Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
B ack at the Marina house, Rome did a lap of the outside, staring across at the Palace of Fine Arts. He couldn’t argue that it was a top-notch location.
His mom and sister were happily staying at his place. Yesterday, they’d spent the afternoon chatting with Sofie. He’d watched his princess win them over.
She’d also signed the damn calendar for his sister, and gotten them both tickets, not only for the jewelry exhibition, but the sold-out gala, as well.
He’d overheard Sofie telling his sister that she could borrow jewelry, too.
The gala was tonight.
Rome blew out a breath. Sofie was inside doing yoga. This time, in the formal living area, and not on the roof terrace.
A heavy sense of dread settled on him. Being in the military, he’d learned that trusting your gut could make the difference between life and death.
The Black Fox gang would strike tonight.
The stalker would attack tonight.
Everyone was targeting Rome’s woman.
Well, they’d have to go through him to get to her.
An X6 pulled up and Vander and Saxon climbed out.
“Hey,” Vander said.
Rome lifted his chin.
Saxon eyed the house. “Nice place.”
“How’s Sofie?” Vander asked.
“Good. She shook off the Palace Hotel attack like it was just a bad shopping trip.”
“She’s tough,” Saxon said. “Didn’t know they made princesses from titanium.”
Vander was watching Rome steadily. “You’re worried.”
“I’ve been over everything for tonight too many times to count.” He’d stayed up late, with Sofie asleep in the bed beside him. That was after he’d made love to her. He knew he’d been rough, worry and desperation making him edgy. Not that she’d minded. Hell, she’d liked it.
He’d triple and quadruple checked the security plans for the gala.
“Well,” Saxon said. “Easton pulled some strings.”
Rome frowned.
“We’re all coming tonight,” Vander said. “Saxon and Gia, Haven and Rhys, Easton and Harlow, Ace.”
Rome’s eyebrows rose and his chest tightened.
“The girls are adamant that they wanted to support Sofie,” Saxon said.
“Easton got a ticket for Maggie, too,” Vander added. “She’s out buying a dress.”
Maggie was their hotshot helicopter pilot. Rome wasn’t sure he’d ever seen the former Navy pilot in a dress before.
“My parents are coming, as well,” Vander added.
Saxon snorted. “Mine will be there too, unfortunately.”
Rome’s throat went tight. “You’re all coming to keep her safe.”
“To help you keep your woman safe.” Vander grasped Rome’s shoulder. “We’re a team.”
Rome nodded. “Thanks, guys.”
Vander’s phone rang. “It’s Ace.” He pressed it to his ear. “Yeah. Hang on, Ace, I have Saxon and Rome here, I’ll put you on speaker.”
“Hi.” Ace’s voice. “Just got word, and it hasn’t hit the news yet.”
“What?” Rome demanded.
“Attempted jewelry robbery. Some big, fancy necklace owned by a woman out of Washington D.C.”
“Fuck,” Rome said.
“They tried to blow the safe, but couldn’t get in.”
Rome relaxed. “That’s good news.”
Ace made a sound. “Gets ugly, mi amigo .”
Gut churning, Rome glared at the phone. “Go on.”
“They attacked a woman. Attempted rape. A neighbor heard the screams and interrupted. The thieves took off.”
“Fucking hell,” Vander muttered.
“She’s pretty beaten up, but alive,” Ace continued. “She’s in the hospital, and her family’s with her.”
Rome scraped a hand over his head. “I want this damn gala over.” He wanted Sofie safe.
But a bad taste filled his mouth. Once the gala was over, her time in San Francisco was almost done.
Then what?
Rome wanted her in his bed every night. Wanted to watch her cook, smile, laugh every day, not just on random trips here and there where they could hook up.
He pressed a hand to the back of his neck. He couldn’t focus on the personal stuff right now.
He needed to keep her safe. The Black Foxes were getting bolder. Her stalker was growing more unhinged.
And now, Rome had to break the news that a woman was attacked just like the friend she’d lost.
“Anything else on Chantal Lockwood?” Rome asked. “Or who rented the house in Sausalito?”
“Lockwood appears clean,” Ace said. “Nothing more on the company that’s renting the house. Been watching CCTV footage and haven’t seen anyone of interest come in or out.”
