Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
R ome watched Sofie chatting with a group of guests. One woman gestured to the Sapphire Wave tiara and Sofie nodded.
Turning away, he scanned the crowd. Nothing was amiss.
Ace arrived at his side, looking sharp in a dark gray tuxedo and a checked, silver bowtie. “Hanging in there?”
Rome grunted.
“I almost want something to happen.” Ace crossed his arms, his gaze roving, then it jerked and tracked back to the dancers.
Rome followed the direction he was looking…and spotted Maggie dancing with a tall, tuxedo-clad man.
The man spun her, dipping her back, and Maggie laughed.
“What the fuck is she wearing?” Ace muttered.
Rome thought Maggie cleaned up nicely. Her dark hair gleamed and her eyes were dark and smoky.
She wore a sleek bronze dress that showcased her long, lean body, and had a long slit up one side that showed off a toned leg.
The dress dipped low in front, but as her entranced dance partner spun her, it showed that the back was virtually nonexistent.
“A dress,” Rome said.
“And who the fuck is he?” Ace scowled. “He could be an asshole, a rapist, a murderer. And she’s letting him paw her.”
The guy was holding the helicopter pilot close, but not overstepping any lines. Maggie would have no problem punching anyone who did something she didn’t like.
“I think they’re just dancing.” Rome let his gaze move across the room to Sofie.
She was with Harlow, Gia, and Haven, as well as Liana. They were all oohing over a jewelry display.
Ace shook his head. “I’m going to tell that pretty boy to keep his hands to himself.” Ace stomped off toward the dance floor.
Shit . Ace was going to get a fist to the gut from Maggie if he kept this up.
Rome moved over to Sofie and the women.
“Oh my God,” Harlow said. “Look at that ruby and diamond ring. It’s to die for.”
“It’s beautiful,” Sofie agreed.
“And expensive.” Lia sipped her wine. She saw Rome and winked.
“It’s a beauty,” Gia agreed.
Harlow sighed. “It sure is. At least Easton can’t buy it.” She fingered the sparkly necklace at her neckline. “He’s always trying to give me jewelry.”
“Oh girl, you have it tough ,” Lia drawled.
Harlow smiled, and looked over at Easton. “I’m not complaining.”
Lia tipped back her wine. “I think I’m going to dance with a billionaire.” Her gaze locked on Zane, Liam, and Maverick. “Who gets to say that every day.”
Harlow sipped her drink. “Me.”
Lia shot the blonde a look. “I hate you.” There was no heat in her words.
As his sister strode off, Rome froze. He didn’t want his baby sister dancing with anyone.
Sofie appeared at his side. “Zane and the others are decent guys. They’ll dance with Lia, but they won’t take advantage.”
He gave a short nod, and watched Zane smile and lead Lia to the dance floor.
“I want to touch you,” Sofie murmured.
Rome’s fingers curled into his palms. “Soon.”
She looked around and nibbled her lip. “I keep waiting for…something.”
He knew the feeling. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.” Maybe the Black Foxes and her stalker would steer clear.
“A girl can hope.”
Rome saw Vander signal to him. “I’ll be back.” He watched her join the women again.
“Got a ping.” Vander held up his phone and on it were two mug shots of two dark-haired men with scowling faces and empty looks in their eyes.
“Dragan Tadic and Luka Kezman. Both former Serbian military. They were suspected of being part of the international jewelry thief gang, the Pink Panthers. It was broken up a few years ago and most of the leaders were sent to jail.”
Rome had heard of the Pink Panthers. The gang had been made up of ex-soldiers with extensive military and paramilitary backgrounds. They’d carried out some audacious thefts before getting greedy and sloppy.
“Tadic and Kezman were recruited by the Black Foxes,” Vander continued. “Both were also hired by tonight’s catering company a week ago.”
“Fuck.” Rome glanced at the nearby waitstaff. He didn’t see the pair anywhere. “They’re here.”
“Yes, but I haven’t seen either of them.”
“We have to find them.” Rome circled the room, staying close to Sofie. He stared at every one of the uniformed servers holding trays of food and drinks. The sit-down dinner would start soon.
A woman bumped into him.
“Ooh, you’re a big one, aren’t you,” she purred.
She was tall and thin, and wore a tiny scrap of a sparkly dress. She had a thick mass of black hair and a heavy accent. Probably Italian.
Rome sidestepped her. Sofie was laughing with Gia. She was fine.
