Theirs to Protect - Julia Sykes Page 0,31

released a huff of annoyance. “Please leave. We’re not interested.”

He snagged one of the empty glasses that had been delivered along with the Veuve and poured a glass. “But I am interested.” He lifted the glass, keeping unnerving eye contact with me as he took a long sip, then smacked his lips. “Delicious.” He was still staring at me.

I shivered and crossed my arms over my chest. “My boyfriend will be here any minute,” I warned. “You should leave.”

Dark, bushy eyebrows lifted almost all the way to his salt-and-pepper curls. “Boyfriend? Which one?”

My stomach did a somersault, but I managed to hold my ground. He didn’t necessarily know that I was in a relationship with two men. He didn’t know me. He could just be making a skeevy comment about me dating multiple guys. “It’s none of your business.”

His mouth tugged in an affected frown. “So rude. You didn’t even let me introduce myself. My name is Ciro.” He held out his hand in offering. “It’s nice to meet you, Ashlyn.”

An iron band closed around my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. How did he know my name? And his eyes… I’d never seen him before in my life, but I’d seen that look reflected in the eyes of other men: hungry and cruel. That was the exact gleam I’d seen in Gabriel Costa’s eyes before he pinned me down and tried to force himself on me. He’d looked at me like that when Joseph was bleeding out right in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t do anything to save him.

Ciro released a heavy sigh and dropped his hand. “Very rude. When I see Russo and De Luca, I’ll have to show them how to keep their woman in line.” He drained the rest of his Champagne and set it on the table. The soft clink of glass on wood pierced my heart like a gunshot.

“Back off,” Jayme snapped, her voice wavering. “I don’t know who you are, but you need to leave.”

His lips split in a wolfish smile, but he didn’t take his hungry eyes off my face. “I already told you who I am.” He leaned in close and brushed a kiss over my cheek. His hot breath fanned my neck, a wash of toxic air. “Tell your men I said hello.”

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Jayme railed, but he was already walking away. She started to slide out of our booth, her willowy body shaking with rage. She was going to chase him down. My fierce friend wanted blood.

“Wait!” I gasped. “Don’t go after him.”

Jayme had no idea about Marco and Joseph’s past. She had no idea that they’d held me captive for weeks to protect me from their criminal enemies. All she knew was that I’d gone on a heartbroken hiatus from school before reconnecting with Joseph and meeting Marco. She didn’t understand how dangerous Ciro must be.

“Please,” I begged. “I need you to stay here with me.”

She paused, glaring at the door where he’d just stepped out into the night. “Ashlyn, that man just touched you. I’m going to talk to the manager. There must be a security guard or bouncer that can make sure he doesn’t come back here ever again.”

Marco’s text flashed through my mind: Don’t leave Jayme for any reason. I’m on my way.

Did he know one of his enemies was lurking nearby? Where was he? Where was Joseph?

“Jayme!” I captured her wrist. I couldn’t allow my friend to go storming after a dangerous criminal to give him a piece of her formidable mind. “We need to stick together right now. Marco is on his way. He’ll sort everything out.”

Reluctantly, she nodded and eased back into her seat. “How long until he gets here?”

“I’m not sure.” I reached for my phone with shaking hands. “I’ll text him.”

My trembling fingers hovered over the screen, hesitating. I didn’t know what to say. If I mentioned Ciro, Marco might go tearing after him. I didn’t want the man I loved to run straight into a trap. Because that’s obviously why Ciro came here to taunt me. He wanted Marco and Joseph to hunt him down. He wanted them to come to him.

This part of our lives was supposed to be over. Men like Ciro weren’t in the picture anymore.

I squeezed my eyes shut, rubbing at the phantom burn where his breath had heated my neck as he whispered in my ear.

“Oh, thank god,” Jayme exclaimed. “The cavalry has arrived.”

My eyes snapped open, and