Page 86 of Mistletoe and Malice
“No. He’s out there. I’m safe in here.”
“We need to get you home.”
She finally looked up, and the stark panic on her face clutched at his gut. “Did anybody die?”
“No. Everybody’s fine.”
“Trevor?”
The injured bodyguard stepped around the table. “Right here, Ri.”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “Are you shot?”
“Hit my vest.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m so terribly sorry.”
“Not your fault. But Colton’s right. We need to get you home.”
At Alex’s nod, she rose to her feet with Colton’s help, visibly trembling from head to toe. When she faltered, he wrapped his arm around her and let her lean into him. Paxton pulled his gunand preceded them to the designated exit, his head moving side to side.
She stumbled again. Before she could fall, Colton scooped her up and carried her against his chest, her legs draped over his arm. He could move them both more quickly with her in his arms than trying to keep her on her feet. She grabbed him around the neck and buried her face against his skin, sending tingles down his spine.
“You’re all right. I’ve got you, Riley. You’re okay.”
They finally made it out the back exit they’d planned to use in the event of an emergency, hoping, as always, they wouldn’t have to use it. After putting her in the car, he climbed in right next to her instead of walking around to the other side. He wrapped her in his arms again and held her close, her face pressed to his shoulder, as they pulled quickly away from the building.
The heater ran full blast, but she shook as if left out in the cold for hours. He let her go only long enough to pull off his suit coat and wrap it around her, pulling her close again.
Her shaking gradually eased as they made their way toward the estate, her tears falling silently now. So many tears she’d pent up all these weeks she’d been terrorized by a madman. Culminating in tonight’s almost successful plan to end it once and for all.
He put his cheek to the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have let this happen to you.”
She turned her face up to his. “You didn’t.” Her soft voice quivered. “It’s not your fault.”
He brushed a loose lock of hair off her forehead and placed a light kiss there. She curled into him again and didn’t move until they pulled up to the front steps.
Colton reached for the door handle. “Paul. Get Trevor to the hospital. I’ll see her inside.”
The driver nodded. “You’re all right without the two of us for a while?”
“Yes. The Hudsons are right behind us, and we have adequate security here.”
“Copy. I’ll come back after we find out what the doctor says.”
Colton climbed out of the backseat and reached for Riley’s hand, helping her out and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. They walked up the steps to the door. Riley jumped when it opened. No doubt her nerves were vibrating at full tilt.
She put her hand to her heart. “Hilda.”
“Oh, honey.” The tearful cook took Riley’s other arm and helped them in. “We heard. Are you all right, sweetie?”
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“She wasn’t hit,” he assured the older woman. “Just a little shaken up. Can you come upstairs with us and help her out of her dress? She’s a little unsteady yet, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”
“You got it, Mr. Blankenship.”
Upstairs, he left Riley in her bedroom with Hilda and Irene, the house manager. Down the hall in his own room, he changed out of his rumpled tux into jeans, a sweatshirt, warm socks, and tennis shoes.
