The other woman paused for a moment, taking in Addison’s sarcasm and then said, “Of course, you’re right. I’m Claudia, Tyson’s… girlfriend. And the guy that grabbed you is Daniel Mercer, Tyson’s head of security. If anyone can keep us safe until help arrives it’s him.”
Addison’s quick mind read between the lines. There was a good chance the reason they were being shot at was because Tyson King lived in the building. Being a high profile billionaire businessman made him the most likely target. Or said businessman’s undoubtedly beautiful girlfriend. Which meant Addison just got off the elevator at the wrong time. FML.
After contemplating the absurd situation, she decided there was no use in being standoffish. After all, Claudia and Daniel had saved her life when they could have left her to die. Finally she said, “My name is Addison Sterling… Addie.”
“Hi Addie,” Claudia said into her ear over the sound of gunfire. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The absurdity of their polite meeting hit both women and they laughed together quietly crouched on the floor. Claudia clutched onto Addison for dear life while Daniel held their position. Addison could hear him breathing where he crouched next to them. Unlike the evening before when she’d felt nothing but empty, cold space where he stood, she now felt a raging inferno. He wanted the shooters dead and he was happy to be doing it. She felt the emotion as strongly as though it were raging within herself. Blood lust.
Why was she suddenly so connected to him? She was usually aware of other people. But not like this. She didn’t even know the guy. Yet she felt every breath he took right now as if it were her own. She could almost see through his eyes when he turned his head to look toward the elevators when the stairway doors banged open, exposing them to a new threat. Claudia stiffened in fear, but Daniel remained relaxed. Addison did too. The person or people coming through the door must belong to him. She trusted him to get them safely through this situation.
Daniel shouted at his guys, who apparently used the stairway for cover and drove the shooters away. In a matter of seconds, the entire ordeal was ended. The silence was so sudden Addison’s ears rang and she barely noticed when Claudia’s body was jerked away from her and the other woman was forced to stand up.
Addison pushed herself up onto her knees and then got awkwardly to her feet, blinking rapidly to clear the tears forming from dust particles in the air. She had nothing to use for balance and the ringing in her ears made her completely unable to situate herself. Daniel Mercer was talking to someone. Addison shook her head and turned in the direction of his voice. It was deep and quiet, but deadly. Not to be taken lightly.
“Is the penthouse still secure?” Mercer asked his men.
“Yeah, I think so,” muttered someone close by. “We caught these bastards on their way up. They had equipment to break through the reinforced stairwell door, but didn’t get that far.”
“Good. Take her upstairs,” he snapped. Addison felt movement and assumed Claudia was being shoved toward one of the other bodyguards. “King is on his way, he’ll want to see her safe. Stay with her until he arrives. Sweep the penthouse for good measure.”
Turning slightly, Daniel said, “Stay for the police report. Give only the necessary information. They can talk to me if they have a problem. Have the rest of our guys sweep the building. I’ll be with Miss Sterling in her apartment, suite 1210.”
Addison gasped. How did he know where she lived? She was beginning to feel very vulnerable in the midst of these people she didn’t know.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Addison snapped crossly. She felt a hand reach out and give hers a quick squeeze and then it was gone. Claudia’s idea of reassurance?
“I heard what you said to that other guy. You know where I live, which under any other circumstances would make me extremely uncomfortable. But since I just survived some kind of Wild West showdown, I’m just going to be grateful for my life and not question why you seem to know my name and apartment number. But I’ll thank you to leave me the hell alone. I don’t know you and I don’t trust you.”
Having said that, Addison would’ve loved to make a dignified exit. She turned to do just that, but tripped over something and slammed into the ridiculously hard body of Daniel Mercer. His arms closed around her and he set her back on her feet impatiently.
“You’re coming with me,” he growled, shifting his grip on her arm. She heard the ding of the leaving elevator.
Addison gasped, when without warning he began pulling her behind him toward the elevators. He stopped to pick something up and then waited for a free elevator. She burned to shout at him, but she was disoriented, upset, grateful for her life and battling a potential panic attack, which she hadn’t suffered since childhood. She felt the whoosh of the arriving elevator and was about to step forward when he yanked her in behind him. She stumbled forward and impacted with his body once more.
Impatiently she stepped back and snapped, “It’s rude to lead a blind person around like a cow or… or a dog!”
He didn’t say anything for a minute. She felt his eyes on her and out of habit dropped her eyelids so he wouldn’t have to look into her unfocused, empty eyes. She was surprised to feel a surge of anger from him and would have stepped back if he hadn’t been holding her firmly in place.
“Is it also rude to save a blind woman’s life?” he drawled insolently.
Addison felt her temper rise, and lifted her chin in response. What exactly was that supposed to mean? Did he expect something from her? Out loud she said, “I’m grateful to you for pulling me out of the way.”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
Addison drew her breath in sharply and counted to three. “Thank you very much, Mr. Mercer, for saving my life.”
He didn’t say anything. Instead, he took her arm once more in his too tight grip and stepped off the elevator with her when they arrived on her floor. She tugged impotently against his hold, but he ignored her. She was becoming angrier by the second. This man was completely barbaric! She was beginning to see exactly what Maestro meant.
She gasped when he pulled her purse away from her and opened it. “Hey!” she snapped, when she heard the jingle of keys.
He opened the door and, with a hard hand on her back, ushered her into her apartment, closed and locked the door behind them. Addison swiftly stepped back from him, away from his dominating presence. He followed her down the hall, dropping her purse carelessly on the floor.
Addison wondered how she ever felt empty space surrounding him. He was anything but ‘empty’ to her now. Physically he was large, looming, hard and unmoving. Inside though, he was a seething mass of scorching emotion she couldn’t even begin to understand. He felt… hot, angry, restless, triumphant. Maybe it was the aftermath of the gunfight? She’d heard of people having feelings of unreleased aggression after extreme situations.
Addison licked her suddenly dry lips and she felt a jolt run through him, as though he was stopping himself from grabbing her. She stumbled back another step. “Can I… can I get something for you? A glass of water?”
He didn’t say anything, completely ignoring her question.
