pay the tab for the ambitious little fucker whose chatty mother cleaned his suite every second day.
He waved the clearly enamored ginger over with a two-fingered prompt. “We won’t be changing our minds about that champagne, kid. If I see you troll by here again, you’re gonna be wearing it. Got me?”
“Sorry.” Liam’s grin was good-natured, his eyes flipping between Gabriel and Eva. “Just doin’ my job, Mr. M.”
So as not to be a complete asshole, he bumped the offered fist. “Get lost.”
“Yes, sir.”
Liam nodded to an amused Eva before he left, tray balanced perfectly. Out of the corner of his eye, Gabriel could see Jak and Quan standing a few feet away. Quan had his back tonight, Jak had been on Eva since she’d left her house. Neither of them blended with Seattle’s upper crust. But then, none of them did. Too rough around the edges.
“Listen, there’s something I need to take care of. Were you planning on leaving anytime soon?”
Eva’s midnight hair shimmered under the chandeliers as she shook her head. “Not for a while yet. Will you be back?”
“Absolutely,” he vowed when he heard the hopeful note in her voice.
Her cheeks grew bright as she smiled. “Good.”
With that softly delivered ego boost ringing in his ears, he turned on his heel and got the hell away from her. “Don’t let her out of your sight,” he snarled at Jak as he went by, feeling Quan settle at his left flank.
He stormed his way down the busy corridor, blind to the tuxedos and evening gowns scattering like roaches to get out of his way. Keeping his head down, he dialed as he went through the lobby and solarium, passing guests admiring the tall trees and lush greenery spread in every direction.
“You should be flattered as hell.”
He listened to the phone ring in one ear as Quan’s comment filtered into the other. “Why?”
“The look on her face when she first saw you?” Quan’s chuckle was all about male appreciation. “You should be flattered as hell. That’s all I’m saying.”
Gabriel’s chest tightened with pleasure as he recalled the glow of recognition that had lit Eva’s eyes when she’d first spotted him, the interest. He was so goddamned flattered it was mortifying.
“I just hung up with Vincente,” Alek informed him on answering. “He got into the PI’s office. Found a fat file on Stefano Moretti’s little bro. Over a year long. There was no information on exactly who Eva is, but they know something is tying you to her.”
“Name and description?” The guy had only been doing his job, but that didn’t mean Gabriel wasn’t going to let the PI know he’d gotten into bed with the wrong brother, and that if he didn’t climb out, the man was done.
“Quan and Jak have it.”
Quan held up his phone; a rounded face was front and center on the screen. Gabriel leaned in and stored the image as Alek went on.
“Apparently, Ian Preston has an eye for detail—we should snap him up. Vincente said there were quite a few photos of you in New York, with Eva’s image circled in red in the background.”
Fury bloomed in Gabriel’s chest, but he tamped it down. Vasily was going to want his head on a pike for this. Nothing good ever came from being distracted in their world.
“Stefano is gunning for her.” A statement. Not a question.
Alek’s sigh wasn’t encouraging. “Looks like it. One of his boys is heading our way. V said his name is Skars, but that’s all he got. Maksim is working his IT skills on finding out more, but until he does, he said to be on alert. Stefano specified Eva isn’t to be touched, but who knows how loyal his guy is. Maybe he doesn’t take direction well. And just so you know, I’ll be staying in Seattle until this is settled.”
“You’re upstairs?”
“Yes. After yesterday, I had a feeling things were going south. And she is family. The only female cousin I have, actually.”
“Thanks, brother. I’m glad you’re here.” Gabriel’s gratitude was sincere. Alek was a definite asset.
Quan slapped him on the arm and indicated Gabriel should look over his shoulder. He turned to the stone terrace that stretched the entire rear of the hotel and was instantly captivated when he saw Eva drift across the way to lean on the iron railing that overlooked the darkened gardens. There were only a few other people out there, and they were already heading back toward the ballroom doors.