Damn . “Thanks, Ace. I need to talk to Sofie. She has a stylist and hairdresser arriving soon to help her get ready.”
“It’s going to be fine, Rome,” Vander said. “We’ll be with you.”
He nodded and Vander’s phone pinged again.
“Armored vehicle with the tiara’s arriving,” Vander said.
“You mean the three armored vehicles.” Saxon smiled. “Vander put together the most complicated plan to get the damn Sapphire Wave tiara here.”
With a rumble, an armored truck pulled up, like the ones used to transport money. Right behind it was a Range Rover as an escort vehicle. Rome could tell right away that the Range Rover was armored, as well.
A moment later, a second armored truck turned onto the street.
Vander turned and opened his jacket. “They were all decoys.” He pulled out a black velvet bag.
Rome took it, but didn’t open it. Only Vander Norcross would transport a priceless tiara in his suit jacket.
“I’ll see you all there tonight,” Rome said.
Vander and Saxon nodded.
“Hope your tux is ready to go,” Saxon said.
“It is.” Rome waved and walked into the house.
Sofie ran out of the kitchen. She’d obviously finished her yoga and showered, and was now in her silky blue robe.
“Oh my gosh, Luis and the hairstylist will be here soon.”
Rome gripped her shoulders. “Take a deep breath.”
She did. “A kiss would be better.”
He kissed her and she shivered.
“There’s my sexy shiver,” he murmured.
She smiled up at him. “I’m not usually this wound up. I’m just nervous.”
“You should be. You can’t get complacent.”
She nodded and stared at his face. Her smile dissolved. “What’s wrong?”
“There was another attempted jewelry theft.”
She pressed a hand to her throat. “Okay. But they didn’t actually get the jewelry? So why do you look so angry?”
“They didn’t get the jewels, but they attacked a woman. Sexual assault.”
“ No .” Sofie shook her head.
“She’s here from Washington D.C. Someone interrupted the attack, she’s alive.”
“But still violated and traumatized.” She closed her eyes. “I should go and see her.”
“Sofie, you don’t know her. She’s with her family.”
Sofie lifted her chin. “I’m going to send flowers. I’ll get someone from the Foundation to check in with her. We have fantastic therapists.”
Such a good heart . He pulled her to his chest. “There’s something else.”
She stiffened, raised her head. “What now? I’m not sure I can deal with more.”
He lifted the velvet bag.
“The Sapphire Wave tiara.” She opened it.
The diadem was stunning. It was formed in wave-like loops of diamonds, and set in each loop was a large sapphire—nine in total.
“It’ll look beautiful on you.” He lowered his mouth and kissed her. His phone pinged. “Sounds like your stylists are here.”
* * *
Sofie sat in front of the mirror. Her hair was up, and it looked like she’d just pinned it up easily, not like it’d taken a good hour of work by an expert hairstylist. Her makeup was dewy and natural, a little smoke at her eyes, and her lips were a glossy pink.
It was almost time for the gala.
She was nervous. She could barely sit still.
Tonight was the culmination of so much planning. But all she could think about was the Black Fox gang.
And her stalker.
Rome would be with her. She knew he’d risk his life for hers. That worried her, as well. She resisted the urge to gnaw on her bottom lip and ruin her lipstick.
After the gala, what then? Would Rome let her fly off? Would he head off on another job and leave her?
“Here we go.” Luis settled the Sapphire Wave tiara on her head. “Oh,” the man breathed. “You are breathtaking . You are going to drive the hunk of deliciousness you call a bodyguard wild.”
The tiara was gorgeous. The light caught the sapphires, filling them with blue fire.
“I’m sleeping with him.”
“Oh.” Luis clapped his hands together. “Good for you, Sofie.”
She looked back at the mirror. “I’m falling in love with him too.”
Saying it aloud made her jittery.
Luis rested a hand on her shoulder. “Why so sad?”
“I’m a princess. I come with responsibility, duty, the paparazzi, a stalker—”
“Oh, pfft .” Luis waved a hand. “The man watches you like he’s starving, and you’re a juicy, prime rib steak.”