“Easton, what are you doing?” Harlow’s sharp voice.
Easton dropped to one knee beside Harlow. The woman went wide-eyed.
“ Oh .” Gia clapped her hands together.
“Harlow, from the moment you came into my life, you drove me crazy,” Easton said.
There was a smattering of laughter from their friends.
“You meet me toe to toe. Make me laugh. Let me take care of you, and you take care of me in return. You light up my life, and you’ve made every damn thing I’ve ever done worthwhile.”
Tears welled in Harlow’s eyes. She cupped his jaw. “Easton.” There was a wealth of love and feeling in her voice.
“You see me,” Easton continued. “And you let me see you. I love you. When I think of the future, all I see is you.”
“I love you too, Easton Alessandro Norcross.”
Nearby, Easton’s mom was crying, leaning into her husband.
Easton held up a small box and opened it. “Will you marry me?”
“Oh, Easton, yes—” Harlow’s gaze narrowed. “ Wait . Is that the ruby and diamond ring I saw on display before?”
Easton scowled. “Maybe.”
“The very old, historic, and extremely expensive ring?” Harlow pressed a hand to her silk-clad hip.
“So?”
“It wasn’t for sale!”
“Everything is for sale,” Easton countered.
“Says the billionaire.”
“I bought it for you.” He blew out a breath. “The woman who is impossible to give anything to. It’s damn lucky that I love you.”
“Easton—”
He rose. “You liked it. It’ll look beautiful on your hand. A symbol that you’re mine, that we’re a team.” He lifted her hand and held the ring up. “It’ll look even better when you’re wearing just this in our bed.”
Harlow gasped. “Easton, your parents are standing right there.”
Rome could see that she was weakening.
Easton’s voice lowered. “Say yes, Ms. Carlson. Be my wife.”
A smile broke out on Harlow’s face. “Yes, Mr. Norcross.”
Easton smiled and slid the ring on Harlow’s finger. Then he swept her into a wild kiss.
Applause broke out.
Sofie, with tears in her eyes, pressed a hand to her throat, watching with a warm look on her face.
Her brown gaze met Rome’s.
Then the crowd shifted, blocking Rome’s view of her. When he looked again, she was talking with some guests.
He scanned around again, and his gaze snagged on a couple partly hidden by one of the large pillars.
Hell . Ace had Maggie pinned against the marble. The pilot had one long leg wrapped around Ace’s waist and the pair were going at each other like there was no one else in the room.
This had trouble written all over it.
Ace went through women fast and easily. He had a hell of a reputation.
Rome glanced back at Sofie, and saw she was talking with a woman. He frowned. It was the dark-haired woman who’d bumped into him before. He saw Sofie’s face harden into angry lines.
Forgetting all about Ace and Maggie, he started forward.
The brunette waved an arm, bumping Sofie’s champagne and spilling it. Shit . Who was this woman?
Laughing people cut in front of him. He saw a server in a uniform stop by Sofie and offer her a fresh flute of champagne.
She took it and when the man turned, Rome saw his face.
It was one of the Serbians. Tadic.
Fuck .
Rome glanced over and spotted another server behind Sofie, watching her intently.
Kezman.
Rome touched his ear and activated his earpiece. “Vander. Tadic and Kezman are on Sofie.”
“I’m coming.” Off to the left, he saw Vander pull away from his parents.
The Italian brunette said something to Sofie and the color drained from Sofie’s face.
Shit . Rome picked up speed. He was almost to her.
Then the lights went out.
* * *
Sofia tamped down her annoyance at the tipsy woman who’d spilled a drink on her. Dante Luzzago’s girlfriend.
“I think you should sit down,” Sofie said. “And not drink any more wine.”
Dante had left the country after Robin Hood had stolen back the jewelry Dante had snatched. Apparently, his girlfriend hadn’t gone with him.
A server appeared, holding up a tray of fresh champagne. With a smile, Sofie took a glass and sipped it.
“The tiara is stunning.” The woman mumbled in Italian. “It would look better on me.”
Sofie stiffened. She spoke fluent Italian. “Good evening. Enjoy your night.”
As she turned, her legs suddenly felt weak. A wave of dizziness washed over her.
Sofie frowned.
She looked up and saw a server with heavy features watching her. Her pulse spiked. She wanted Rome.
“Princess, I believe I’ll just take the tiara,” the annoying brunette drawled.
Sofie turned, panic slicing through her. The woman’s gaze was now sharp and focused. Oh, crap . She was part of the Black Foxes, not just Dante’s ditzy girlfriend.
