,” Lola murmured beside her.
Lily sighed. “It really is hard when they leave. They’re like my own children. I’ve spent more time with them throughout the school year than they have with their parents.”
“What’s with little Robbie’s parents? Are they never there for him?”
“I think his mother is out of the picture completely. Robbie never talks about her, and she’s not the one who picks him up at the end of the day.”
“What about his father?”
“He’s a wealthy rancher who also has business interests in Costa Rica. Apparently, he goes there often. It’s too bad he doesn’t take his children with him. They need to spend more time with him.”
The bell rang, and the children lined up in front of each of their teachers.
Lily led the front of the line back to the classroom, while Lola brought up the rear, keeping the stragglers from straying. Though they were noisier than usual, Lily didn’t have the heart to chastise them. It was the last day of school, and they were happy.
They spent the next few minutes gathering their backpacks and all their papers from their cubbies. The principal came over the loudspeaker, wishing them all a happy, healthy and safe summer. The bell rang again.
As was their practice, the kindergarten children remained seated until Lily went to the door. Once she was there, they lined up in front of her. Each child gave her a hug and left the room. Lily and Lola followed them out to the front of the building where some climbed on buses and others waited for their parents to pick them up in the car line.
Robbie stood with his friend Michael Benning, their superhero backpacks hiked up on their shoulders.
Lily smiled as they compared rocks they’d found on the playground.
One by one, the children departed, until there were only a handful remaining.
“Are you celebrating tonight at the Ugly Stick Saloon?” Lola asked.
Lily shrugged. “I might. I haven’t been since the New Year’s Party. And before that, I think I went for the last Annual Bachelor Auction.”
Lola sighed loudly. “They don’t have those nearly often enough.”
Lily crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her toe. “Lola, isn’t Daniel enough of a man you don’t need to buy another at the auction?”
“Of course,” she said. “But it doesn’t hurt to look.” She grinned. “A good-looking, shirtless man is like a piece of…”
“Lola…”
“Art. A piece of art.” She shot a frown at Lily. “Get your mind out of the gutter, little girl.”
Two trucks pulled up in the drive.
A man Lily recognized as Trevor Benning, Michael’s father, got out of the first one and walked toward Michael.
“Uh oh, we’ve got a problem.” Lily moved to stand between Michael and his father.
“Why? What’s going on?” Lola asked, her gaze darting from Lily to Trevor.
Trevor stopped in front of Lily, his eyes narrowing. “Mikey, get in the truck.”
“Mama said I wasn’t supposed to go with you,” Michael said.
“I’m telling you to get in the truck,” Trevor said, his tone deep and angry.
Lily lifted her chin. “Mr. Benning, I’m sorry, but I’m not allowed to let you take Michael from the school. We were given a copy of the restraining order. You’re not even supposed to come within twenty yards of Michael.” Though her heart hammered hard in her chest, Lily presented her calmest demeanor. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave the school property.”
“That’s my kid. Get out of my way, or I’ll have to move you out of my way.” He took a threatening step forward.
Robbie jumped in front of Lily. “You be nice to Miss Grayson,” he demanded, his chin held high and his shoulders squared.
Lily rested her hands on Robbie’s shoulders and eased him back behind her with Michael. “Thanks, Robbie, but I can handle this.”
Trevor’s lips curved into a thin, mean smile. “You gonna move, or am I gonna have to go through you?”
Lily didn’t budge. “Lola, take the boys back a few steps. I don’t want them to get hurt.”
“Only one gonna get hurt around here is you, if you don’t move out of my way.” Benning stepped another foot closer and stared down his nose at Lily.
“Trust me, you don’t want to do this,” Lily said in a low, warning tone. “Go home, Trevor.” She didn’t back down an inch. If he wanted a fight, she was ready.
When Trevor reached out to shove her aside, she grabbed his arm and slammed him to the ground, twisting his arm up between his shoulder blades.
Lily leaned close to his ear. “I told you that you didn’t want to do that.”
“Get off of me, bitch.” Trevor twisted and writhed beneath her.
