Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
A fter the limousine pulled up at the Bently Reserve, Rome exited first. He scanned around.
The historic building was lit up, its impressive facade dominated by a row of huge columns. A red carpet led up the center of the wide stone steps at the front.
The crowds were being held back by temporary fences. Four Norcross guards moved into position, the lead one nodding at him. Cameras clicked and fans shouted.
Vander stepped into view wearing a tuxedo like he’d been born to it. His boss gave Rome a slow nod.
Rome pulled in a breath. He knew the others from Norcross would be around, and he also knew that Ace had a drone in the air, scanning for anyone who shouldn’t be on the nearby rooftops. They were all wearing sleek earpieces they could activate if they needed them.
Rome hoped they didn’t need them.
Leaning into the back of the limo, he held out a hand.
Sofie took it.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded and stepped out. There were cheers, and shouts, and screams. She smiled and waved to the crowd.
Rome motioned for her to walk ahead of him up the steps.
“No.” She clamped her fingers on his arm. “You’re walking with me, not behind me.”
He scowled. “Sofie—”
“I’m not budging. I don’t care what people think or say. You’re mine. I’m walking with you.”
Damn . She cut through every single one of his defenses. He gave a short nod.
She beamed at him.
He tucked her arm against his side and they started up the steps. There were more cheers and shouts.
Sofie looked exquisite. A true fairytale princess.
One who’d captured his heart.
His mom was right. Rome was all in with Sofie. Falling head over heels. The guys would rib him. He’d given Rhys, Saxon, and Easton plenty of shit about being whipped.
Now here Rome was, willing to do anything for a small princess with pink-gold hair.
They reached the top of the stairs, passed through the columns, and followed the crowd inside.
A woman stepped forward, dressed in a forest-green dress. “Welcome, Princess Sofia.”
“Helen, the place looks amazing. You’ve done an incredible job.”
“Wait until you see the main hall.” Helen’s gaze moved to Sofie’s head. “The Sapphire Wave tiara. It’s even more stunning than the pictures.”
“I feel like a princess.” Sofie winked.
The event planner laughed. “Congratulations on the gala. On the entire exhibition. It’s exceeded all our expectations.”
“Everyone’s worked so hard and I appreciate it.”
“Go, find yourself a drink.”
Rome and Sofie walked into the main hall.
“Oh, Rome.”
It looked like a fairytale and perfect for a princess.
The huge main hall looked magical and glowed with a golden light.
Round tables filled the floor and two huge, circular chandeliers dangled from the high ceiling.
By the columns at the sides of the room were cherry blossom trees in huge pots.
A dance floor was set up at the far end of the space
As Sofie looked over the decor, Rome studied the people and the layout.
“The jewelry looks amazing,” she said.
Like at the luncheon, several pieces were set under glass and resting on pedestals dotted around the space.
“Yeah.” Rome saw Vander, along with Saxon and Gia, Harlow and Easton, and Haven and Rhys. With them were his mom and Liana.
Harlow waved and smiled at them. She looked stunning in a column of red.
“Everyone’s here.” Sofie looked a little stunned.
“They wanted to support you.”
She sniffed, a suspicious shimmer in her eyes.
He frowned. “Sofie?”
She smiled and waved a hand. “I really like your friends, Rome.”
“I think they’re fixing to be yours as well.” He led her over to them. “Come on, you haven’t met Rhys yet.”
“Well, I can guess he’s the one who looks like Easton and Vander.”
“Sofie, you look gorgeous,” Gia exclaimed. The woman was wearing a black dress shot through with silver that left her shoulders bare.
As the women talked, Gia introduced Sofie to her parents and Rhys. Rome hugged his mom and sister.
“This place looks wonderful,” his mom said. “I see Sofie’s hand in it.”
“She looks like a princess,” Lia breathed.
“She is a princess,” Rome said.
“Who’s falling in love with her bodyguard.” His sister shot him a smug look.
His gut knotted. Fuck, he hoped so.
Lia leaned in. “Lola would love her, and this.”
His heart squeezed. “You look good.”
His sister’s green dress had a mermaid style bottom and showed off way too many curves.
“I look sensational . Especially in emeralds.” She touched her ears, and then the emerald studded necklace around her throat. Both were from Sofie’s private collection.
“Don’t lose them,” he warned.
She poked her tongue out.
They moved back to the others and Vander stepped up beside him.
“So far, so good,” Vander murmured.
“Won’t stay that way.”
“Yeah.” Vander’s dark gaze sliced across the room. “I feel the itch too.”
“We’ll help you keep an eye on Sofie.” Saxon looked like he wore a tuxedo every day. He was from a wealthy family, although he didn’t get along well with his parents.
