face. “I know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t him. Garner Neuville is not here. But I am. Okay?”
“Yes. It’s the rawness of my memories and the alcohol.”
“Which is understandable.” He takes my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
We head for the stairs, and I have such a strong feeling of being watched again that the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Which makes no sense. Kayden just checked the room. I’m officially done with drinking.
Bundled up again, Kayden and I exit into the cold night. “This way,” Kayden says, turning us left, his arm around my waist. “We have two left turns to reach the castle.”
“I’m never going to figure out these small clusters of streets.”
“Landmarks,” he says. “Look for restaurants.” He points to a green sign. “That’s a pharmacy sign. They’re always easy to find.”
We turn left onto another busy street lined with restaurants, and my head spins a bit. “I’m still tipsy, so I’m not likely to remember it tonight.” I sober a bit with memories of the bar. “I really thought I saw someone back there, Kayden.”
“And I really do believe you.”
“But I had this moment when I thought it was him. I hate that I’m letting him get to me.” We turn left onto one of the streets that’s more alleyway than road, with parked motorcycles in clusters along the walls and little alcoves here and there, and I’m immediately uncomfortable. “I know I’m drunk, but—”
“I feel it, too.”
I reach under my coat and unzip my purse, just in time. Someone jumps out at me from an alcove, and instinct kicks in. I throw an elbow, whirl around, and shove my knee into my attacker’s groin. He grunts and falls to his knees, and I point my gun at him.
“Kayden?” I call, glancing over my shoulder to see him slam a gun into the head of another man, who collapses next to yet another who’s already on the ground.
The man in front of me groans and rolls to his back. Kayden is there instantly, shoving his foot into the man’s chest. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I say, while Carlo and two other men appear seemingly out of nowhere and point weapons at the fallen men.
“Bitch,” the man on the ground growls at me.
“That bitch took you down while she’s drunk,” Kayden tells the man. “Who sent you?”
“Fuck you,” the man grumbles.
“I’ll be your bitch,” Carlo offers, placing his foot on my attacker’s hand and giving it a crunch, apparently pretty hard because the man makes a horrible sound.
“Who sent you?” Kayden demands of the man.
“I don’t know,” the man growls and when Carlo starts to apply pressure again, he says, “It was a cash pickup. I never saw the person.”
“What were your instructions?” Kayden asks.
“We were supposed to scare the girl and make her feel like you can’t protect her.”
Carlo laughs. “And then the girl beat your ass.” He glances at me. “Remind me not to piss you off.”
Kayden tells him, “Tie them up and dump them on Gallo’s doorstep.” He turns to me, and it’s only then that I realize I’m still pointing my gun. He takes it from me and sticks it back in my purse. “It’s done.” He links my arm around his, and sets us walking toward the castle, removing his phone to punch in a number.
“Detective Gallo,” he says a moment later. “You have a special delivery coming your way. And thanks for making me look good. Your men were idiots, and Ella is more convinced than ever that I’m the greatest warrior on the planet.” There is silence, then Kayden laughs. “I’m thinking you should arrest those guys and look like a hero. I’ll come file a police report tomorrow if you like. And I’ll even bring Ella.” He ends the call and sticks his phone back in his jacket.
I cut him a curious look. “How do you know it was Gallo?”
“Because he’s the only person I know of who has a motivation to scare you, and is stupid enough to hire the kind of idiots who thought this would go well.” He scrubs his neck. “I’m going to have to do something with him.”
“Like what?”
“Create a scandal that forces him to leave his job and the city.”
“That’s horrible.”
“I’m just trying to shut him down before he ends up dead.”
“That does seem like where this is headed. On another note, your men got to us fast. So maybe having Giada stay close is a good idea.”
Kayden stops