Like tonight. A club? His innocent beauty in a nightclub? With a friend that was just as attractive as Eva but in an entirely different way? Fuuuck. The vultures would be out for blood the second the girls walked through the doors.
So would Gabriel.
“Stay close. Text me the name and location of the club. We’ll be inside just before ten. Let me know if her plans change.”
He dropped the phone next to his twitching thigh and bent to rest his elbows on his knees. Then he smiled. Looked like he was reverting to the old ways of picking up women in bars.
He tossed back a last swig of water before standing to throw the empty plastic bottle into the recycle bin next to the wall just as Alek walked through the opaque glass door, his Tom Ford looking overly formal against the black mats and training equipment. He slapped a folded newspaper onto the bench before going over and leaning against the mirrored wall.
“Not the kind of attention you need right now.”
Gabriel grabbed the paper and flipped it open. The success of last night’s gala was the headline, the story and two photos beneath. Photo number one was the front view of the Crown Jewel. Photo two was of him and Eva. The caption under the picture read Entrepreneur Gabriel Moore, co-owner of the Crown Jewel, and Eva Jacobs.
He studied what the photographer had captured. Christ. The way he was holding her, melded to his side, it looked as if he’d had her hundreds of times. The way she was looking up at him, eyes wide, cheeks flushed. She looked like she wanted him to have her hundreds more.
“That’s guaranteed to bring out the wolves,” Quan said from over his shoulder. “But it’s a good look on you, G. I like it.”
So did he.
He folded up the paper and tucked it under his arm.
“You know Stefano is going to see that,” Alek interjected, crossing his arms over his chest. “My uncle, too, if I know him. You also know it’s going to cement your brother’s decision to come after her.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth. Of course he knew that. “Vasily’s still incommunicado. He managed to send a text at five this morning saying he’d be on the radar again in a few days.” He’d been relieved to get the message. There was nothing worse than not hearing from one of your own for a long period of time. The mind always went for the negative scenario. “In Stefano’s case, I say we go to him. Preferably before he sends another flunky. Or comes to Seattle himself.”
“I think that’s the only option left to us,” Alek agreed. “When do you want to leave?”
“In the next day or so. I’ll let you know.”
Alek nodded. “Now that that’s settled, let’s go to the restaurant and eat. I’m sick of room service.”
The three of them filed out of the gym and went down the hall toward the elevator.
So much for cleaning up and heading out to Mercer Island. In a perfect world, Gabriel would have killed the club idea and kept Eva under wraps until his brother could be dealt with. But the world they lived in was far from perfect.
The ding of the bell announced the arriving elevator car. They entered the large space, joining a young, obviously newlywed couple—judging by the brand-new sparkling ring set on the woman’s finger. They nodded a greeting, and even though Quan and Alek were polite—Quan mentioning of all things, the weather—the way the round little blonde pressed herself into her husband’s arms, you’d think one of them was holding a blood-dripping butcher knife.
For two cents he would have let her know he wasn’t the brother she had to watch out for. But that the psychopath might very well be on his way.
† † †
Being Sunday, it took no time at all to get into Seattle and even less to find parking. An Audi R8 pulled out of a spot just down the street from the club, and Eva slipped her Ford Focus right in and cut the engine.
She checked the side mirror before getting out. “Come on,” she murmured as a car slowly pulled up. “I’m not leaving,” she added when it stopped next to the one parked behind her.
After a few beats, waiting with her fingers on the door handle, the car’s headlights blinding her, she grabbed her purse and got out, tugging at the short hemline of her dress as she gave the unseen driver an apologetic wave for the misunderstanding.
Fighting the stupid butterflies that always came before going to a club, she distracted herself by peering into the windows of the shops she passed as she made her way up the sidewalk. She paused to ogle a pair of heels and was about to move on when, through the window’s reflection, she saw that same sedan still inching down the street. She glanced at the line of parked vehicles, hoping to see one pulling out so the mystery car could pull in…
All were empty and still.