Music started up from the dance floor.
Sofia was showing the women some of the jewelry. Her face was alive, her tiara glittering. She waved her hands as she talked.
Right now, she’d forgotten the stress of the danger looming over her.
Three men in tuxedos moved through the crowd toward them. Titters and whispers followed the trio.
“Oh my God,” someone whispered. “It’s the Billionaire Bachelors of New York.”
The man in the lead was tall and handsome, with thick hair and a strong jaw.
A woman stepped forward to intercept him, but the man sidestepped her with a smile. As one of the famous Billionaire Bachelors of New York, Zane Roth probably had plenty of practice avoiding unwanted attention.
Roth had made his fortune young and was the finance King of Wall Street. Norcross Security did a lot of work for Roth Enterprises. The billionaire had helped them out when Haven had been in danger, and a hundred-million-dollar Monet had been stolen from Easton’s museum.
Behind him, the other two billionaires were night and day.
One was blond, with an aristocratic, clean-shaven face that probably drove the ladies crazy.
He moved like he’d had money all his life.
The other man had olive skin, black hair, and a scowl on his rugged, scruff-lined features.
He looked like he’d prefer to be somewhere else.
“Zane.” Vander stepped forward, holding out his hand.
“Vander.”
The men shook hands. Zane turned, smiling at their group.
Rome lifted his chin. He had a lot of respect for Zane Roth.
“I’m not sure all of you have met my friends, Liam Kensington.” He gestured to the blond man, then the other. “And Maverick Rivera.”
Kensington inclined his head. “A pleasure.” He had a British accent.
Rome had heard of the real estate billionaire. He had a British father and an American mother, and was in property, construction, and hotels.
The other man just nodded and lifted his glass of what looked like Scotch.
Maverick Rivera was a tech billionaire and inventor. Rivera Tech developed all kinds of technology, including the best safes and security equipment in the world.
“Liam, Mav, these are the men of Norcross Security.” Zane spotted Haven and smiled. “I see the lovely Haven is doing well and looking ravishing.”
Rhys shifted. “She was doing really well when I fucked her on our dining room table before we came tonight.”
Zane smiled and held up his hands. “I was just making an observation, Rhys. Glad to see you kept hold of her. Beauty, brains, and goodness all rolled up in a gorgeous package isn’t easy to find.”
Liam sipped his drink. “That’s the truth. Although every socialite mama with marriage on the brain in New York is throwing her daughters at Zane since he was voted Sexiest Man of the Year last year.”
Zane grimaced.
“Glad you could come tonight,” Vander said.
Zane nodded. “I’m in town to do business with Easton.”
Easton lifted his drink.
“And I didn’t want to miss the gala. I dragged Liam and Mav with me.”
Maverick grunted.
Liam elbowed the man. “We have to drag you out of your lab sometimes, Rivera.”
“Plus this supports a great charity,” Zane continued. “I admire Princess Sofia a lot.”
Liam glanced over at Sofie. “There’s a lot to admire.”
Rome stiffened. Kensington was exactly what people would picture for Sofie. The man didn’t have a royal title, but he was rich, successful, and good-looking.
“She’s taken,” Vander said.
Zane spun, eyebrows raised. “You fell for a princess, Norcross?”
“Not me.”
Sofie turned, smiling their way. Her gaze found Rome’s and her smile brightened.
“Rome?” Zane shook his head. “You are the last man I expected to take the fall.”
“She’s mine,” Rome said.
“And in danger,” Vander added.
The faces of all three billionaires turned serious.
“She has a stalker, and jewel thieves are targeting the exhibition,” Rome said.
“Hell,” Zane said. “If we can do anything, let us know.” His friends both nodded.
“Thanks,” Rome said.
The music changed and people started heading onto the dance floor.
Rome kept his gaze on Sofie. They’d keep her safe, whatever it took.
* * *
“God, look at them,” Harlow murmured.
Sofie turned to look at the Norcross men. She glanced over the handsome, rugged group but her gaze went straight to Rome. So yummy. She couldn’t wait to get him out of that tuxedo. She shivered.
“Oh, Zane’s here,” Haven said.
Sofie instantly recognized the handsome, dark-haired billionaire. They’d attended some events together in New York.
“Who is that hot, blond god with him?” Gia murmured.
“That’s Liam Kensington,” Sofia said. “And Tall, Dark, and Grumpy is Maverick Rivera.”
“The Billionaire Bachelors of New York,” Harlow said.
Gia sipped her champagne. “ Nice .”
“Don’t let your fiancé hear you,” Haven warned.
Sofie looked around. The gala was going well. They had a full crowd. She saw that Rome’s mother and sister looked like they were having a good time.
“Good evening, ladies.”