Adora looked surprised. "Yes I do." She paused. "You would do that?"
"Of course; she was his mother. I'm going to make sure he knows all about his birth parents and how much they loved him." Ellie's heart broke a bit thinking of the woman she would never know but who had given her so much.
"I'll get with the rest of the pack. We'll create a photo album or scrapbook for Benji with stories of his parents. That way they'll never be forgotten."
"Thank you," Grant said, giving Adora one of his rare smiles.
Ellie swayed from side to side as she rocked Benji. Adora pointed down to the toddler. "Did you want me to put him down?"
Ellie shook her head. "No, I want to keep him with me a bit longer if I can. I'm about to head back to the house to call a friend. She's another doctor who may be able to help."
"You know where to find me later." Adora leaned in and kissed her cheek before walking over to one of the children's beds and picking up a book to read to them. Adora, like Marjoram, worked with the children every afternoon to keep them entertained. Her grandmother was also sitting with one of the children; however, instead of reading, she was helping them with a puzzle.
"We'll be back," Ellie said, tilting her head up. Grant didn't let her down. He kissed her gently. With the playful swipe of his tongue across her lower lip she sighed and stepped back. Not only was she holding their one-year-old son in her arms, they were standing in front of a ward full of children. She scowled then stuck her tongue out at him.
His deep belly laugh had the children turning toward him like plants toward the sun. Seconds later, their giggles joined in with his masculine laughter. Ellie couldn't take her eyes off him. When scowling, he was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen; when laughing, he was a god.
She shook her head and turned toward the door. A playful swat on her bottom, and the children were giggling again. She swung around, but Grant was acting as if nothing had happened. "Come on, Benji, before your father gets any more playful and stops my heart." Her mate had the audacity to wink at her before he sat down next to one of the Hamilton boys and picked up an action figure.
"You won't be a sneaky wolf, will you Benji?" she cooed as she walked back toward their house.
"Did you want me to hold Grant down for ya?" Emeric asked.
She shook her head. "No, he knows I'll get my revenge later."
He laughed. "No wonder he was feeling feisty. If I had a mate as gorgeous as you, I would be popping your bottom and worse."
"Emeric!" Ellie's mouth fell open, and he laughed at her shocked expression.
As usual, when they were alone, her guard entered the home first. She followed after him and shut the door. He had just rounded the corner to check the kitchen when she heard a shout.
Emeric ran into the family room. "Run!" he yelled.
Ellie's feet were frozen as red blossoms appeared on Emeric's chest as he stood between her and the tall figure in the kitchen. He gasped once then fell to the floor.
"Emeric," Ellie whispered in horror. Why couldn't she get her feet to move? Slowly, she took a step back toward the door.
"I wouldn't if I were you, Eleanor," a familiar male voice warned.
Ellie swallowed then turned. "Mr. Redly? What are you doing here?" She was about to
kick him out when she saw the gun with silencer in his hand. "Emeric?"
"Shot." He stepped over the fallen guard. "I never believed finding you and getting you alone would be so much trouble. If it weren't for the hospital supply order your grandmother placed in your name, I never would have found you. Now step away from the door while I explain what is going to happen."
Ellie took a single step forward. She couldn't get her feet to move any farther away from the door and closer to him. Her slight movement must have satisfied him because he began speaking.
"You and your grandmother have disrupted plans that have been in motion for quite some time. But you will be able to rectify that for me."
"What plans?"
"After your childish display, your grandmother called the Board of Directors and had them fire me."
Ellie blinked. "She did?"
Redly growled. "As if you didn't know. I need my position, it keeps me abreast of any new medical discoveries. I have interested buyers in many countries who pay very well for the research I provide."
"But you don't own it; how can you possibly sell something you don't own?" she asked. If she could just keep him talking, she knew her chances of being discovered would increase.