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I unlocked the bathroom door and took a few more seconds to smooth my hair back from my face. I heaved in a deep breath, bracing myself to return to the table.
I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to brace myself. Joseph was there, waiting for me. He would make sure I was safe and happy.
The bathroom door swung open, and I jolted.
“Occupied,” I said, but the lady didn’t seem to care.
No. It wasn’t a lady.
A man stepped into the small, tiled space. He was almost as tall as Joseph, even if he wasn’t as broad. He looked leaner. Scrappier. Meaner.
His lips were curled in a sneer, a wicked scar on his right cheek puckering with his twisted expression.
“This is the ladies’ room,” I said, trying not to stare at his scar.
He shut the door behind him. Locked it.
“I wanted to talk to you, Ashlyn.” He took a step toward me.
I took a step back, and my butt hit the wall. The space was too small, and the man was too close.
Before I could open my mouth to scream for Joseph, the man pulled aside his leather jacket to reveal a gun holstered at his side. His other hand came up to his face, and he pressed his finger against his lips as he shushed me.
“What do you want?” I whispered, not daring to raise my voice any louder. “How do you know my name?”
“I know a lot of things about you.” He took another step toward me, but there was nowhere for me to go, nowhere to run. “Not as much as Joseph knows about you, judging by the pictures my friends took.” He reached up and brushed the backs of his fingers down my cheek.
I turned my face away, but he didn’t break contact. My heart hammered against my ribs, fear coursing through my veins. It was just as toxic as it had been the night Marco kidnapped me. Only, this man wasn’t reassuring me that he would take me to Joseph and keep me safe.
He traced the line of my jaw before picking up a lock of my hair. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply. I shuddered, feeling more violated than I had when he’d touched my face.
“You’re very pretty,” he told me. “I can see why Joseph likes you. I’m sure he’d be heartbroken if anything happened to you.”
A soft knock sounded against the door. “Ashlyn?”
“Joseph!” I gasped out his name, too breathless to scream for him.
A loud bang echoed through the bathroom as the door flew open, the wood splintering around the broken lock. Joseph slammed into the man who’d been threatening me, his momentum taking them both to the floor.
I shrieke
d when strong arms grabbed me.
“It’s me,” Marco said. “I’ve got you.”
He picked me up, cradling me against his chest as he turned me away from the violence. Joseph brought his fist down on the man’s nose. I saw blood spray, and I hid my face against Marco’s neck.
“Don’t kill him, Joseph,” Marco warned as he carried me away. “We can’t draw first blood.”
Marco rushed through the restaurant, his big body shielding mine as he held me close, his huge arms protecting me. Several patrons exclaimed and stood to gawk, but Marco didn’t seem to care. He was completely focused on getting me away from the man who’d scared me.
“Wait!” I twisted in his arms when cool night air kissed my skin. “Joseph.” We couldn’t leave him behind. “That man had a gun.” My panic spiked, and I squirmed against Marco’s hold.
“He won’t use it,” Marco promised me. “They were just trying to send a message. Joseph will be fine.”
“You can’t know that!” I continued struggling, but his arms were iron around me.
“He’s already behind us.”
