Page 68

Jack lifted his binoculars and followed the direction that had sparked Tango’s interest. “She one of yours?” he asked.

“She’s not on my Alabaster roster. She was their guest. I offered her a ride, but it looks like she’s got a stubborn streak.” Ethan grinned.

Even though he wasn’t contracted to protect Piper, Ethan was still ready to jump and run.

But her saying no to his offer meant he’d have to suppress his fast-twitch response.

Tango stomped the ground and whined, and Ethan wondered if he had let his emotions run down her lead again.

Even still, Tango had acted this way at the Tiftons’. And she’d been right.

Ethan lost Piper when a large man blocked his line of sight.

A van drove at a slow crawl beside her for no perceivable reason.

Movement at the Frou-Frou door had Ethan turning to see Winston coming through.

“I have him,” Jack said, pushing Winston back into the restaurant and using his massive height to block his exit.

The van stopped.

It was a flash to assess.

A glance.

A decision.

Ethan unleashed Tango and gave her the hand signal to race forward and protect.

Tango was locked onto Piper. She knew her assignment.

Ethan launched himself into a dead sprint, hoping like hell that when he caught up to Piper, he’d find Tango en guard and nothing more.

The bridge was two hundred meters across.

Halfway was a football field.

And that’s where the van had stopped.

From his height, Ethan watched the door open. A hand grabbed for Piper.

She was fighting.

The man who had blocked Ethan’s view drew a knife, brandishing it in a trained hand.

Piper didn’t see the weapon. If she had, it probably would have stopped that fight cold.

From Ethan’s experience, that knife was terrifying in size and shape, but it wasn’t great for stealth or practical use. If he were trying to kill someone, the man would have to hack and slash them to death.

Given that the man was lowered to a combat-ready stance, it was possible the knife was there for show, calculated to terrify a woman into compliance.

Maybe he didn’t mean to kill Piper on the bridge.

Though Ethan had seen people lose the plot and do lethal, horrific things when their plan was upended.

Tango was a shooting star, rocketing forward, dodging people, leaping into the air.

Good girl, Tango. Ethan sent his thoughts winging in front of him, his feet flying over the walkway.