Strategic Maneuvers - Jemma Westbrook Page 0,85
head toward the building, meeting Pierce’s gaze. “Get her inside. I’ll deal with this out here.”
Pierce glanced up to where Amelia was crumpled next to Anthony, tears streaming down her face. “She’s young. She doesn’t understand what’s happened. Don’t give her a hard time.”
Zeke scoffed. “What kind of asshole do you think I am?” He passed the pistol Pierce kept in his office to Abe as the rest of the men began taking over the scene.
“The kind who should probably be in charge of training every woman on staff.” Pierce scooped Mona up, being careful not to bump her injured arm.
He turned to Helen. She was standing in nothing but a thin thermal shirt and a protective vest, working with the men around her as if she had been part of the team as long as they had.
He looked closer.
Her vest had a clear shot to the chest.
“He shot Helen.” Mona’s head fell to his shoulder and her eyes closed as her body started to shake. “I thought she was dead at first.”
Pierce turned and began the slow trek to the building, trying to keep his steps as even as possible to avoid jostling Mona. “Helen doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who’s easy to kill.”
“She’s a badass.” Mona’s voice was soft. “You should hire her.”
“I technically already employ her.” He skimmed his eyes down Mona’s pallid face and walked a little faster, risking the rougher ride. “Stay with me, Love.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Her eyes opened. “I probably should. I keep ending up in those damn woods.” Her lips turned down. “And killing people.”
“Some people need killed.” Pierce finally reached the flatter snow of the paved drive.
“Amelia knew him.”
“It would appear that way.” He’d been so naïve to think he could keep Amelia under his thumb.
It was an unfair thing to do, even if it was for the best of reasons.
And now Mona was suffering because of the delusions of power he tried so hard to prove were not his.
And yet they were.
“I’m the one shot and you’re the one frowning.”
He glanced down to find her eyes were once again closed. “How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“And I should point out that considering I intend for you to be the mother of my children, one would hope I’d frown under the circumstances.”
The main door just beside the garages opened. “You dick.” Heidi glared at him. “Did you not hear me yelling at you?” She went straight for Mona. “What in the hell happened, Monster?”
Mona’s lips pressed together, her eyes starting to water.
“I’m here.” Eva ran down the hall toward him, shoving a wheelchair in front of her. “Give her to us.”
Pierce pulled Mona closer.
Eva’s head tipped down. “I swear to God Pierce, I will do horrible things to you if you don’t give me my best friend right now.”
Harlow and Bess were right behind her with the rest of Intel hot on their heels.
He faced down the group of women.
All of them monsters.
“She’s mine.”
“I don’t remember anyone telling you she wasn’t.” Eva pointed to the seat of the wheelchair. “Give her. Now.”
“Put me down.” Mona wiggled in his arms. “I want to go with them.”
It was a blow to his ego. A stab to the part of him already aching from the events of the day.
But Pierce did as she asked, carefully setting Mona on her feet before helping her ease down in the chair. She was barely seated before Lennie dropped a thick blanket over her and the women whisked her away, leaving him standing alone.
“She’s a hell of a girl.”
His head snapped toward Helen. She stood right beside him, watching as the women disappeared around the corner leading to the main buildings. “She almost died today.” His eyes dipped to the defect in Helen’s vest. “You almost died today.” He turned to look down the hall. “Because of me.”
“How was this because of you?” Helen snorted out. “This all started because your sister had terrible taste in men and your parents would rather keep their place in the world than do what was best for their children.”
She wasn’t wrong. She also wasn’t entirely correct. “It was my job to keep all of you safe.”
“And you did.” Helen started walking. “Mona and I were both ready as hell for today because of you.” She turned toward him. “Are you coming? I want to go check on her. Make sure she’s doing okay.”
“She didn’t want me.” He tipped his head toward where Mona and the rest of