Fighting a shiver and trying not to let her imagination get the better of her—or her memory—she started walking again, passing a good amount of foot traffic coming in the opposite direction. It wasn’t like someone would try “giving her a message” with so many witnesses around.
And Gabriel had thought the message thing was a ruse to distract her anyway, so she shouldn’t worry. Right?
She bit her lip and ignored the disappointment that came with the reminder that he hadn’t gotten in touch today.
Yeah, and neither had the police. She’d assumed they’d want to know if she wanted to press charges against her assailant. Or, at the very least, she’d thought they might want her side of the story. But she’d heard nothing.
She refrained from looking over her shoulder. What 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?”
“Boring. Yours?”
Nika shrugged. “Same.”
“Nothing new going on,” she pressed.
“No, Eva.” Her friend sipped from her Mojito. “It’s the same…” She shrugged again. “It’s just the same. You must be missing your mom now that you’re home, surrounded by her things. How’s your OCD?”
“Nika!”
“What? We all know you have it. Or a touch of it anyway.”
All, meaning Nika and Caleb. Did they discuss Eva’s tendency to…tweak things? She would have felt attacked but couldn’t when she remembered putting off her shower today so she could rearrange the toiletries under the bathroom sink. Labels out, large bottles in the back, small in the front, fat bottles next to fat, narrow next to narrow, none of them actually touching.
She sighed and took a drink of her Cosmo before changing the subject. “By the way, I sort of met someone last night.”
Nika’s head whipped away from where she’d been checking out the dance floor. “What does that mean? Like you met…someone?” Her expression was alive with curiosity.
Eva nodded, picturing Gabriel. “Nika…” She hesitated, not sure what to even say about the man who’d made her want to end a twenty-three-year chastity streak. “He was really, really something.” She peeked up from where she was tapping her nails together and was surprised to see a satisfied smile on her friend’s face.
“Finally,” she thought she heard Nika say before she asked more clearly, “Who is he?”
“Well, he’s actually the owner of the Crown Jewel. The hotel where the gala was held last night.”
“I know the Crown Jewel. Everyone in Seattle knows the Crown Jewel. Holy shit!”
Eva laughed. “Right?”
“How did you meet?”
She explained having seen Gabriel first in New York and then again last night. When she got to the part about it being Gabriel who’d intervened with her attacker, she could tell Nika instantly fell in love.
“Good man,” she said firmly. “And you saw him first in New York? So this is like kismet! How romantic! I can’t believe your time has finally come. I thought it never would. I’m so excited for you, hon. God, if anyone deserves some happiness—or even just a sweaty roll in the hay—it’s you.”
She took a gulp from her glass and kind of laughed. Could Nika know how lonely she’d been lately?
“Seriously, aside from your mom, and me and Caleb, you’ve never really had anyone else in your life to care about you the way you deserve.”
“Everyone deserves to have someone love them, Nika. Just because I didn’t grow up in a big family and have a ton of friends doesn’t mean I was deprived of anything. What I had was enough.” Until now.
“Oh, I know. I didn’t mean you missed anything, other than having a father. Just that you deserve more.”
Eva then shared the news about her new job and received the expected enthusiastic congratulations. Until the part about moving back to New York was revealed.
“Oh, come on! You just got home!” The panicked look on her friend’s face struck Eva right in the chest.
“I know. But it’s a great opportunity. Why don’t you come with me?” she pleaded, setting aside her now-empty glass. “Cut your losses here. I know—Caleb and I both know, even though you won’t admit it—that things aren’t going well for you. Talk to me, Nika. Please.”
Her friend’s gaze darted around the room as if the boogeyman were about to jump out at them. “I can’t. As much as I’d like to tell you everything.” She shook her head, her anxiety palpable. “I can’t. Just know that…shit. Listen, I’ll follow you as soon as I’m able. Now, please don’t ask me about my marriage anymore, because I won’t involve you. I just can’t. Not you or Caleb.” Her hand trembled as she raised her glass and drained the contents.
