Page 40 of The Alpha's Assistant & The Dom Next Door
That makes her relax against me, and I smile into her hair. We might be starting slow ... but every mile of the journey is going to be awesome. We just have to get rid ofShayla.
“You ever think of leaving New Orleans?” I ask quietly. “I’ve got all that land over in Cali. People are nice there. And Shayla would get stopped at thegate.”
I haven’t thought of returning to my place outside Eureka since Mary died. It hurt too much to stay. Instead, we moved to be close to Mary’s mother, since she had no one left to help her getthrough.
I love New Orleans, and we have ties here now. But if Emmeline says the word, I’ll pick up and move across the country in a heartbeat. Anything to make her feelsafer.
“This is my home,” she says simply. “I know that it has its problems, and that Shayla is here. But no, I’ve never consideredleaving.”
I nod again and hold her close. “Then we stay.”And make astand.
Unfortunately, until Molly comes back with something substantial, we’re stuck waiting for Shayla to make amove.
It doesn’t take her long. It’s two days later when she makes her move, and it nearly blinds me withrage.
“What happened?” Emmeline asks in a light panic as I throw on my leather jacket. “Is Jenny allright?”
“She’s fine. The daycare staff refused Shayla entry. They sure as hell didn’t let her take Jenny home with her, no matter how much she insisted that she’s my girlfriend.”I’m going to kill thatbitch.
“I’m so sorry,” she starts, and I turn back toher.
“Don’t do that, sweetheart. This is not your fault. You stay here and keep the shades drawn, the lights off, and everything locked up. If anyone approaches the house that you don’t know, you call me at once.Okay?”
She nods. “Okay.”
My phone rings as I stalk outside and walk to my truck, which is parked down the street while I repair my driveway. It’s Molly. I almost don’t pickup.
“Bad timing. Shayla tried to grab my kid from her daycare. I’m on my way overthere.”
I start walking past the steel dumpsters out front that hold the stained and crumbling old blacktop, digging out my keys. But then Molly asks something that slows mywalk.
“Wait. Did Shayla have any hope of actually gettingin?”
“No, daycares don’t hand kids off to just any strange adult. I’m actually surprised Shayla didn’t knowthat.”
“She did. Don’t go. It’s a diversion!” Her voice has an actual edge of panic toit.
“Wait. How do you know?” I stop short. I’m almost to my truck, but the fear in her voice bothersme.
“That car you photographed was rented by Shayla, in cash. It was the second time she rented from that agency, which is by the airport. You said this Roland guy is probably from out oftown?”
“Yeah.” My eyes narrow. “The local Monsignor’s always in the news, but he didn’t even know the guy’s name. He also had an accent, and notan.”
“I think Shayla flies this guy in to do her dirty work when she wants someone dead. Like whoever is between her and half a billion dollars’ worth of inheritance money.” She takes a deep breath. “Like her ownparents.”
“Or Emmeline.” I turn around in a desperate hurry. “I’ll call youback.”
I take one step back beside the dumpsters—and my truck goes up in a fireball behindme.
Chapter11
Emmeline
I hear myself scream as the explosion shakes the windows. I burst out the door, see Carl’s truck in flames ... and everything goes gray anddistant.
I sit down on the front steps, staring at the fireball.Carl.My world has just blown up again ... and this time, it’s not just my world. How will I tellJenny?
I can’t move. I’m too cold. When a figure in white steps out of a van parked across the street, opens the gate and strolls up to me, I can’t even lift myhead.
