“It is because the Star Elite have always been relatively undefeated that makes me wonder if this is likely to be our ultimate downfall. I mean, we have never been challenged in this way before. We have never been in a position whereby we have had to seriously fight one of us, especially one of us in authority. It is unusual and because of it we are struggling to find a way of dealing with it. I don’t doubt that if they had the chance, our enemy within would close us down.”
“Which adds urgency to getting Smidgley off the street, doesn’t it?” she whispered.
Oliver nodded. When he turned his gaze to hers, he noticed the dark shadows beneath her eyes that hadn’t been there yesterday. He realised then that he should have escorted her inside the house where she should be resting by now.
“Let’s go in,” he suggested. “I don’t know about you, but I am starving.”
Emmeline grinned when his stomach rumbled loudly and was swiftly echoed by hers. When he returned her smile, though, something made him hesitate. The air stilled between them and became watchful and intent. His gaze fell instinctively to her lips. Oliver didn’t give a moment’s thought to anybody who might be looking out of the window and happen to see them. With a groan, he hauled her into his arms and claimed her lips in a kiss that warned him he was in even more trouble than he could ever have contemplated, and it had nothing to do with traitors, the Smidgley brothers, or cold-blooded murderers. This problem was considerably more personal, and her name was Emmeline.
Later that same night, there was an air of tension hovering over everyone in the kitchen of the safe house. Emmeline tried to be as inconspicuous as possible as she sat and watched the men prepare to leave. She was ready to go. The men were just making their last-minute preparations before everyone left. They were going after Rupert Smidgley.
Emmeline was exhausted and couldn’t comprehend how, after such a manic day, the men felt they could face an arduous night challenging someone who was, after all, a serial killer with connections in high places. She was exhausted. So much so, she was glad she was sitting down – for the time being at least.
Half an hour later, Emmeline followed the men out of the yard. Their pace was considerably slower than the one they would usually take in deference to her lack of riding skill, but she could only be grateful for their consideration. She was stiff and sore and damned uncomfortable after the day she had just had, but nevertheless rode through the night until the faint lights of the village came into view.
“When we get there, don’t speak. The men have all moved into position and know what they are doing. We are going to stand you with Harry.”
Emmeline’s gaze few to Oliver. “Where will you be?”
Her gaze widened when she saw the brilliant white flash of Oliver’s teeth as he grinned mischievo
usly at her. “I have to put the baby to sleep.”
Emmeline rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. “Well, don’t forget that this baby bites.”
Oliver snorted. “I don’t care. I bite back.”
She shook her head at him but there was nothing she could say. This was his job; his livelihood. In a way it was interesting to be able to see what he did with his days. A part of her was curious to know because she suspected it was going to stand her in good stead for the future if she did have a deeper romantic connection Oliver. She would know exactly what he was doing while he was at work.
And I will worry myself senseless until he returns home safely because of it.
“Here is Harry,” Oliver whispered.
Emmeline’s stomach dipped. She knew the next time she saw Oliver he would have Smidgley with him. It was horrible concept, to have someone she cared about in such close contact with a ruthless blackguard like Smidgley. It was tempting to ask Oliver not to do it, to demand to be taken back to the safe house instead, if only to get him away from the area and stop what he was about to do, but it was far too late for any of that.
“All set,” Harry murmured quietly.
He helped Emmeline dismount and winked at her. “Just stay either beside me or behind me. You could help by keeping an eye on the area around us. Don’t talk, but just nudge me if you see anyone trying to creep up on us. It helps that Oliver showed you a things to do if you need to defend yourself, but hopefully you won’t need them. Try not to panic if it does all kick off, eh?”
“You are worrying her, Harry,” Oliver sighed. He turned to Emmeline. “Ignore him. You aren’t going to need to do anything. Stay here. I will be back soon.”
It was all too instinctive to lean forward for a swift kiss before he turned away and disappeared into the shadows. It was only when he was stalking toward Rhys that he realised what he had just done.
God, could I be any more blatant? I may as well have just told her I love her.
Oliver shook his head because he knew he didn’t love her yet. He cared about her; he cared about her safety and liked her. She was a passionate, if somewhat quietly thoughtful young woman, but she was so opposite to what he was used to that Oliver wasn’t at all sure what to do when he was around her. She was the only female he had ever met who made him feel gauche and uncomfortable. It was damned odd that he was almost afraid to do something or say something that would upset or offend her in some way. Moreover, it was damned odd that any woman was able to affect him as profoundly as Emmeline Elkins did. Experiencing such rash displays of emotion was most definitely not what he was used to, but it was difficult to know what to do about them because they were so instinctive.
“What name can I put to the need I have to keep her safe?” He mused aloud.
“It’s protection,” Rhys warned.
“This is different,” he replied simply because it was.
“You are falling for her,” Rhys advised sagely. He grinned when Oliver threw him a dirty look. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing. It is just something you need to be aware of, that’s all. I mean, look how much Angus tried to avoid the way he felt about Charity, and we all know how that ended up. If you care about Emmeline, there is no reason for you to be worried. Just don’t shy away from it too much. Emmeline could be the love of your life, but a woman like that won’t be single forever.”
He lifted his brows when Oliver didn’t immediately protest, but instead lapsed into a thoughtful silence that warned Rhys he had hit the nail on the head. Oliver was indeed falling for Miss Emmeline Elkins and, if the kiss they had shared when they had reached the new safe house was anything to go by, a kiss that Oliver had made no attempt to hide from his colleagues, his romantic entanglement with their new guest was more than a passing fancy.
“Just keep your mind on the job for the next half hour. Harry will look after her. The sooner we can get this Smidgley nonsense sorted the sooner we can all get on with our lives. Maybe you need to keep Emmeline a little closer from now on, especially once we have Rupert out of the way? If Rupert wants vengeance, he is going to go straight after Emmeline, and knows she is with us. It’s going to get crazy for a while.”