NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team

by Chelsea Handcock

“Yeah, I had the dealer take them off,” he said as he walked over to the passenger side door and opened it.

  Scooping her up off the ground with his one arm supporting her neck and the other cradling her knees, startled Emma so much she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Dalton could feel his anger surge forward. Emma weighed practically nothing. He lifted her with hardly any effort. He was sure even without his Shifter strength, he could’ve carried her around all day without even breaking a sweat. The bulk of the coat had disguised her true size. When he first noticed her, he had the odd thought that maybe she was trying to hide the size of her body like some women did with baggy clothes, but he knew differently now. She was tiny. He noticed that she was getting self-conscience because of his actions, so he tried to lighten up the hostile emotions he was projecting.

  “That way I get to cuddle all the beautiful girls,” he said, placing her in the passenger seat. “Now buckle up, honey, safety first.”

  Dalton didn’t want to let on he was pissed when he picked up Emma. He knew he tensed up and was thankful that she blushed instead of protesting the action. She hardly weighed a thing; he was had carried gear in the military that weighed at least twice her weight. He needed answers. He shut the door for her and grabbed the bags off of the hood.

  Emma’s face was still red with embarrassment. It wasn’t every day a hot guy took her into his arms, even if that was only to place her in the truck. She was starting to wonder if she would ever be able to have a real conversation with this handsome man. He made her feel like the shy teenager she’d once been, back during a time she could hardly remember anymore. Life had a way of taking the naiveté out of a girl.

  Needing a couple of minutes to get his temper under control, Dalton took the long way around the truck. He opened the back door first and placed the food in the back seat, except for the bag Ruby had put together for them. When he was about to close the door, he remembered that Emma didn’t have anything other than her purse and what was on her back.

  “Honey, do you need me to get your stuff from your car?” he asked.

  Emma didn’t want to tell Dalton that she didn’t have anything else, so she tried to play it off.

  “No thanks, that won’t be necessary. If you wouldn’t mind bringing me back once your friend checks me out, I would be very grateful.”

  Dalton shut the back door and took a couple of deep breaths. Emma’s fear seemed to get stronger with every question he asked. She didn’t appear to be afraid of him, just she scared of everything else. Finally getting some control, Dalton jumped into the truck, buckled his seat belt, and pulled out of the parking lot.

  “I know we should wait, but honey, I’m starving. Why don’t we have a little snack on the way?” he said, hoping to lessen some of her fear

  Emma was starving; literally. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. Being on the run and having only bit of money hadn’t helped. Before that, well, she didn’t want to think about before that right now. Taking one of the sandwiches, she unwrapped the brown paper and handed it to Dalton. God, when had bologna and cheese looked so good?

  Dalton didn’t like that Emma was staring at the fucking sandwich like it was prime rib when it was a simple bologna sandwich. When she didn’t make a move to take the other sandwich, Dalton decided that he needed to step in.

  “Oh, come on, honey. If I’m going to spoil my dinner, so are you. Ruby put two sandwiches in that bag, the other one is for you.”

  Emma's hands were shaking so badly at this point, she wanted that sandwich more than her next breath. But she wasn’t going to take food away from the only person she’d met willing to help her. She could wait.

  “No that’s okay you go ahead,” Ryleigh responded.

  “Sorry, honey, but the rules in this truck are, when we’re in here, you have to do what I say, kind of like Simon Says, but use Dalton instead,” he said with a laugh. “Now, eat up.”

  Chapter 9

  Dalton knew that he shouldn’t have used those words because of the undertone they brought to the situation. He also knew he should be ashamed of himself. He was starting to like Emma. If the sounds she was making while eating the sandwich were any indication, she was an incredibly passionate woman, and he would like to get her to make those noises in another way. Fuck, his mind wasn’t where it should be. Those thoughts might be appropriate for picking up a woman in a bar, but not for this situation. He knew that he needed to get his mind out of the gutter and figure out what he was going to tell Cash. Dalton was going against SOP by bringing an unknown back to their base, and he knew Cash would have his balls. But damn it, he knew it was the right thing to do.