“Nika…you have tell—”
“No. Now promise me you’ll drop it. Promise me, Eva,” she stressed, her jaw tight.
“I…but…is he hur—”
“Eva! Promise. Me.”
“Okay, okay.” Even though she was loath to do so, Eva promised. “I won’t push anymore. Just…if I can help in any way, you know I’m here for you.”
“Of course I know that. I’ve always known that. You and my brother…” Nika’s smile was tender and a little too bright. “I just can’t involve you guys. Now let’s drop it and try to have a good time, okay?”
Eva nodded but wasn’t sure she’d be able to pull that off.
SEVEN
Gabriel stood at the bar in the packed nightclub, feeling as if someone had snuck up and ball-peened him in the temple without him noticing.
He, Alek, and Quan had arrived before the girls. And now here he stood, slack jawed, the pounding music killing him with the dirty all-about-fucking lyrics as he ran his eyes down the length of Eva’s scantily clad body. Possessive fury surge through his body. What. The. Fuck.
“Who’s the redhead?” Alek asked over the noise.
“The biker’s sister.”
“Surprised he left her out here on her own,” Quan said from his other side.
“She’s married.” He watched Eva move around the small table and leaned in to say something in Nika’s ear—
A steamy shot of desire blew his brains out. Oh, maaan. He sucked in a sharp breath and held it, raising his eyes to the ceiling as he fought for control.
Her dress.
Her dress had no back. From nape to tailbone, fragile ribs to fragile ribs, she was completely bared for all to see.
He didn’t like that. Jesus Christ, he did not like that.
“Boys,” Jak greeted as he joined them at the bar. “A car met up with her just before the bridge and tailed her all the way in. Took off when she joined with the smokin’ redhead. Who the fuck is that?” He gave Nika a long look and whistled appreciatively.
The news of the tail didn’t sit well with Gabriel. “She’s married, so put it away. Did you get a look at the driver?”
“Couldn’t without revealing myself or losing her, so no. I’ll run the plates in a second.”
“What’s your guess?” Gabriel asked. “Another of Stefano’s
guys or the PI?” He’d prefer the latter at this point. At least the private investigator wouldn’t be a danger to her. Unlike the others.
“PI for sure. The guy had a few clear stretches where he could’ve nudged her off the road but didn’t.”
Shit. Regardless who’d been in the car, Stefano was closing in.
And so were the three guys standing not far away eyeing the girls, no doubt plotting how to maneuver to their table.
Jealousy was new to Gabriel. Unfamiliar. Fucking sucked, to be honest, because he wasn’t sure how to deal with it. Should he act on it, get it out of his system?
He pictured smashing a couple of heads together.
His mouth turned down and he nodded slightly. That would feel good.
Or should he ignore it? Wait for it to pass. Allow the trio—who now looked as though they were arguing over who would get which girl—to make their play and get shot down. Let nature take its course.
He snatched up his fresh Stoli and swallowed it whole. “She’s mine,” he growled as he slammed his empty glass on the bar top…just as a break came in the music.
Alek, Quan, and Jak stilled, tossing questioning looks in his direction. They’d heard his statement, and he couldn’t fault their reaction. It was an astounding claim coming from him.
Jak eventually nodded as if it wasn’t news.
Quan did the sign of the cross before kissing his three fingers and sending them skyward, as though offering a prayer of thanks.
Alek’s eyes narrowed. “Your responsibility. Right?”
“No.” That was the only explanation he offered as he watched Eva remove the clip from her hair so that the mass could fall down her back in the darkest of waves. Better.
Jak slapped the bar with an open palm. “I’m heading out before the jealous tears come. I’ll be available again at oh-six-hundred, boys. See ya.”
Once Jak was gone, Alek turned back to Gabriel. “What’s this about, G? Fucking her? Or something more.”
Gabriel clenched his jaw and cursed his big fuckin’ mouth. “I’m not talking about this with you, brother.”
Vengeance Unleashed (The Wanted Men Series Book 1) Page 8