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Suck it back, asshole.
He blew out a slow breath until the pain passed from shimmering dots and a cold sweat to a searing heat. The moment it did, he curled his arm around her. “Are you okay?”
She pressed her face into his neck and nodded.
He looked at the man standing just past them. Dark suit, dark hair, dark eyes. Marco looked as if he came from the Donovan Lewis wannabe factory but his mold had come out a little skewed. His eyes were a little too sharp, his brow a little too severe, his demeanor just shy of manic.
Ryan wrapped his arm more securely around Denver. That man would never get near her again. He’d die to make sure of it.
“I was just helping this poor woman. I saw that man dragging her off.” Marco’s voice was modulated with a coolness that made Ryan’s spine tighten.
The man who’d hauled Denver away sat against the wall across from Ryan and Denver. His gaze swung up to Marco before his features went carefully blank.
Donovan took a step forward. “Save it.”
“You have nothing on me.” Marco flicked a glance at the four policemen behind Donovan. “Groundless accusations of an overactive imagination. Casey already assaulted one of the artists at the awards show tonight.”
Casey—God, it sounded so wrong for this man to call her that.
She shuddered in Ryan’s arms. “Denver. I’ll never be Casey again. Never.” She sat up and wiped tears off her cheeks. She helped Ryan to a fully upright position, but both of them stayed huddled together. “That man threatened me earlier tonight. Not the first time either.”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “She’s hysterical.”
Donovan clasped his hands in front of him. “I think these officers will be anxious to see the file I’ve put together on you and your organization. It took me a few years to compile, but I believe they’ll find it very enlightening. Especially the pages on Frank Patterson.”
Marco’s nostrils flared and his hands fisted.
“It took a while to find your informant, Marco, but he’s been dealt with.”
Ryan curled his arm around Denver’s shoulders a little tighter. He’d never heard quite that much ice in Donovan’s voice before. In fact, Ryan wasn’t sure who he should be more worried about right then.
Marco’s eyes glittered dangerously, but he said nothing.
Donovan stepped closer to Marco. “Oh, and the high rise you’re working on with the O’Connor group. That’s close to breaking ground, isn’t it?”
Marco stiffened as Donovan leaned in and said something else, but Ryan couldn’t make it out. He glanced down at Denver, but her face was buried in his chest.
Donovan waved his fingers and the officers behind Donovan split off and came forward. Two of them restrained Hulk on the floor and the other two headed for Marco.
Marco pulled his arm away from the blond-haired officer who clamped a cuff on his wrist. “You’re delusional if you think this situation with Casey will come to anything.”
“Oh no.” Donovan’s eyes were shark-flat. “I’ll make sure of it. No one threatens my family. You knew that and still persisted.”
The officer hauled Marco in front of him and snapped the other cuff around his wrist before he pushed him past Denver and Ryan.
Luc came up beside them and helped them both to their feet. Ryan slid his arm around her shoulders and turned her away from the man who had been terrorizing her for far too long.
“Whatever you think you have on me, it won’t ever be enough.” Marco’s eyes were as dark as obsidian in the overhead lights. “She’ll always be mine.”
Ryan pressed his chin against her hair. “Not as long as there’s breath in my body.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
First came a fight nearly to the death—or at least possible serious injury. Then came a police interrogation.
Finally, utter embarrassment.
“I have to admit, being told that you were sleeping with my niece via text was a revelation.”