  Emma couldn’t resist, so she dug in. The sandwich was fantastic; it showed how desperate she was because bologna and cheese on soft white bread wasn’t her favorite sandwich. But, at that moment, it was the most fantastic food she’d ever tasted. She inhaled it, never looking back. She knew that she needed to slow down, but it had been so long since she’d anything of real substance, she literally couldn’t help herself. When she finally looked up, she noticed Dalton still had most of his sandwich left and was looking at her in what she hoped wasn’t disgust.

  “Sorry, I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”

  Emma was embarrassed and wondered if she would ever feel normal again. Looking down at her hands, she noticed her knuckles were white. She’d been wringing her fingers so tightly the blood had drained from them. Damn, before all this happened, she was never like this, showing weakness at every turn, it was starting to make her mad. She wondered if she would ever feel like herself again.

  “No need for apologies, honey. Here,” he said handing Emma his sandwich, “why don’t you finish mine. I’m dying to sink my teeth into one of Ruby’s famous turnovers, anyway.”

  Emma was going to protest, but she took the sandwich. She ate it a little more slowly than the first one, savoring it, grateful that Dalton didn’t make a big deal out of her behavior. She would never think of a bologna sandwich in the same way again. When she finished, Dalton handed her a bottle of water and the last turnover.

  “Come on, honey, you haven’t even had the best part yet. You’re going to think you died and went to heaven after one bite.”

  He wasn’t kidding. The cherry turnover was beyond delicious. The outside was perfectly crisp with just the right amount of icing to make it decadent. She got to the homemade cherry filling; it was perfect, not too sweet and not too tart. It was the perfect combination with the flaky pastry. She was sure Ruby could’ve sold these to an upscale bakery and made a fortune. Licking the remaining confection from her finger, Emma sighed with contentment. She was sure she’d never had anything quite so perfect. Dalton had been right, in that moment she did feel like she’d died and gone to heaven.

  Dalton was kicking himself. He should’ve gotten her more food at the diner. The woman ate the simple sandwich like it would jump right out of her hands and run away. When was the last time she’d eaten? Fuck, he needed to get some answers before they got to base camp. Cash would be all over him when they got there. He needed to arm himself with as much ammunition to hold him off before he got there.

  “Honey, I know that you don’t know me well enough to trust me yet, but can you tell me if I should be watching out for a tail? Is the person you are running from following you? I only ask because there are other people at my house I need to protect and if we’re going to have a gun-wielding ex-boyfriend show up, I would like to prepare myself.”

  Emma was ashamed of herself. She should’ve never accepted Dalton's help. No way would she put others in danger. This was her problem, Dalton and the other were innocent bystanders. If those people came after her again, and Dalton or one of his friends got hurt because of her, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

  “I’m so sorry, Dalton. I don’t want to put anyone in danger. If you would take me back to my car, I can hit the next town. I promise I’ll get my hands looked at there.”


  Emma could feel her dinner coming up her throat. She didn’t want to do this alone anymore, but she would never put anyone else in danger. Maybe she could write a note to Ryleigh Quinn, no Ryleigh Thorp, to warn her. That might work, wouldn’t it? Then she could get to Uncle Frank’s cottage and hide out long enough to figure what to do next. No one would find her there. The man who owned the property couldn’t be linked to her in any way. At least, she hoped that was the case.

  “Honey, I’m not worried. We can handle anything that comes up. I just want to be prepared. So, if you can tell me anything, that would be appreciated.”

  Emma owed him that much, but as soon as she got the chance, she would make a run for it. It was the right thing to do. This was her problem, not Dalton’s.

  “I don’t think anyone followed me. I was going up to a friend’s cottage about an hour north of here. It’s entirely off the grid and isolated.”

  “Do you think that’s the best idea? That just means there won’t be any witness if someone is following you.”

