“Stone?”
“Harlequin?” I muttered, looking around. People were glancing over, and I was positive I looked a sight. Although my skin was clean, the guy called Seb had let me wash up, but my scrubs had blood on them.
“Hellfire is riding. Salisbury dropped you near our home rather than nearer Hellfire. You’re in Rapid City,” Adam explained.
“Damn, I didn’t realise they’d driven so far,” I whispered as I began shaking. A door opened in the waiting car, and a tall, dark-haired man exited. He glanced at Adam and me and frowned, clearly wondering why we were taking so long.
“Please come with us, April. We’ll protect you,” Adam urged.
“But I don’t know you.”
“Nope, and after what just happened, I can’t blame you for being wary. Would you like to ring Harlequin?
“Seb broke my cell, and I don’t have Stone’s number.”
“Would you recognise Chance Michaelson’s voice, Miss Graham, if you were to hear it?” the other man asked, approaching.
“Yes.”
“I’m James Washington. Please call me James. Allow me to contact Chance, and he can reassure you we’re safe to accompany.”
So, this was James Washington, whom Salisbury feared. I could see why. An aura of danger hung around James. This was a man used to wielding power and having his every word obeyed. I’d be surprised if the suit he wore cost less than ten thousand dollars. Long fingers jabbed at his phone, and then James turned to me and placed the phone on loudspeaker.
“Washington, tell me you have her?” Chance’s voice said, and my shoulders relaxed.
“April’s standing here, but she’s worried about our identity.”
“April, Washington’s safe. He’ll protect you like his own. Go with him, we’re riding and will be there soon,” Chance ordered.
“Okay,” I murmured, and James cut the call. He held out a hand, and I took it. He tucked it under his elbow and began marching me towards the SUV.
Adam fell into step beside him. James helped me inside, and both he and Adam climbed in on either side of me.
“Home,” James ordered the driver, and the car pulled away. “Were you harmed?” James asked me.
“No. Terrified and shaky, but they didn’t hurt me.” My hands were shaking violently, and James reached out and cupped them.
“Nobody blames you for being scared. That’s a healthy reaction to the situation you found yourself in. However, let me assure you, April, no one will harm you with me present,” James said. Silently, I nodded and stared out of the window until the car tooka turning and drove through some gates. Two guards tilted their heads as we passed, and I wondered where we were going.
A beautiful, massive house materialised on well-cultured grounds, and I frowned. “Where are we?”
“This is my home,” James said, and I gaped.
“We jokingly refer to it as Washington Manor,” Adam added as the car pulled to a stop outside a set of steps leading to a double-fronted entrance. The doors opened, and a woman appeared, looking slightly frazzled as we got out.
“James, the next time you sugar the kids up and then disappear, there will be a murder. Yours!” she called.
“Oh shit,” Adam muttered as a horde of children emerged, all talking at once. I counted eight in total.
“Daddy! Who’s that?” a little girl squealed.
“Alice, manners!” the woman snapped.
“Inside!” James bellowed, and the kids, all still smiling and chattering, rushed back away. None of them looked bothered by the shout. “Once I was the most feared man in Rapid City,” James lamented, and the woman laughed.
“Hi, I’m Kate, this reprobate’s wife. Come in, I bet you need a hot drink and a shower. Let’s get you fresh clothes. I’m sure we’ll have something that fits you,” she said warmly.
I glanced at the slim woman. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Twenty minutes later, I stared at the dress on the bed. It would fit perfectly. I raised my eyebrows in surprise as I quickly dried off, pulled on my underwear, and dressed. I ran a brush through my hair, not bothering to dry it, and stepped outside the guest bedroom I’d been shown to.
