BRUCE MET THE couple by the front doors of the hotel and held the car door open for them. Niall waited for Charlotte to climb inside before following her.

“Where are we taking you, lass?” Niall asked.

“Oh, right.” Charlotte checked her phone. “SE Salmon and Sixth. It’s the industrial area of Portland. Vandi says you can’t miss it. Some kind of auto shop, and the building has Russian writing on the side of it.”

Bruce entered the information into the GPS and pulled away from the curb. Niall faced Charlotte as much as he could, strapped into the seatbelt. “What’s going on with your sister?”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “She’s gotten herself involved with this guy who’s twenty-two, and for whatever reason, my mother has sanctioned it.” She shook her head. “Something else is off, though... more than the age difference. I just can’t quite pinpoint what it is.”

“Sixteen-year-olds can be impetuous.”

“And stupid,” she added.

Niall felt the temperature in the car drop and he frowned before taking her hand. As he felt her emotions calm, the temperature returned to normal. Strange. “We’ll find her and see if we can talk some sense into her, eh?”

“Thank you.” Charlotte let out a sigh of relief and squeezed his hand. “Sometimes I feel as though I’m the only sane one in my family.”

Niall chuckled. “Been there.”

Bruce pulled into the parking lot of the building and Charlotte released her seatbelt.

“No, love. You stay here,” Niall instructed. “Bruce and I will get your sister.”

“What? Why?”

“We don’t know who these people are or what they’re capable of. I’d rather not put you in their crosshairs.”

Charlotte let out a derisive snort and pushed open her door. “It’s Portland... not Oakland or Compton. These people don’t scare me.”

Niall shook his head and followed her. He managed to grasp her hand and pull her slightly behind him, but didn’t miss her quiet growl under her breath. Bruce led them to the building and nodded that it was safe to enter before stepping aside and letting Niall precede Charlotte through the door.

“Charlie!”

A flurry of blonde rushed into her sister’s arms, and Niall took a minute to take in the surroundings. The room looked like a typical reception area you might find in a body shop, with one difference. A very blatant lack of customers or body work happening behind the glass door leading to the garage. In fact, there was a blatant lack of people, period. He pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures, forwarding them to Oliver.

“What’s going on?” Charlotte asked her sister.

“Nikolai told me to wait here, but he’s been gone a long time,” Vandi said.

“How long?”

Vandi checked her watch. “Almost two hours.”

“Alone?” Niall asked.

“Yes.”

Charlotte frowned. “Okay, let’s get you home.”

Vandi stared up at Niall. “Who are you?”

“Oh, sorry,” Charlotte said. “Van, this is Niall.”

Niall shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, lass.”

Vandi narrowed her eyes. “You look familiar.”

“He’s a musician.” Charlotte tugged her sister toward the car.

“Are you guys dating?”

“Friends,” Charlotte said quickly.

“Aye... friends,” Niall said.

Charlotte smiled and followed Vandi into the car. Charlotte sat in the middle which Niall liked very, very much. It meant he could rest his arm behind her, keeping closer contact. Once everyone was secure, Bruce pulled away from the building and out of Portland.

Vandi’s phone rang just as they reached the freeway and she answered it with a clipped tone. “What? Well, you left me there alone, Nikolai. Without any way to leave. My sister and her... friend.” Vandi turned away from Charlotte and lowered her voice in an obvious effort to get some privacy. “Well, excuse me. I expect to be treated better than those other girls who fall at your feet. No. No. I gotta go.” She hung up.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Charlotte asked.

Vandi glanced at Niall and shook her head. “Not right now.”

“Did he have some form of a reason or excuse for why he left you there?”

“Later, Charlie.”

Charlotte frowned.

Let her tell you alone, love.

She’s acting like an idiot.

I don’t disagree. Get his phone number if you can. I’ll do some checking.

Charlotte nodded. She better not try to defend this ass-hat.

Niall chuckled and Vandi turned to him. “What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, lass. Charlotte elbowed me,” he improvised.

“I did?” Charlotte asked, digging her elbow in his side. “So sorry about that.”

Careful, love. You’ll no’ win this game. Niall grinned, pulling her back against him.

“How long have you known each other?” Vandi asked. “Is he one of your online dates?”

Charlotte shook her head. “He’s actually Grace’s brother-in-law.”

“Oh! Niall MacMillan, right? Fallen Crown?”

“Aye, lass,” Niall said.

“Holy crap, Charlie. Did you tell him you totally worship him?”

“No!” Charlotte snapped. “And I don’t worship him.”

Vandi leaned forward and smiled at Niall. “She had your posters all over her wall up until she moved to Cali. Did she tell you that?”

“No. I don’t recall her mentioning that,” Niall said.

Charlotte shook her head. “That’s because I didn’t... mention it or have posters all over my wall.”

“Yes, you did.” Vandi focused on Niall again. “I think she had... what was it? Forty-two of your band, and—”

“Vandi, shut up,” Charlotte warned.

“Just sayin’. You were obsessed with them.”

“I was not ‘obsessed.’”

“You were so.” Vandi gave an evil smile. “She had you guys and U2, and what was the other band you loved? Oh, right, Bon Jovi.”

“Mom loved the Jovi, Van.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll give you that. But you used to grab chopsticks and pretend to drum along with Fallen Crown. Admit it.”

Did you?

Charlotte covered her face with her hands and groaned.

I’m quite flattered, love. Niall chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair.

“You will pay for this, sissy,” Charlotte said.

“Bring it.” Vandi giggled. “It was worth it.”

“You’re the devil.”

Vandi gave a mock bow. “And my job is done. Thank you.”