A strong wave of dizziness hit Sofie, the edges of her vision swimming.
There was something in the champagne.
The lights went out.
She heard someone scream, and people calling out. Sofie knew the woman and the other Black Foxes were after her.
Rome had gone over several contingency plans.
Fighting down fear, she dropped to the floor, and crawled on her hands and knees under the nearest table.
“Where is she?” a deep voice growled.
“Find her!” the woman cried.
Sofie kept moving. She couldn’t see well, but she had to keep moving. She skirted some people’s legs and crawled under another table, then another. She sent up a silent apology to Luis for crawling on the floor in her dress.
She had no idea which direction she was headed. She huddled under another table, and pulled the tiara off her head. It caught on her hair and she felt a sting.
The bastards were not getting this.
Someone bumped the table, and several women screamed.
Sofie darted out and dived under another table.
“Everyone please stay calm,” a voice said over the loudspeaker. “It’s just a small electrical issue and we’ll have it dealt with shortly.”
Sofie pulled out a thin tie from her bra. She tied the tiara to the underside of the table, right in the center.
“Stay safe,” she whispered.
She crawled out, her hair half tumbling down. Now she needed to find Rome, or one of the others from Norcross.
Her throat was tight, but she rose. It was so dark, with just faint light near the edges of the room. She thought of Rome’s strong arms holding her. His firm lips on hers.
She wasn’t alone. She knew he’d be looking for her.
“I’m coming,” she whispered.
She moved through the darkness. Anxious, confused voices echoed around her.
“They’ll get it sorted soon,” a man said.
“I can’t see a thing ,” a woman cried.
Sofie bumped into a table, hitting one of her bruises. She swallowed a curse.
“Sofie!”
Rome’s deep voice. She turned, her heart leaping. It sounded like he was on the other side of the room. She wanted to call out, but what if the Black Foxes were listening?
“Sofie.”
Vander’s voice. He sounded closer and she moved in that direction.
Suddenly, there was the sound of crashing plates and breaking glass. Screams broke out.
She bit her lip and heard people jostling. She bumped into someone.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Sofia?”
Sofie stilled. It was Chantal Lockwood.
Could Sofie trust her? “Chantal, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m so sorry this is happening at your gala.”
“They’ll get it fixed soon, I’m sure.”
“Yes.”
Another crash sounded nearby.
“Come on.” Chantal took Sofie’s arm. “Let’s get out of the line of fire.”
“I need to find my bodyguard. He isn’t far away.”
“Come,” Chantal said. “We’ll find him together.”
They moved through several groups of people. When a large pillar appeared out of the gloom, Sofie realized they were near the edge of the room.
Not where she’d last seen Rome.
Her pulse spiked. “Chantal, this isn’t the right way.”
“It’s safer out of the crush.” The woman’s grip tightened on Sofie’s arm.
Sofie tried to pull away. “No, I think—”
The woman’s nails dug into Sofie’s skin. “No, you need to come with me.”
Sofie sucked in a breath. “You’re with the Black Fox gang.”
“What? Black Fox gang? I’ve never heard of it.” Chantal’s crisp voice sounded bewildered.
Sofie frowned. The woman appeared genuinely confused, or she was a damn good actress. “The jewel thieves.”
“Jewel thieves? You think I have something to do with that? Absolutely not .”
Chantal sounded so sincere. Sofie’s muscles relaxed a fraction, but she still remained worried. “I’m sorry, Chantal. There’s so much going on, and maybe I was mistaken.”
“It’s fine.” Chantal paused. “Come this way.”
They edged along the room and Sofie strained to hear Rome’s voice again. She wanted him so badly.
“Stop here,” Chantal said.
“We should—”
“ Well done, pet ,” a cultured voice whispered.
Sofie went as stiff as a board. She recognized that whisper.
“I’d do anything for you.” Chantal’s voice was filled with adoration.
Sofie blinked, fear chilling cold in her veins. “Chantal?”
The woman didn’t even look at Sofie. She was looking at the shadowed figure looming over them.
Then the man stepped forward. “ Sofie, finally .”
Her stalker.
A faint chemical smell hit Sofie’s senses. Where had she smelled that before?
He moved closer, and there was enough faint light that she could see his face.
“No,” she breathed.
Lorenz Stalder. Tori’s boyfriend.
The man moved and yanked a black cloth bag over Sofie’s head.