She burrows against me, clutching at my suit.
“Mandy—”
“I’m sorry I bothered you.” Her voice is muffled.
A warm furry weight presses against my ankle as Pepper jams herself between my feet.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she murmurs. “I don’t know why this is happening.”
“What is happening?” My tone is harsh.
Her eyes widen in panic and fear. “Please don’t say anything mean to me.” Mandy is pleading.
I cup her face, brush away the tears streaming down.
“You can say something mean to me on Monday but not now,” she says. “I just can’t handle it right now.”
I want to kiss away her pain and her tears. “I’m not going to say anything mean to you.”
She lifts a shaking hand to her face. She must be freezing. I take off my long overcoat and drape it around her.
“It will get dirty,” she protests.
“I’ll buy a new one.” I lead her out into the rain, my arm around her. I want to carry her but need my hands free just in case.
As soon as I know she is safe, I’ll make her tell me who is doing this, who is hunting her, but not right now. “Did he hurt you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“My car’s just here. You’re all right—you’re safe now.”
She’s still shivering, her whole body shuddering as I unlock the car door and help her in, setting Pepper on her lap. The dog curls up protectively on her legs, ears back, teeth bared.
I start the car and adjust the heat so it’s blowing on her.
The car warms, but Mandy is still sobbing and whimpering in the passenger’s seat next to me.
I rest my hand briefly on her arm. Uncharacteristically kind of me, I know, but she’s just so pathetic and helpless and hurt and scared, and it’s literally driving me insane. I need her to be safe, need it like I need money and power.
“It will be all right, Mandy.”
“Thank you,” she chokes out around the sobs.
I fish a Kleenex out of the console and hand it to her.
“My car’s just a couple of blocks over.” She blows her nose with still-shaking hands.
I put the car in gear. “I’m not taking you to your car. I’m taking you home.” I work my jaw. “Why were you walking out here alone?”
More heart-tugging whimpers from her. “Uber was so expensive.”
My teeth grind. “I could have had the driver take you.”
“You were going to fire me.”
“I’m not going to fire you, Mandy.”
“Yes, you are.”
