"No," I said, more forcefully than I intended. "She stays with me."
The three men all stared at me in shock, and I could practically hear their thoughts. Gideon finally broke the silence. "Dion, are you sure that's wise? You've only just met her."
I arched an eyebrow and swept a hand encompassing their faces. Maddox grinned. "He's got us there."
"But we don't even know if she's a Little," Gideon objected.
"It doesn't matter what she is," I replied half insulted that Gideon would think it did, my tone leaving no room for argument. "My house is secure. The dogs are already protective of her. And she trusts me, at least a little."
Gideon studied me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "This isn't like you, Dion. You're usually the most detached one of us all."
I couldn't explain it, not even to myself. There was something about Emily that had gotten under my skin from the moment I'd seen her file. The way she'd stood up to those guards despite her fear. Her kindness toward the dogs. The pink ribbons in her hair.
"Just trust me on this," I said finally.
Gideon sighed. "Fine. But we do this by the book. Full security protocols. And if she's in danger because of what she knows, we need that information, Dion. All of it."
"Understood," I agreed. "But I'm not pushing her. She's been through enough."
Gideon cleared his throat. "I heard from Walker tonight. It was his gran's funeral yesterday."
I shook my head. Walker hadn't told us she'd died. "No surprise he didn't tell any of us so we could be there." I knew the others agreed.
"He told me he'll be back in a few days," Maddox said.
Eric interrupted. "Carter Law—Emily's father's company—is kept on retainer for Oak Developments."
"What a surprise," Maddox drawled. I groaned because that complicated everything. Oak Developments was owned by Jonathan Rice.
"Get some rest," Gideon instructed. "We'll reconvene in the morning."
The call ended, and I sat there for a moment, staring at the blank screen. What the hell was I doing? I'd never brought a woman to my home before, much less insisted on being her personal protector. This was my sanctuary, my private space where I could let my guard down. Now I'd invited a virtual stranger into it.
But Emily wasn't just any stranger. And the thought of her being anywhere else, even with my team at Salvation, made my chest tighten uncomfortably.
A soft sound from the hallway caught my attention. I turned to find Emily standing in the doorway, drowning in my t-shirt, her hair tousled from sleep.
"I woke up and you were gone," she said quietly, her voice still thick with sleep. "Anubis brought me to you."
Sure enough, the dog stood beside her, his dark eyes meeting mine as if to say, "I did my job."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." I stood, crossing to her in a few long strides. "I was just checking in with my team."
She nodded, looking impossibly small and vulnerable. "Did they find anything?"
"Not yet, but Eric—our tech guy—is working on it."
She nodded, but her eyes darted nervously around the room. I noticed her thumb drift toward her mouth before she caught herself and quickly lowered her hand, wrapping her arms around herself instead.
"You should be sleeping," I said gently. Wondering if her fear and being half asleep was contributing to her change in demeanor.
"I had a bad dream," she admitted in a higher voice, then immediately straightened her shoulders as if regretting the confession. "I mean, I woke up and wondered where you were."
I studied her face, noting the slight tremble of her lower lip that she was trying valiantly to control. "Would you like some warm milk or hot chocolate to help you get back to sleep?"
Something flickered in her eyes—a flash of yearning quickly suppressed. "No, I'm fine. I'm not a child."
"I didn't say you were," I replied carefully. "Even grownups can enjoy comfort sometimes, especially after a day like today."
