Page 39 of The Rebel Billionaire

"I have a situation. I have a friend who needs to make a police report, but it has to stay quiet. She can't come into the precinct and she can't have a black-and-white in her driveway. Completely under theradar."

There was a longsilence.

"Are you going to tell me who we’re talking about?" Brennan askedcarefully.

I gave him Charlie's address inanswer.

"Be there in ten,"hesaid.

That was why I liked working with Brennan. He was always calm, collected, and on the ball. I shoved my phone back in my pocket and glanced at Charlie, now leaning against the wall of her kitchen, hands hanging loose at her sides, staring at thefloor.

She looked beat to shit and so tired she could pass out right where she was. She couldn't go to sleep, not until she talked to Brennan, but a little food wouldsteadyher.

Grabbing her bag of take-out, I opened the container inside. Her burger was all over the place, avocado and onion strings and melted cheese mixed in with her fries. It looked a hell of a lot better than the dry chicken and finger food I'd had at the party. I did my best to reassemble it and handed the boxtoher.

"If you don't want furniture, you need to at least get some folding chairs and a table. For now, sit down on your futonandeat."

"Bossy," she said under her breath as she took the container and turned her back on me to walk down the hall to her makeshiftbedroom.

I didn't give a shit if she thought I was bossy. Charlotte Winters needed to get her fucking head on straight. She wasn't going to like it, but she was going to goddamn listentome.

I waited until she was settled on her futon and had a mouthful of food before I laid downthelaw.

"You need looking after," I said. As expected, her blue eyes flared with aggravation. It shouldn't have turnedmeon.

Since when did I like argumentativewomen?

Sincenever.

Charlie started chewing faster so she could swallow and start yellingatme.

I pointed a finger at her and said, "Can it. I know you're a smart, responsible, adult woman. Do you have any self-defensetraining?"

I could tell she was surprised by the question. Her reluctance was so obvious I had to fight a grin. She shook herhead'no'.

"Can you handleagun?"

Another reluctant shake ofherhead.

"Do you have any of the skills you need to defend yourself if you're attacked or spot someonefollowingyou?"

This time, she didn't bother to shake her head, just gritted her teeth and swallowed, getting ready toargueback.

"You need looking after," Irepeated.

Charlie took a huge bite of her burger and began to chew, her mutinous glareadorable.

"Does Sinclair have you on the schedule for your securitysystem?"

Shenodded.

"Tell me it'stomorrow."

Anothernod.

That was something. They’d put in a solid system, and if they missed anything, I couldupgradeit.

"Tell them you need a panic button. I could get you one, but I don't do a lot of personal security and I don't think I have any in stock. Sinclair willhavethem."