I’m sorry. Ignore her.

Why? I love that you’re a fan.

Okay, we can go with fan. That makes me sound better than obsessed stalker.

“Are you dropping me home?” Vandi asked.

“As opposed to...?” Charlotte said.

“You coming in and babysitting me.”

“Van, we have to talk about this guy.”

Vandi crossed her arms and sank into the seat. “No, we really don’t.”

Don’t push her. It’ll only drive her away.

Charlotte stiffened beside him.

Not that I’m trying to tell you what to do with your sister.

She relaxed again as she pulled out her phone and sent a text to her mother. “You can talk to Mom, then.”

“What did you just do?” Vandi squealed.

“I texted Mom.” Charlotte glanced back at her phone. “She’s meeting us at home.”

“Why did you have to go and do that? She doesn’t need to be involved.”

“Yes, she does,” Charlotte argued. “You’re sixteen and she’s your mother.”

“Oh, my god, Charlie. She’s totally going to ground me.”

Charlotte nodded. “I hope she does!”

“You’re not the boss of me!”

“And I praise God every day for that,” Charlotte said. “Look, I may not be your parent, Van, but I do care about you, and if you’re safe and mad at me, it’s better than you being in a situation you can’t get out of. You and Mom can sort this mess out.”

“I hate you.” Vandi crossed her arms with a huff and scowled at her sister.

“That’s okay, sissy. I still love you.”

Niall pulled Charlotte back against his chest.

Thank you.

For?

For everything. She squeezed his knee. You kind of rode in like a knight in shining armor, just when I needed one.

Well, that’s just what I was going for.

Do you do that for all your friends?

He ran a finger across the nape of her neck. Only the pretty ones.

She smiled at him over her shoulder and he didn’t miss the pink in her cheeks.

You really are stunning, love.

Charlotte snorted. And you’re apparently blind, with a terrible sense of smell. I need a shower.

“What are you snorting for?” Vandi asked. “Are you sick?”

“No, Van. Just a little stuffy.”

“Because Maggie was just a little stuffy too.”

Grace’s sister, Maggie’s initial leukemia symptoms had appeared to be nothing more serious than a common cold.

Charlotte smiled gently. “I’m not sick, Van. Don’t worry.”

“I still hate you.”

Charlotte nodded. “I know, sissy.”

* * *

Once Vandi was delivered into the confused arms of their mother, Charlotte headed back out to the car where Niall waited. He was on the phone, but hung up as she approached.

“I don’t mean to interrupt,” she said.

“You didn’t. I was finished.” He smiled. “Everything go okay with your sister?”

Charlotte shrugged. “I have no idea. But Mom’s on it.”

“Are you interested in joining me for dinner?”

“I don’t think I should.”

“Why not?” Niall frowned, but then quickly softened his expression. “No pressure, love.”

She bit her lip. “Dinner as friends?”

He smiled. “Aye, lass. As friends.”

“Okay, but after I shower and make myself look less like the hag under the bridge.”

Niall laughed. “Sweetheart, you don’t look like the hag under the bridge.”

Charlotte’s heart raced at the endearment, and she found herself biting her lip to keep from sighing. “Well, I’d at least like to look a little less like a homeless person.”

“Still not seeing it,” he said. “I need to run a few things over to Grace’s family. Shall I pick you up at six?”

Charlotte checked her watch. “Six would be perfect. What should I wear?”

“A little birdie told me you had an affection for Serratto.”

“It’s only my favorite restaurant on the planet.”

Niall smiled. “Excellent. I made reservations for six thirty.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “What if I’d said no?”

“I figured I’d take Maggie instead.”                                           

For whatever reason, that answer caused jealousy to well up, but she forced it down. “If you want to take Maggie instead, I’d totally understand.”

“Well, that’s very big of you... friend.” Niall crossed his arms and leaned against the car. “But I only saw Maggie a short time ago, and I’d really like a chance to get to know you.”

Charlotte couldn’t stop a smile. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.” Niall leaned down and kissed her cheek, whispering, “I will take you there every night if it will make you smile like that.”

Charlotte sighed. “You really are too much, Niall MacMillan.”

He chuckled. “I’ll leave you now. If I don’t, I’ll be tempted to throw you into the car and drive you back to Scotland.”

Charlotte nodded, slipping her hands in her pockets in an effort to keep herself from grabbing onto him and never letting go. She watched him drive away before running back into the house and up to her room. She needed to find the perfect outfit, which meant unpacking another box she’d procrastinated with.

A knock at her door pulled her from the closet. “Come in.”

“You’re going out again?” her mother asked.

Charlotte nodded. “Niall’s taking me to dinner. Everything sorted with Vandi?”

Her mother sighed. “I have no idea, hon. She seems to think she’s in love.”

“With a twenty-two-year-old?”

“No!” her mother exclaimed. “Is he?”

“Yes, Mom. Didn’t you know that?”

“That little liar. She told me he was nineteen.”

“Still,” Charlotte countered. “A little old to be hanging around high schoolers, don’t you think?”

“Well, not really. It’s only a three-year difference.”

“Except that it’s not. It’s six years.”

“Yes, that does make this weird. She’ll just have to stop seeing him.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Good luck with that.”

“Thanks for getting her.”

“Of course.” Charlotte smiled. “You should really thank Niall, though.”

“I will when he gets here tonight.”

Charlotte just nodded, having no intention of letting her mother anywhere near him.

Watch those claws, sweetheart.

Charlotte bit her lip to keep from retorting.

“Well, I’ll let you change, hon.”

Charlotte nodded. “Thanks, Mom.”

Her mother left the room and Charlotte headed for the shower.