The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) by Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot

managed to force a smile. “I suppose so. There is another bookstore on 5 th Avenue. Maybe that’s where she works.”
    “Maybe,” he seemed to consider.
    Watching him go, Dani exhaled slowly, letting a shudder course through her. What on Earth was he doing coming into the store like that? The man really must be crazy if he thought that Emma would want anything to do with him. Dani’s thoughts were interrupted by the small gray-haired woman in front of her. “Mrs. Pemberton, did you find a book for Chloe?”
    “I certainly did, dear, thanks to Emma.” The elderly woman smiled warmly at Dani. “So how long have you been here now?”
    “Almost a month.”
    “That’s wonderful. It’s too bad about you being sick last week though. I hope you’re feeling much better.”
    “Oh, I am. Thanks for asking, Mrs. Pemberton.”
    “I just hope whatever you had didn’t get passed along to Emma, the way she ran upstairs so quickly. Poor girl, she said she wasn’t feeling well and she’d talk to you later.”
    “I’ll be sure to check on her as soon as I can,” Dani assured the elderly woman as she handed her the bag and smiled.
    “It’s so nice that the two of you look out for each other. Sean would be proud.”
    Dani watched her go while she fought all her instincts to run up the stairs. Not wanting to upset Emma even more by closing down the store or getting the employees involved, she waited twenty minutes until Will came in to relieve her. Quickly explaining that Emma wasn’t feeling well, Dani raced upstairs to Emma’s apartment.
    “Emma, Emma,” Dani called knocking loudly on her door. Hearing the door being unlocked, she entered the apartment and was almost knocked over as Emma fell into her arms.
    “I heard his voice and ran.”
    “Shhh, it’s okay, Emma. I told him that I owned Ryan’s Books and nobody by the name of Emma Sampson worked here. I think I might have confused him just enough for now,” Dani explained, sitting in a large leather chair and pulling Emma into her lap.
    “What am I going to do? Sean’s not here to stop him now.” Emma curled up and put her head on Dani’s shoulder. Dani rubbed her back until she was able to even out her breathing.
    “Well, the first thing you’re going to do is get Atticus and move in with me.” Dani held up her hand as Emma started her protest. “It’ll be safer, and I don’t want you being alone with him on the prowl. The second thing we do is call a family meeting to brainstorm how to get rid of Patrick Sampson for good.”
    Emma looked up into Dani’s caring blue eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered, before putting her head back and relaxing into Dani.
     
    * * *
     
    Two pizza boxes, six cans of soda, four water bottles, and three juice boxes littered the crow’s nest. Dani had her arm protectively around Emma as they continued to debate what to do about Patrick Sampson.
    “Why don’t we see if he’s wanted on any charges?” Will suggested, crushing his latest juice box.
    “That’s actually not a bad idea. Any idea how we go about doing that?” Dani asked.
    Stevie smiled. “Yeah, we ask my brother, the cop.” She tossed a full bottle of water to Will. “Knew there was a reason we let you stay with us.”
    Will grinned. “And here I thought it was my charming personality.”
    “Nope,” Anna chimed in. “Free manual labor was the first draw.”
    Emma tried to enjoy her friends’ bantering but was still tense. “Actually, Will,” she began. “Stevie and Anna just wanted a free pet sitter for Roxy.”
    “I knew they loved that Rottweiler more than me,” the boy grinned as Anna lunged across the open area to hug and tousle his hair.
    “Well, the dog doesn’t talk back,” Stevie retorted, as the group laughed.
    Dani couldn’t help pulling Emma closer to her. “Okay, so everyone know the plan then?”
    Will nodded. “Yep, first thing in the morning, you guys go to the police and file a restraining order against the