if the police had questioned the guy and then released him because they’d had no real reason to hold him?
Unable to help herself, she turned just a little and focused on her periphery—
She almost stumbled when she saw the car now trolling alongside the parked vehicles, hanging a few meters behind her.
Shit, shit, shit!
Forcing herself to keep a steady, seemingly unaffected pace as she neared the line that had formed in front of the club, she almost clapped when she spotted Nika standing off to the side, looking drop-dead gorgeous in a green slip dress that covered much more than Eva’s did. She practically tackled her friend.
“Whoa!” Nika laughed, returning her tight hug. “Nice to see you, too.”
“The green car.” Her voice was trembling. “Is it still at the curb?”
“What?” Looking perplexed but instantly on alert, Nika’s gaze went beyond her, silver hoop earrings winking in the flashing lights from above. “It’s just leaving. Why? Who is it?”
Eva finally turned and watched the car slowly drive off down the street. Unfortunately, the tinted windows made it impossible for her to see anyone inside. “I don’t know. But I’m pretty sure they were following me.”
“Are you serious?”
She stepped back after noticing the entertained looks they were attracting from a group of guys, and as they took their place in line, recounted, first, her meeting with Stefano Moretti, and then the almost-attack the night before. She left Gabriel out of the story altogether—for the time being.
“And now that car. Do you think I’m being paranoid? Because I can hear myself and I sound paranoid.” She rubbed the goosebumps off her arms.
Nika gave her wrist a light squeeze. “Why didn’t you tell me about this Moretti guy? If I’d known you were so spooked, I never would have insisted on coming here. God, Eva.”
“I thought it was behind me and I didn’t want to pass up a night out with you.”
Nika blinked rapidly, smiling as she reached forward to tuck an escaped lock of hair behind Eva’s ear. “You’re sweet but stupid. Seriously, though, has Caleb found out why those guys were in his place?”
Eva shrugged. “He texted last night and had nothing. If he found something today, he’d have let me know. I texted him anyway, but he didn’t reply.”
“He will. I can’t believe that bastard last night. And at your mom’s fundraiser, too. Eva, I’m so sorry.” They moved up in line. “If I’d been able to come with you, maybe it wouldn’t have happened.”
If Nika had come with her, maybe Gabriel wouldn’t have happened either. Guilt poked at her when she felt relief that her friend had had other plans. “What did you guys end up doing last night?”
Nika’s face closed up and she looked everywhere but at Eva. “Oh, uh, we went to the movies. It was the premiere of some shoot-’em-up-look-at-my-pipes thing. No eye-candy, so I nodded off through most of it. You know what?” A mischievous smile curved her mouth. “I bet the guy in the car was trolling you because he couldn’t get enough of your smokin’ bod in this awesome dress.”
Eva snorted. “I can’t believe you bought this thing for me,” she grumbled as she looked down at the shimmering silver-blue sheath. “I mean, it’s pretty, but there’s nothing to it. You’re lucky I love you too much to hurt your feelings by burning it.”
“Are you kidding? It’s perfect. Caleb would kick both our asses if he saw you. Me for buying it, you for wearing it. How is he?”
“He’s good but misses you. Says he doesn’t get why you won’t move to New York and start over.” Eva watched closely, but all she got was a warning look.
“Don’t start on me, Eva,” was the subject closer that time.
They reached the entrance and, after showing the overly ripped bouncers their IDs, entered the club. The place was packed as they made their way to the end of the bar with the lights and base thumping to match their heartbeats. The high tables for standers and table and chair combos for those who wanted to sit were all taken, as were the booths surrounding the dance floor.
After ordering drinks, they moved off to the side and lucked out when a trio of inebriated women a little older than them stumbled away from one of the small round tables. They pounced on it.
“So, aside from your new admirer,” Nika said. “How was your day?”