Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
H arlow couldn’t believe she was in a swanky bar, sipping martinis in the middle of the afternoon.
“I should be at the office.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” Gia sipped her drink. “You’re stressed and worried. Besides, Easton isn’t there.”
No. He was out with Saxon, looking for Harlow’s dad.
“My life is a mess.”
“Oh, honey.” Gia squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be okay. Drink up.”
Harlow sipped her drink. She was on her second one. She turned her head and looked at the stone-faced man sitting with them. Her bodyguard.
Easton had commanded Gia to stay with Harlow until someone from Norcross Security had arrived at the office. That someone had been Rome Nash. Big and muscular, with delicious dark skin and a square jaw, Rome was a man of few words.
The handsome man had given Gia a look. “No trouble.”
“Who me?” Gia had winked, then demanded Rome take them to the bar at ONE65, the six-story, French venue. The bodyguard hadn’t been thrilled about it.
“I once dragged Rome into a coffee shop confrontation,” Gia said. “He still hasn’t forgiven me.”
Rome’s amazing green eyes flicked to Harlow. “I’m here to protect you. I’m not rescuing any babies.”
Harlow raised a brow and looked at Gia. “Sounds like there’s a story.”
“There sure is, and ignore Mr. Grumpy Pants. He’d totally save a baby.”
A brunette entered the bar and rushed over to them. “Sorry I’m late. I was finishing up with a new exhibition.”
The woman wore a sleek, pink dress, her long brown hair framing her pretty face.
“Harlow, this is Haven. My best friend and my brother Rhys’ best decision.”
With a smile, Haven sat and shook Harlow’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Sorry to hear about your dad and everything.”
“Thanks.”
“I had my own problems a little while ago.” Haven ordered a martini, then launched into a story about a missing $100-million-dollar painting, a toxic ex, nasty bad guys, and trying to avoid falling in love with Rhys Norcross.
Gia swirled her drink. “Haven failed miserably on that last one. She was so busy swearing off men after her ex, she was totally blind to the fact that my brother had his eye on her.”
Haven smiled. “And then he kind of steamrolled me with his bossy, alpha-male hotness.”
Harlow made a sound. “Norcross men are good at that.”
“Rhys also kept me safe, rescued me, and loves me more than anyone ever has before.”
Harlow could practically see hearts in Haven’s pretty eyes. Harlow definitely wasn’t going anywhere near the L word.
“I’m so worried about my dad.”
Rome leaned closer. “Easton and the others will find him. Vander can find anyone.”
Harlow nodded. She wanted to believe that.
The women chatted about work—Gia owned a successful PR firm, and Haven was the curator at the Hutton Museum, which Easton’s company owned.
Glancing around the bar, Harlow spotted a woman with a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choos on. As she watched, the woman stopped talking midsentence, her mouth dropping open.
Harlow turned her head to follow the woman’s gaze, and her heart did a crazy dance against her ribs.
Easton, Vander, Rhys, and Saxon were walking across the bar.
She didn’t blame the woman for being rendered speechless.
They sure were an assault on the senses. Saxon—tall and elegant, with a gold gleam to his hair, and a blue shirt that set off his golden skin.
Rhys Norcross had his jacket off and slung over one shoulder.
The top buttons of his white shirt were open, and he had messy, rock-star hair.
He spotted Haven and a smile broke out on his handsome face.
Wow . It was a doozy. Sexy, with a dash of charm and cheek.
She was pretty sure all the women in the bar sighed at the sight of it.
Vander was next. His black hair was a little past needing a cut, framing his expressionless face. It was the kind of expression that taunted a woman to get to know the man beneath it. He wore a black suit that did nothing to hide his muscular body.
And Easton.
Her chest tightened and she felt a tingle in her belly. He was just hot. Handsome, and radiating power and authority.
His gaze found her, and she felt like the center of his universe.
“Wowser, those two are generating some heat,” Haven murmured loudly to Gia.
“Tell me about it. My bro is toast.”
Harlow ignored them.
Rhys and Saxon claimed their women for kisses. Vander nodded at Harlow, then turned to Rome for an update.
Easton gripped Harlow’s shoulders. “We haven’t found him yet.”
She slumped. God. Where are you, Dad?
“But he was spotted at a few places. He’s alive, Harlow, and seems to be laying low.”
She jolted. “He’s avoiding us on purpose?” She felt a spark of annoyance.
“I’m guessing he’s avoiding the people after him, not you.”
“And putting us through hell worrying about him.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “How could he do that?”
Easton cupped her cheek. “Calm down, baby.”
“I need another martini.”
Then he shocked her by running his thumb across her lips. “You’ll deal. You’re tougher than you think.”
