Sheltered By The Coldhearted Billionaire Boss

The black, armored SUV tore through the wall of freezing rain just outside the Washington D. C. city limits.

The heavy tires slammed to a halt, sending a wave of muddy water crashing against the rusted iron gates of the Harmon estate.

Cale shoved the driver's side door open. He instantly deployed a massive black umbrella, stepping into the torrential downpour.

He jogged around the hood of the vehicle. His movements were sharp and practiced as he pulled open the heavy, bulletproof rear door.

A custom-made black leather shoe stepped out into the deep puddle. Ice-cold water splashed against the polished leather. Javier emerged from the cabin.

He stood perfectly still. His cold, flat gaze cut through the sheet of rain, scanning the ruined, overgrown front yard of the estate.

A sudden flash of lightning ripped across the black sky. For a fraction of a second, the harsh white light illuminated a tiny figure.

She was curled into a tight ball in the mud, pressed against the base of the stone pillar holding up the iron gate.

Javier pushed Cale's umbrella away. He ignored the rain soaking into his expensive wool overcoat and walked toward the stone pillar alone.

His leather shoes made heavy, sucking sounds against the thick mud with every step he took. The sound grew louder as he closed the distance.

At the sound of the approaching footsteps, Ella flinched hard. Her shoulders jerked up to her ears, and she buried her face deeper into her knees.

Javier stopped exactly one step away from her. He stood tall, looking down at her violently shaking shoulders.

Freezing rain dripped from his sharp jawline. He slowly bent one knee, lowering himself into the mud until his eyes were level with the top of her soaked hair.

He reached out with a hand covered in a black leather glove. His fingers clamped hard around her chin.

He forced her head up.

Ella's hollow, terrified eyes slammed into Javier's dark, temperatureless stare. The air trapped in her lungs refused to move.

"Stop this pathetic self-destruction," Javier ordered. His voice was a low, heavy rumble that vibrated over the sound of the crashing rain.

Ella panicked. She thrashed against his grip, her hands flying up to push him away. Her muddy fingers swiped across the lapel of his coat, leaving thick brown streaks.

The muscle in Javier's jaw ticked. He didn't let go. Instead, his leather-clad fingers dug tighter into her jawbone.

"You have two choices," Javier stated, his tone completely devoid of pity. "You get in my car, or you stay in this mud. The system has already discarded you."

The words hit her like a physical blow. The mention of the foster system made her pupils dilate until her eyes looked completely black.

Her chest heaved. A broken, wet hissing sound scraped up her throat as she fought to pull air into her lungs.

Javier released her chin. His eyes dropped to her pale, trembling lips, waiting.

Ella bit down on her lower lip. She bit so hard the skin broke, and a drop of warm blood mixed with the cold rain on her chin.

"Mr. Shepherd," she rasped. The sound was barely human, torn from a throat raw with screaming.

A microscopic shift happened in Javier's eyes. The rigid tension in his jaw relaxed just a fraction of an inch.

Without a word, Javier reached forward. He slid his arms under her freezing, mud-soaked body and lifted her straight off the ground.

Ella let out a short, sharp gasp as her feet left the earth. Her hands instinctively flew up, her fingers twisting into the wet wool of his collar.

Javier held her firmly against his chest. He walked with steady, even strides back toward the idling SUV.

Cale immediately pulled the rear door open wider.

Javier leaned in and deposited Ella onto the dry, heated leather seat.

He pulled back, walking around the back of the vehicle to the opposite side. He opened the door and slid into the seat next to her, leaving two feet of empty space between them.

The heavy door slammed shut. The violent sound of the storm was instantly cut off. The blast of hot air from the vents hit Ella's freezing skin, making her teeth chatter violently.

"Drive," Javier commanded.

The engine revved, and the SUV pulled away from the ruins of her life.