Page 30 of Havoc's Fox
“All part of the same clan here, Abby.” Emmalyn rolled up her window, waved again and backed out of Christian’s driveway before gunning the engine and racing off down the road.
“Like that’s not confusing.”
“What’s that?”
“Abby, Addie.”
“Tell me. Always has been,” Addie said, picking at her nails as she looked out of the window as Emmalyn drove her to face so many people, she knew she’d not remember their names. But Christian would be there, and she couldn’t pass up a chance to spend a little time with him.
“Don’t be nervous, Addie.”
Addie turned and looked at her.
“Christian is the nicest male I’ve ever known in my life and you’re doing me a huge favor, too.”
“How’s that?”
“Like I said, taking the attention off me and mine. Someone new to watch instead of the usual drama.”
“You think they’ll mind?”
“Nope. I think they’ll be curious. Just hang with me and Analise and act like you belong there. Lots of good people in our clan.”
“Thank you, Emmalyn. For giving me this chance.”
“Oh, girl, you live next to him. It would have happened sooner or later.”
“Maybe. Alpha Brandt said he’s not around much.”
“He’s not. He’s a doctor and finishing up his residency in New Orleans most of the time.”
“A doctor? He won’t even look at me.”
Emmalyn drove like a bat out of hell, she always had. She’d managed to not run into anything, and get them back to her house in only minutes. “What do you mean, he won’t even look at you?” she asked, as she swerved around the couple of cars already parked in her driveway and just on the edges of it to bring her car to a stop almost on the porch. She turned and looked at Addie after throwing it in park. “Explain what you meant by that.”
Addie looked at her woefully, trying unsuccessfully to hide her insecurities. “He’s an educated male. A doctor. I’m just some little female from Podunk wherever the hell we’ve been until now and I’ll never be more.”
“Hey, let me tell you a few things… my generation, we all came from an established clan thanks to our parents. But our parents didn’t. Each of them struggled to find a place, to belong, to be accepted. Some of them had nothing, not ever, others lost everything and had to start over. Some of them are educated and some aren’t, but all are successful, good people with unquestionable integrity and heart. And you’ve got a good heart, too. You’re a good person. Don’t cut yourself short because of what life has handed you. I know these things. It’s my job.”
Not giving Addie time to reply, Emmalyn threw open the door and got out of the car, leaning back in to grab the five bottles of liquor she’d taken from Christian’s house. She handed two of them to Addie, and held three of them herself.
Addie followed her up onto the front porch of a beautiful Acadian style home. “How is it your job to know if I have a good heart?”
Emmalyn grinned at her. “I’m a profiler for the FBI.”
A horrified expression crossed Addie’s face. “Oh, sweet Jesus.”
Emmalyn laughed joyously. “It’s okay. You passed. Sixth sense and all, plus the extra stuff I get from my dad’s side. We know things. You’re good.”
“Explains the phone call earlier, too,” Addie said.
“What phone call? There was no phone call, was there?” Emmalyn insisted.
“Nope. Not a single phone call. Didn’t hear a thing.”
“Exactly. I think you're going to be my new best-friend.” Emmalyn opened the door and stepped inside. “Hey, guys! Meet my new friend, Addie!”
Chapter 8