  Dang-it, Emma couldn’t help the fear that shot up her spine. He was right; she kept on making one stupid move after another. Emma also didn’t like the look of disapproval on Dalton’s face. She wanted to please this man and that brought up all kinds of thoughts. After what she’d gone through, shouldn’t she be freaked out by any man’s attention? Or was Dalton something different? She didn’t have the energy, even with the food she’d only eaten, to look into those thoughts further.

  “I didn’t think of that, Dalton. I can tell you that someone is after me, at least I believe they are, and it’s not an ex. I honestly can’t go into much more. I just met you and even though you have been really kind to me, I can’t lay all my cards on the table right now. I also know I need the medical help; if your friend can take a look at my hands, I would greatly appreciate it. But then I need to be on my way. I think I need to keep moving. Maybe the city would be a better choice than the cottage.”

  “Okay honey, I understand, but please keep an open mind. We can help you; NAC and The Holly Group have ways of helping people hide if they need to. You need medical attention, more food, and you need some sleep. Please take what we have to offer, even if it’s only for the night.”

  Emma knew this was probably a bad idea, but Dalton made her feel safe, and that hadn’t happened in a long time. She wanted, no needed, one night to gather her strength, so she could face the next day.

  “Thanks Dalton, and I think I will, even if it’s only for the evening. I’ll not put anyone else in danger because of the mistakes I made, it wouldn’t be right.”

  Dalton wanted to shake her; she needed help but was more worried about everyone and everything else rather than taking basic care of herself. It reminded him of Ryleigh. It also reminded him that if he couldn’t get Ryleigh, a person he thought of like family, to do what was needed, how was he going to convince this woman?

  “Honey, no one could’ve made enough mistakes to have deserved those bruises and cuts you have all over your hands and wrists. But I’m glad you are willing to let us help for the night.”

  “You say that now, but you don’t know what I did. If I could’ve kept my mouth shut, I might not be in this position now.” Emma whispered not even realizing she was speaking out loud.

  Dalton filed that information for later. They were coming up on the lodge, and he needed to get his game face on before Cash had a chance to rip it right off. Thank God, Jacks was out on a mission. His Alpha would kill first and ask questions later if he thought Ryleigh was in danger. Dalton knew he would protect this woman with everything he had, but he hadn’t figured out why, yet.

  Emma hadn’t been paying attention. She didn’t know how long they had been driving, and she was once again ashamed of herself. She was on the run and here she was blanking out, not paying attention to her surroundings or even where this stranger was taking her. It was laughable. After everything she’d been through, she knew better. When Dalton turned down an unmarked drive Emma started to panic.

  Dalton immediately noticed when Emma began to panic; the smell of fear was still pronounced, but had been lessening during their short time together. he’d been able to get a slight whiff of her natural scent, but once he turned down the drive to his home, the scent of her fear amplified once again. Not wanting to ramp up her fear anymore, he did the only thing he could think of and lightly grabbed her wringing hands.

  Emma couldn’t believe the reaction she was having to Dalton. Once he placed his hand on hers, coaxing them apart, and then intertwining one with his, she immediately calmed down. Staring at their intertwined hands for a moment, Emma realized this stranger made her feel safer than she’d ever felt in her life. Even though that should scare the crap out of her, it didn’t. Looking up, Emma saw a beautiful lodge come into view. The place took her breath away.

  “Dalton, this home is beautiful and huge. Do you live her alone? It looks like several families could live here.”

  Emma wanted to laugh. Here she was in stolen clothes, dirty, and ashamed, and Dalton was driving her up to the equivalent of a wilderness mansion. There honestly wasn’t any other word to explain the sight she was seeing. His home was huge, the kind of estate a person expected to see in Colorado or the Swiss Alps. It was beautiful, majestic really. From her vantage point, she could see the log mansion boasted at least three stories of hand-hewed logs that fit perfectly together. There was a covered porch, of course, littered with rocking chairs and the entryway blew her away. She’d never seen a door that big in her life. It had to be at least ten feet tall and had, not one, but two large doors made out of oak or another sturdy wood. Being a city girl, she had no idea about such things.

