and Alek. They’d go to New York, deal with this shit once and for all, and be back for Eva’s second day on the job.
His gut churned at the thought of possibly having to choose between her life and Stefano’s. Why the fuck had his brother brought them to this point? Fucking idiot.
Maybe he should take her with him. Keep her close.
Yeah. And make her that much more accessible to a man who wanted her dead.
Okay. So she stayed put. Fuck. He didn’t like that. Didn’t like any of this.
Leaving the walk-in, he stalled at the sight that greeted him.
The boutique manager had turned his request for something casual into a black-and-turquoise sleeveless summer dress. The black nail polish on Eva’s toes twinkled in the morning light as she slipped her feet into a pair of black sandals that had a beaded design across the top in the same color scheme as the dress. Her wet hair was twisted and secured to her nape with who knew what so that the slender column of her neck and throat were exposed.
She straightened and gave a start when she saw him, then ran a hand over the material covering her flat navel in a self-conscious gesture. “Thank you for this.” Her voice was curiously raspy in its discomfit. She bent and grabbed the heels she’d worn last night. “I have to go. You know, drive home. Change. Maybe eat something. You know…”
She trailed off as he approached, holding her eyes, not liking in the least how uncomfortable she appeared, even if it was her first morning-after. He lit up remembering that and dropped a kiss to the side of her neck. “Let me grab a quick shower and I’ll bring you to your car.”
She shook her head. “I’ve already put you behind schedule. No need to make it worse. I’ll find it on my own.”
His brows came down. “You haven’t done anything to my schedule, Eva. If I want to take a few hours because some exquisite creature wants to rock my world, then I’ll take those hours.” He kissed her shocked mouth. “Now go out and have a coffee. There’s a tray in the dining room. Help yourself to whatever else you find. It’s usually fruit and yogurt. I’ll be quick.”
Without giving her a chance to protest, he disappeared into the bathroom. If she was gone when he got out, she was going to be one very sorry girl, he vowed as he hung his suit on the door and dialed Quan.
“Hey.” His boy’s voice was sharp and alert.
“Morning. You around?”
“Just hanging in my room until I hear two sets of footsteps. You know, since her car is still in the garage.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched. “Listen for one in case she leaves without me. If she does, stay on her. But she shouldn’t.” He hoped she didn’t. “Have her car brought around. You’ll follow her home—”
“Jak will.”
“What?”
“Jak will follow her home. I’m on you.”
Of course. “Right. Tell Jak to follow her home, where she’ll change and then leave again right away. Once she makes it to the office, you two can meet up and hang until I need you later. Do you know if he ran the plates from last night?”
“Rental. Bob Miller. Figured a generic name like that would be exactly what it was, so we dug deeper. It was Stefano’s PI, who is now sweating it up at the warehouse. Seems the guy has a conscience. Had a letter in his pocket addressed to you. He told Jak he was going to drop it off at the hotel on his way to the airport.”
Gabriel frowned. “What’d it say?”
“‘They know about the girl. Keep her away from her house.’”
Gabriel nodded around his surprise at the gesture. “Get the fuck outta here.”
“No lie, brother.”
Shit. Eva was going home now. With Jak on her tail and Nick and Bobby T waiting for her return. She was covered.
“Let him go,” he said, getting back to the PI. “Warn him to fuck off, though. Without roughing him up. He was only doing what he was being paid to do. And keep his info, because he was damned good at his job. Then I want you to call Nick and tell him to head next door and do a sweep of Eva’s house. I also want Bobby T to comb the area, make sure no one’s hanging on the street.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks, man.”
He ended the call, catching his reflection in the mirror as he reached in to