a stranger in a dark suit that looked a size too large for him.
Eva’s gaze narrowed warily when he came right over to her, stopping when only a few feet separated them. Hopefully he just needed a lighter—
“Found you.”
The hair on her arms sprang up when he paired that with a quick glance around, as if checking to make sure they were alone. She did the same and cursed silently when she saw she’d walked farther from the ballroom doors than she’d realized. The sounds of the gathering were much more muted out here in the shadows.
“You were looking for me? Specifically?” She casually pushed herself off the railing, getting ready to bolt if he came any closer. Not that she could move very quickly in her heels. “Do I know you?”
His thin lips stretched into a knowing smile and he sidled over, effectively blocking her escape. “Don’t be scared. I’m just here to give you a message.”
Without warning, her meeting with Stefano Moretti popped into her head and she glanced around once more. Where the hell was everyone?
As if on cue, an amplified voice came over the sound system inside to introduce the first speaker of the evening, followed by the polite applause of the assembled guests.
Well, that explained it, she thought as she focused on the man in front of her. They were about the same height, but he outweighed her by at least thirty pounds.
Eyes, throat, groin.
Eyes, throat, groin.
Eyes, throat…
Caleb had drilled the trio into her and Nika’s heads before every date they’d gone on. He’d even been so thorough in his self-defence training to teach them the proper way to hold a knife and how to shoot a gun. Either weapon would have come in handy right then.
“This message,” she said, trying to appear unaffected. “Did my boyfriend send you out to deliver it? I know he’s not the most patient guy.” Maybe if he thought someone knew she was out there he’d leave her alone.
He didn’t respond. Just stared at her with a bland smile that didn’t reach his beady eyes.
Fuck this.
She stepped to the side, rudely pushing between him and a stone bench. But rather than let her pass, his hand shot out and latched on to her wrist. When he roughly pulled her into his body, she froze, caught completely off guard by the bold move. And his surprising strength.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, anger joining the panic filling her chest as she gave her arm a good yank. “Let. Go!”
“This isn’t necessary, kitty.” She slapped his hand away when he cupped her shoulder, and barely heard his, “I just wanted to talk to you,” through the rushing sound in her ears.
With a quick move, she shifted, and using the momentum, slammed her elbow into his solar plexus, just like Caleb had taught her. A burst of whiskey-scented breath shot out of his mouth as he bent over, but still he didn’t release her wrist. She pulled, tensing to lift her knee, just as a huge shadow appeared from out of nowhere and ripped her assailant away.
Eva’s legs almost buckled as Gabriel yanked the blond man farther into the darkness. At the same time, his fist was already swinging around and the crack of knuckle on bone sounded. Blood flowed from the creep’s broken nose, the shiny liquid black in the dim light as it ran over his lips and down his chin.
“Well, if it isn’t—”
Gabriel’s fist connected once more, effectively shutting the guy up and perhaps shattering a few teeth in the process.
Faster than she would have expected, the blond snaked around and broke Gabriel’s hold. He reached down to his ankle and came up twirling a knife. He swung his arm out and the blade narrowly missed Gabriel’s wide chest as he moved lithely to the side, proving right then that he’d done this before. The two circled each other and the blond lunged again. But Gabriel was too fast, his expression tight, terrifying. With one deft move he had the attacker’s knife-wielding hand in his grip. He jammed his knee into the man’s stomach and snatched the falling blade when it would have clattered to the ground. He ended it by delivering a solid backhand to her assailant’s temple that caused the man to fly backward and land in a crumpled, unmoving heap on the hard stone.
With her hands tented over her mouth, Eva went to cross over to Gabriel but was stopped by a gentle hand on her