  The mansion was built on a gentle rise which sloped gradually away from its sides, making the house the focal point that it should be. Not that Emma thought anyone looking at the home could miss it. The uneven road they had been traveling on had turned into a well-kept circular drive, which impressed her because they were clearly well away from civilization. It was like someone had carved out this piece of heaven in the woods to place the beautiful home there, just for her. The only part of the property not covered with trees and wildlife was the drive, and Emma loved it all on sight. She had a strong feeling of home, but wouldn’t let herself be deluded in that way.

  Emma was once again totally freaked out. Dalton looked like a simple man. Dressed in worn jeans and a simple t-shirt, she wouldn’t have placed him as privileged. His truck was nice, but nothing extravagant. She’d been expecting, well heck, she didn’t know what to expect. But now that she was thinking about it, a house this size had to cost a fortune and made her question her decision to come with Dalton. Maybe he was in league with the people who had placed her in this position. What did she know about the man she was currently sitting next to? What if he was leading her right to the people who had her before?

  “Yeah, she’s a beauty, isn’t she?” Dalton responded before she could go into a full-blown panic mode. “My NAC team owns her; we all live here. But don’t worry, most of the team is out on a mission. It's only my Second, myself, and Ryleigh right now.”

  Losing a little of the tizzy she’d worked herself into, Emma relaxed a little. She hoped NAC was nothing like the people who had held her, but she couldn’t help but feel that she was putting a lot of trust into the reputation of a woman she’d never met. She hoped Ryleigh Thorp was worth it.

  Parking in front of the lodge, Dalton asked her to wait, so that he could help her down from the ramped-up truck. Once down, he grabbed the bags of food from the back and escorted her into the lodge. It was even prettier on the inside.

  Dalton didn’t want to leave her alone, but at the moment the coast was clear. His bear didn’t sense Cash was close at the moment, but when he got there, Dalton needed to have his hands free. It would only take him a second to drop off the food.

  “Honey, let me put this stuff in the kitchen and get Rye. You can put your coat in the closet
right there on your left. Why don’t you wait here, I’ll be right back?” Dalton said, briskly walking to kitchen.

  Emma stood in the entryway debating taking off her last piece of protection. She didn’t want Dalton or anyone else to see how bad of shape she was actually in. She was considering her options when the biggest, scariest man she’d ever seen walked into the room, not making a sound. He was huge, at least four or five inches taller than Dalton and he was larger than any bodybuilder Emma had ever seen. Dalton was big, but this guy was a mammoth. His head was shaved bald, and he had a goatee that was as menacing as the piercings that littered his face and ears. At first, he looked as surprised to see her standing there as she was to see him, and then he looked pissed. That’s when Emma started shaking. When he reached for the gun which was holstered under his arm, Emma almost lost it. This man was scary, he didn’t even need the weapon, he could probably kill with just a look. At least that was what her rapid heart rate was telling her. Emma was sure it was only a matter of time before it stopped beating altogether.

  Chapter 10

  “Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?” the man demanded, pointing his gun at her.

  The water Dalton had given her was making a beeline through her bladder, but right before she was sure she would pee her pants, a tiny woman peeked her head out from behind the behemoth. She was pretty with auburn hair and beautiful, green eyes.

  “Calm down, Cash,” she said, placing her hand on the huge man. “Questions first, guns later,” she joked. The women stepped beyond him, not paying attention to the glare he cast her way.

  The woman seemed familiar to Emma, but in her current state of mind, she couldn’t process it at the moment. Emma also couldn’t remember if she’d actually seen a picture of Ryleigh on the website she seen when she looked up The Holly Group at the library before all this happened. What got her, and almost made her start giggling like a lunatic, was the sight before her. The petite woman had on pajamas with bunnies all over them. Her slippers were even shaped as bunnies, complete with a pink nose, whiskers, and ears, making her look almost childlike. The contrast between the two people was disarming. All Emma could think was, ‘the princess and the biker’. The woman tried to walk closer to Emma, with her hand out, but the behemoth stopped her.