“I’m going to cry later and you’ll change your mind.”
He just shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.
“Any luck with Rhoda Pierce?” she asked.
Vander turned to them, his face hardening. “Talked to her right-hand man. Wouldn’t put me through to her, but she’s agreed to meet me tomorrow.”
“This could all be a misunderstanding?” Harlow asked hopefully.
“No,” Vander said.
“Damn.” She needed a moment alone, plus she needed the restroom. Her bladder was full of martini. “I’m heading to the ladies’ room.”
Easton frowned.
“It’s just over there.” She pointed to the hall with a discreet restroom sign. “Rome checked it already. There’s no way out of there, unless you can shimmy through a tiny window and scale the building.”
“All right.”
Harlow crossed the bar, suddenly full of anger at her dad. She couldn’t believe he was avoiding her and her family. Her mom was so worried. “Dammit, Dad.”
She accidentally bumped into a man.
“Sorry,” she said automatically.
Then she glanced up and saw heavy brows over dark, angry eyes. She gasped. It was Hugo, Antoine’s cousin.
“Hey, pretty bird.”
Her skin crawled. “I’m with friends.” She looked back and saw Easton watching them with a frown.
“I know you have protection. Norcross protection.” Hugo spat the words. “Those fuckers think they own the city.”
“Leave me alone.” She sidestepped him.
He just leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “If I get you for Antoine, I bet he’d reward me real good. Snatch you away, where no one can find you.”
Her pulse tripped, and she saw Easton start toward them.
Hugo moved closer, invading her space, and his hot breath brushed her cheek.
“And he might even share.” Hugo made an ugly, sucking sound.
Her heart was pounding so fast she could barely breathe. A trio of laughing women moved closer, and Hugo moved away.
Harlow turned and she couldn’t spot him anymore.
Easton reached her. “What’s wrong?”
“That was Antoine’s cousin.”
Easton glanced back and waved Vander over.
“What did he say?” Easton demanded.
She gave him a quick summary.
Dark anger fired in Easton’s eyes. “Anything else you aren’t telling me?”
She sighed. “Antoine might have agreed to wipe out whatever my father owes him, in return for…me.”
A muscle ticked in Easton’s jaw, and he looked at his brother as Vander reached them.
“Hugo Durant, Armand’s asshole cousin, just threatened Harlow.”
“Fuck,” Vander muttered. “Let’s find him.”
The men stalked out of the bar. Rome stayed behind, but from his scowl, it looked like he’d prefer to be out on the hunt.
Harlow was really busting to go to the toilet now. “I’ll be in the ladies’.”
She walked in. Everyone was trying to keep her safe. Easton was like a shield, protecting her.
She moved quickly into a stall and took care of business. When she strode out and washed her hands, the vanity in front of her seemed to wobble, and she blinked. Then, the room spun, and she felt a little woozy. She gripped the sink. What the hell? How many martinis had she drunk?
The room swirled, her legs faltered, and her skin flushed.
A door opened, and she looked up to see a redhead stride out of another stall.
The woman smiled. “It’s her.”
“What?” Harlow tried to get her brain firing.
A man came out of another stall to join them.
“Hey, you can’t be in here,” Harlow slurred.
The woman pulled something out of her large bag. A red wig that matched the exact shade of her vibrant hair.
She yanked it on Harlow’s head.
“No. Stop it.”
The man wrapped his arms around Harlow. She tried to push him away, but couldn’t move. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and go to sleep. They wrapped her in a black coat.
The woman pulled on a blonde wig, adjusting it in the mirror. “Ready?”
The man holding Harlow nodded, and then half carried her out. They headed into the bar, the man holding her close, like they were a couple.
Rome or Gia would see them. Harlow’s stomach turned over. They’d spot her.
Then before she knew it, they were outside.
Where was Easton? But Harlow could no longer form any words because darkness closed in, and then there was nothing.
* * *
Easton strode back into ONE65, frustrated as hell.
Durant had vanished like the rat he was.
Vander’s cell phone pinged. “Ace with info on Durant.” Vander flicked through his screen, his face darkening. “Scum has several charges against him in France for sexual assault and battery.”
“Fuck.” Another asshole to keep away from Harlow. “I want to get this shit fixed, Vander. Find Charles Carlson.”
“I’m on it. Right now, we have too many damn questions with no fucking answers.”
And Easton knew that Vander liked answers. He kept his finger on the pulse of everything happening in San Francisco—legal, and not so legal.
Back inside the bar, Gia and Haven were still sipping drinks under Rome’s watchful gaze.
“Harlow?” Easton asked.
“Ladies’ room,” Rome rumbled.
Gia frowned. “She’s been gone a while.”
“Haven’t seen her come out,” Rome said.