Lily pushed his arm up higher between his shoulder blades. “Lola, call the sheriff.”
Lola was already on the phone with 911 dispatch. She ended the call. “They’re on their way.”
A tall, dark-haired, absolutely gorgeous man raced up to her and asked, “Do you need help?”
Lily had Trevor where she wanted him. “If I needed help, I’d ask for it.” She grunted as Trevor bucked beneath her. “What I need is for the sheriff to come collect this man.” She looked at Robbie and Michael’s scared faces. “And see? Even you guys can protect yourselves, if you know how.” She gave them a strained smile. “Sorry, Michael. I couldn’t let him take you.”
Michael’s eyebrows drew together. “I know. My daddy isn’t supposed to be here,” he said. “He hits my mama.” He didn’t cry or appear mad at her for tackling his father and forcing him to lay face-down on the ground. In fact, he appeared relieved that he didn’t have to go with the man.
Sirens sounded in the distance, getting louder as they approached the school. Soon, a sheriff’s vehicle pulled up, and her brother, Nash, climbed out of the SUV and stood for a moment, staring down at his sister. “Whatcha got there, Lily?”
“I can tell you what your little sister has. A whole can of whoop-ass!” Lola shook her head with a grin. “We need to pick up where we left off on my training. You’ve gotta teach me that Krav Maga trick.”
Nash squatted down beside the man beneath Lily. “Now, Trevor, we’ve been over this before. We have a restraining order that says you can’t be anywhere near your ex-wife or your kid. Did you forget that?” Nash cocked an eyebrow.
“Shut the fuck up, Grayson. And get the bitch off me. I want her charged with assault,” Benning threatened.
Nash pulled out handcuffs. “I’m sure an attorney would love to take your money.” He snapped the cuffs onto Trevor’s wrists. “You can get up now, Lily. I’ll take it from here.”
Lily rose from the ground and dusted off her hands and the knees of her trousers. “Thanks, Officer Grayson.”
Then she turned to Michael and Robbie.
The tall, dark-haired man who’d asked her if she needed help stood with the boys, one hand on Robbie’s shoulder.
Lily frowned. “Are you here to pick up one of the children?”
The man held up his hands as if in surrender. “I promise I don’t have a restraining order out on me. But I’m here to collect Roberto. My son.” His spoke perfectly good English with a slight Hispanic accent. He held out his hand. “Do you make it a habit of attacking fathers here to pick up their children?”
Lily took his hand hesitantly. When she gripped it, a flash of heat ripped up her arm and through her body. Shocked, she yanked away her hand and rubbed it along her pant leg. “Benning isn’t supposed to be around Michael. Last time he was with his family, he hurt his ex-wife and son,” Lily explained. Then
she dropped to one knee in front of Michael. “Are you okay?”
He sniffled, and a giant tear rolled out of the corner of one eye. “I want my mommy.”
Lily glanced up as a silver car rolled into the parking lot. “She’s here.”
The driver’s door opened, and Michael’s mother jumped out. “Oh, my God! Michael!” She ran to the little boy and snatched him up in her arms. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Michael shook his head.
“He’s my son,” Trevor snarled as Nash walked him to the sheriff’s SUV. “I have a right to see my kid.”
Michael’s mother turned and glared at her ex-husband. “You lost that right when you hit him, and there’s a court order that proves it.”
“You’re going to regret this, Ava.” Trevor warned.
“Mommy,” Michael said, “you should have seen Miss Grayson. She wouldn’t let Daddy take me. She pushed him down on the ground.”
Ava glanced at Lily, a frown twisting her brow. “You took Trevor down?” She shook her head. “How? He’s so much bigger and stronger than I am. I could never fight him off. And you’re smaller than me.”
Lily shrugged. “I’ve had some training.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed, and she shot a glance toward Trevor. “I want you to train me. I don’t ever want to feel helpless again.”
“I could do that,” Lily said. “I’m not sure what my summer will be like. I’ve got some feelers out for summer work. I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you.” Ava hugged Michael to her. “And thank you for what you did.” She tipped her head toward the sheriff’s vehicle.