She laughed. “I don’t know if he loves me, or wants me enough to take on the baggage.”
“The man has very broad shoulders. And I mean really broad. I think he can handle it, especially when he gets you at the end of it.” Luis met her gaze.
“Follow your heart, Sofie. It’s time you do something for you, not always for everyone else.
Now—” Luis looked at his watch “—it’s time for you to go and wow the crowd. ”
She took a deep breath and rose.
She was already in her dress, with her sexy Oscar de la Renta shoes on.
“Luis, the dress is stunning.”
“You make it that way.”
The dress was sapphire blue, to complement the tiara.
The bodice was covered in intricate metalwork dotted with crystals.
It looked almost like a corset. It sat low, showing off her collarbones, but not too low.
A princess never showed too much cleavage.
The skirt was a shimmer of blue silk that fell in an A-line to the floor.
She didn’t wear a necklace, because she wanted the tiara to be the star of the show. Dangly sapphire and diamond earrings were in her ears, and the tiara nestled in her hair.
“Gorgeous,” Luis breathed.
“Thank you, Luis. For all your hard work putting me together.”
“It was an honor, not work at all. Go.” He shooed her out.
With a smile, she headed carefully down the stairs.
Rome was at the bottom, texting on his phone. When he heard her, he looked up and froze.
She stepped off the last step, and her heart took off, beating a mile a minute.
They both stared at each other.
He stole her breath. He wore a perfectly tailored tuxedo. It made his shoulders seem wider, his legs longer. The crisp, white shirt was a contrast to his dark skin.
“You look hot,” she said.
He shook his head, his lips curving. “You look stunning. Simply stunning, Sofie.”
“Thank you.”
“I want to put you in the car and drive away. Keep you all to myself.”
She heard his unsaid words. Keep her safe.
“Maybe after…” she swallowed “…we could go away. Just the two of us.”
She saw something in his eyes, but he stayed silent.
Her stomach twisted in knots. “Or not. Forget I—”
“I’d like that,” he said. “A cabin in the mountains.”
Her stomach relaxed and she smiled. “Or a deserted beach.”
Desire flared in his eyes. “You got a little bikini, Princess?”
“Maybe.”
“Shit.” He adjusted his jacket. “Come on. Quit making me hard, we have a gala to attend.” He grabbed her hands. “I’ll be right with you. The entire time.”
“I know.”
“I’ve got something for you.”
He lifted a small box and pulled something out of it. “It’s not a million-dollar tiara, or anything like those funky rings you like.”
He held up a small ring. It was a simple band with alternating diamonds and sapphires.
“A little something from me,” he said.
Her pulse leaped. “I love it.”
He slid it on her right hand.
She smiled at it. “It’s perfect, Rome.”
“Let’s go,” he said.
That’s when Sofie spotted the envelope resting on the table. “What’s that?”
Rome’s face went blank. “Nothing.”
“Rome—” She stepped closer.
He tried to block her.
“Rome, don’t hide things from me.”
He muttered a curse and let her pass.
She opened the envelope and pulled out a photo. It was of Sofie and Rome kissing.
“It was taken through the windows here, with a telephoto lens.”
She looked so small against his big frame. They were kissing passionately. She would have liked a copy of it, except scrawled on the bottom of it in red ink were the words He will die, too .
“Oh, God.” Nausea crawled through her stomach.
Rome took the picture and threw it onto the table. “Forget it.”
“You’re a target now,” she said woodenly.
“Bodyguards are always targets. I don’t care. I want the asshole to come for me.”
“Don’t say that.” Maybe she should run. Go back to Caldova and hide. Whatever it took to keep Rome safe.
He cupped her face. “I’ve got this, Sofie. We’ve got it. Take a breath.”
She managed a shaky one.
“We aren’t going to let this asshole win. And the Black Fox gang can’t have the tiara. Tonight, you’ll shine, people will enjoy themselves, and your charity will raise a lot of money. If the Black Foxes or your stalker strike, we’ll be ready for them.”
She nodded.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I think so.”
He held out an arm to her. “Will you give me the honor of escorting you, Princess?”
She slid her arm through his. She’d stand beside him every day for the rest of her life, if he let her.