The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,63
that the ruby and diamond ring I saw on display before?”
Easton scowled. “Maybe.”
“The very old, historic, and extremely expensive ring?” Harlow pressed a hand to her silk-clad hip.
“So?”
“It wasn’t for sale!”
“Everything is for sale,” Easton countered.
“Says the billionaire.”
“I bought it for you.” He blew out a breath. “The woman who is impossible to give anything to. It’s damn lucky that I love you.”
“Easton—”
He rose. “You liked it. It’ll look beautiful on your hand. A symbol that you’re mine, that we’re a team.” He lifted her hand and held the ring up. “It’ll look even better when you’re wearing just this in our bed.”
Harlow gasped. “Easton, your parents are standing right there.”
Rome could see that she was weakening.
Easton’s voice lowered. “Say yes, Ms. Carlson. Be my wife.”
A smile broke out on Harlow’s face. “Yes, Mr. Norcross.”
Easton smiled and slid the ring on Harlow’s finger. Then he swept her into a wild kiss.
Applause broke out.
Sofie, with tears in her eyes, pressed a hand to her throat, watching with a warm look on her face.
Her brown gaze met Rome’s.
Then the crowd shifted, blocking Rome’s view of her. When he looked again, she was talking with some guests.
He scanned around again, and his gaze snagged on a couple partly hidden by one of the large pillars.
Hell. Ace had Maggie pinned against the marble. The pilot had one long leg wrapped around Ace’s waist and the pair were going at each other like there was no one else in the room.
This had trouble written all over it.
Ace went through women fast and easily. He had a hell of a reputation.
Rome glanced back at Sofie, and saw she was talking with a woman. He frowned. It was the dark-haired woman who’d bumped into him before. He saw Sofie’s face harden into angry lines.
Forgetting all about Ace and Maggie, he started forward.
The brunette waved an arm, bumping Sofie’s champagne and spilling it. Shit. Who was this woman?
Laughing people cut in front of him. He saw a server in a uniform stop by Sofie and offer her a fresh flute of champagne.
She took it and when the man turned, Rome saw his face.
It was one of the Serbians. Tadic.
Fuck.
Rome glanced over and spotted another server behind Sofie, watching her intently.
Kezman.
Rome touched his ear and activated his earpiece. “Vander. Tadic and Kezman are on Sofie.”
“I’m coming.” Off to the left, he saw Vander pull away from his parents.
The Italian brunette said something to Sofie and the color drained from Sofie’s face.
Shit. Rome picked up speed. He was almost to her.
Then the lights went out.
Sofia tamped down her annoyance at the tipsy woman who’d spilled a drink on her. Dante Luzzago’s girlfriend.
“I think you should sit down,” Sofie said. “And not drink any more wine.”
Dante had left the country after Robin Hood had stolen back the jewelry Dante had snatched. Apparently, his girlfriend hadn’t gone with him.
A server appeared, holding up a tray of fresh champagne. With a smile, Sofie took a glass and sipped it.
“The tiara is stunning.” The woman mumbled in Italian. “It would look better on me.”
Sofie stiffened. She spoke fluent Italian. “Good evening. Enjoy your night.”
As she turned, her legs suddenly felt weak. A wave of dizziness washed over her.
Sofie frowned.
She looked up and saw a server with heavy features watching her. Her pulse spiked. She wanted Rome.
“Princess, I believe I’ll just take the tiara,” the annoying brunette drawled.
Sofie turned, panic slicing through her. The woman’s gaze was now sharp and focused. Oh, crap. She was part of the Black Foxes, not just Dante’s ditzy girlfriend.
A strong wave of dizziness hit Sofie, the edges of her vision swimming.
There was something in the champagne.
The lights went out.
She heard someone scream, and people calling out. Sofie knew the woman and the other Black Foxes were after her.
Rome had gone over several contingency plans.
Fighting down fear, she dropped to the floor, and crawled on her hands and knees under the nearest table.
“Where is she?” a deep voice growled.
“Find her!” the woman cried.
Sofie kept moving. She couldn’t see well, but she had to keep moving. She skirted some people’s legs and crawled under another table, then another. She sent up a silent apology to Luis for crawling on the floor in her dress.
She had no idea which direction she was headed. She huddled under another table, and pulled the tiara off her head. It caught on her hair and she felt a sting.
The bastards were not getting this.
Someone bumped the table, and several women screamed.
Sofie darted out and dived under