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We stand on the sidewalk, our icy breaths creating long clouds around us. She shuffles her feet and looks away, a clear sign of shifty behavior.
“I don’t actually know.”
“What do you mean?” I say, frowning. “Didn’t you see her this morning before you came here?”
Something like guilt flashes in her eyes before she answers.
“It’s a long story, but no. I haven’t. I haven’t seen her–”
A large shadow moves next to us, black and slick as the night. I have no premonition that danger is near until it’s upon us.
The most intimidating man I’ve ever laid eyes on, made only that much more menacing by the expensive black suit wrapped around his massive body, steps out from the cover of shadows and appears behind Tess.
She turns around and a shocked gasp rips from her throat. Her face falls, her eyes widening in alarm as fear etches itself across her features.
He grabs her before she can make a move to run.
One hand clasps her throat. He uses it to pull her against his chest as the other closes firmly around her upper arm, keeping her pinned against him.
Dark, volatile energy pours off of him in waves. He’s got bronze colored skin that hints at Latin origins, black hair and an equally black expression on his face. Dark, intricate tattoos snake out from the top of his collar, up his neck and the underside of his jaw.
Only his eyes are gold and they shine as they examine my sister with almost deranged possessiveness. He hasn’t blinked since he laid eyes on Tess. He looks at her like he’s going to consume her alive and leave nothing behind.
It’s that look on his face that jolts me into action and I take a step forward to intervene.
I’m immediately yanked back by my arms. Two men in fully black suits restrain me, keeping me from intervening. Guns shine in arm holsters but they make no move to use them.
They don’t acknowledge me, their gazes trained on the larger man who holds Tess prisoner, their bodies taut as if ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. They’re attuned to him the way only men looking to their leader are.
Clearly, he’s the boss and they take their orders from him. They protecthim.
The man in question leans forward. He has to bend a long distance to get within reach of my sister’s face.
“Found you,” he rasps, dangerously. His tone is sinister, like the voice of Death personified, the threat in his words in no way subdued.
His eyes flash hungrily when Tess inhales sharply, his gaze lowering to her lips. She shakes in his hold but doesn’t fight him.
“Who the fuck are you?” I say, throwing my weight forward to try to destabilize the bodyguards who hold me, to no avail. “Get your fucking hands off her,” I sneer.
Unexpectedly, it’s Tess who answers.
“Tristan, it’s okay,” her voice is tremulous, but not fearful. She flicks her eyes up to meet the man’s. His gaze is already pinned unwaveringly on her face, but his eyes flare ominously when they finally connect with hers.
She tilts her chin up at him defiantly and demands, “Let my brother go.”
Menace oozes from him and wraps around us all. Whoever he is, he’s dangerous as fuck, that much is very clear. I can’t tell what he wants with us, or with Tess specifically since that’s very obviously where his interest lies. I’m not sure how she even knows someone like him to begin with. Whatever business he’s involved in, I’d gamble that it lives well south of being legal.
When he says nothing, she tries, “Let him go and I’ll come with you.”
His upper lip twitches into a snarl. “I’m taking you regardless.”
“I’ll gowillingly.”
A rumble sounds in his chest. Without looking away from her, he tilts his head almost imperceptibly in my direction.
I’m immediately released.
The two goons take a step forward, placing themselves between us in case I move to lunge for the man.
