Chapter 19

Harper

L ove. That word pinged around in my head as I flitted around the ballroom in preparation for the political fundraiser in four days’ time. It was unusual to have so much time to set up. Back in California we were constantly working insanely long hours because the venues were in such high demand that we had to set up the night before or even the morning of an event.

This was a nice change. I didn’t have to rush around, which increased the chances of making a mistake or missing something significant. Having everything set up early meant I could add flourishes that would make the event better, which meant a satisfied client and more work. So rather than running around like the Energizer Bunny, I had a leisurely few hours to prepare the room.

It was just after three in the afternoon, and I was close to going home for the day, when the side door to the ballroom smacked open, startling me once again. I put a hand to my chest and told myself I really needed to stop being so damn jumpy. Still on alert, I jump-turned and found Carl approaching in long strides, a completely terrified expression on his face.

“Carl. What’s going on?”

He didn’t stop until less than an inch separated us. His brown eyes were jet black and he kept looking over his shoulder as if he expected some boogeyman to jump out at any time. “Harper, look, something’s going on. I don’t know what exactly, but something big has happened. Viper is beyond pissed off and stressed, and worse? He was asking questions about you. And the Steel Demons.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Carl simply shook his head and held up a hand.

“I don’t want to know because I don’t give a shit. I’m already in this too deep and I don’t want to know more than I already do just… be careful.” He looked around again with wide eyes, his whole body strung tight with fear and then he took off and left me alone in the ballroom.

I didn’t realize my hands were shaking until I felt around for my phone. “Calm down,” I muttered to myself. I inhaled and exhaled the way I did on those rare occasions I was done with work early enough to go to a yoga class. I needed to calm down because freaking out wouldn’t accomplish anything. “Calm. Down.”

It took two full minutes of deep breathing before my hands stopped shaking long enough to send Gio a text about what Carl said to me.

Me: Can you come here?

His response came a few seconds later.

Gio: On my way.

I couldn’t help but smile at his instant support with no questions asked. It was even better than my brother because Cole would also come but he’d also have ten million questions while he provided the help. I packed up my tablet and my notes, seating charts, and everything else, shoved it into my bag and high-tailed it towards the front exit.

My legs shook uncontrollably even though it was almost eighty degrees outside, and I dug my heels into the concrete to keep still. The minutes ticked by, and my anxiety increased with every second. There were people everywhere, too many faces to make out any real details so every single person I saw filled me with fear and anxiety.

The roar of Gio’s bike sounded above the crowd and my heartbeat slowed as I descended the short cement stairway and shot one hand in the air just in case he didn’t see me. I smiled and slowly I felt my body relax. I felt the heat at my back about a heartbeat before two arms snaked around my body, one hooked around my waist and the other covered my mouth before I could scream.

“Scream and I’ll slit your pretty little throat.”

His words meant nothing to me, and I screamed as loud as I could, hoping someone would hear the muffled noise through his meaty hand. I kicked and screamed as hard as possible, but the guy was taller and bigger than me, and when he leaned back my feet left the ground.

This is it, I thought to myself. This is where I die.

I closed my eyes for a long moment and then opened them when the man yanked me backwards and then backed away from Gio’s approach. With every step he took, Gio got farther away. He couldn’t move quickly with the line of cars and suitcase trolleys that cluttered up the area, and I was terrified that he wouldn’t get to me in time. “Gio,” I shouted through his hand needlessly.

My gaze darted around for details, as the noise of the crowd died, the deeper he dragged me down a service alley. Heart thumping, I kicked harder and thrashed my body around hoping to knock him off balance or loosen his hold on me, but the fucker was too strong.

“Let her go!” Gio shouted the words as he got off his bike and pulled out his gun, shortening the distance between us quickly.

“And if I don’t?” He held me tighter and ducked his head behind mine. “You gonna risk your old lady just to get to me?” He laughed and the sound was grotesque and deep and menacing. I hated it instinctively.

The sound of footsteps behind me made my whole body seize up with fear. My eyes went wide, and I hoped Gio could read my expression.

“It won’t come to that if you let her go.” Gio walked and spoke with such confidence that I believed him.

“Nah. You’ll have to decide,” the other man said. “Risk killing her just to get to me or kill my boy first and risk being too late to save her.” He laughed again and I was really starting to hate that sound.

“Or,” Gio began with a slow smile as he lifted his gun, aiming the barrel at my captor and his friend, back and forth in a teasing gesture. “I could just shoot both of you and walk away with my woman.”

His woman. It was a ridiculous thing to focus in given the severity of what was happening but still, it was nice.

I suddenly had an idea, I winked at Gio hoping he’d understand that I was about to try something. His brows dipped in confusion. He didn’t get it, and I sighed, dropping my head forward before I swung it backwards as hard as I could until I made contact with my captor.

“Ow!” he cried out, and before he could say anything else Gio squeezed the trigger, and the world slowed. The man’s arms loosened around me instantly and warm blood hit the side of my face, the back of my neck and my hands.

I screamed at the feel of something heavier than blood on my face and hair before I dropped to my knees on the concrete. “Gio!”

His gun was aimed at the other biker. “Live to fight another day or die right here with your buddy?”

He narrowed his gaze at Gio. “This shit ain’t over. We know what you did, and we know it was you. Watch your back.”

Gio simply grinned. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, but you better watch your back. Even when you sleep, watch it, because I have a long fucking memory and I’m not a forgiving man.” He waited a few seconds and didn’t relax until the man took off at a fast run, jumped on his bike and got gone quickly. His gaze swung to me with a frown, and he was at my side in an instant. “Harper, shit baby. You okay?”

I nodded and then shook my head, and then I nodded again. “Scared but okay and my knees are a little scraped.” Gio helped me to my feet and gathered me in his arms.

“Seriously?”

I nodded. “I’m… okay. Or maybe I’m not, but I’m not hurt.”

“No,” he growled. “You’re not, but the Blood Reapers are gonna hurt. A lot.” Gio kept his arm around me and led me back to his motorcycle. He got me on the bike and put my helmet on. “Hang on Harp.”

I did what I was told and laid my head against his back and stared unseeing at the city as it whizzed by. The ride felt eternal but soon enough we were at the clubhouse and I was inside the room he put me in the first night I got here just a few short weeks ago.

It felt as if an entire lifetime had passed since then and throughout it all Gio was here, at my side.

My lover.

My protector.

Potentially, my everything.