“Evidence?” Sasha took the bag and looked at the paper with the words You’re Mine on the page. Each letter, individually cut out and pasted on the paper, had a different computer font.
“Jesus Christ,” Xander said from behind her, his big body vibrating with anger.
“Someone sent this to me?” she asked, unease rippling through her.
“Yes,” Dina said.
Sasha blew out a long breath, trying to be rational. “Okay, well, we all know celebrities get notes from obsessed fans all the time. It doesn’t mean–”
“It means someone reached your floor and got as far as your door. Which is why I said you need security,” Xander all but growled in her ear.
“We’ll get to that,” Rebecca said.
Dina cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, this isn’t the first note you’ve gotten that has this … possessive tone.”
Sasha’s mail was sent through Dina’s agency. They vetted each piece and forwarded on to Cassidy what was important. It helped keep both Sasha’s and Cassidy’s life manageable and the crazies at a distance.
“How many more notes has she gotten?” Xander stepped around Sasha and pulled the bag out of Dina’s hand.
The publicist shifted from foot to foot in her expensive heels. “We run her social media accounts, and I have someone pulling the messages and actual fan snail mail as we speak. But quite a few.”
Anger and concern rushed through Sasha. She paid these people to handle things and report back to her. If they didn’t, how could she know she was safe? “Why wasn’t I told about them?”
“For the reason you just mentioned. Our clients get these kinds of emails, snail mail, and direct messages often,” Dina said. “The only time we bring them to their attention is if the contents seem dangerous or it escalates. Otherwise, there would be no point in us handling things for you.”
Her reasoning made sense but Sasha wasn’t completely satisfied.
“I don’t like this,” Xander muttered. “Not after today.”
“What happened today?” It sounded like all three women asked the same question at once.
Xander folded his arms across his broad chest. “Someone recognized her, which led to autographs and photos. After we ate dinner, she was surrounded on her way out of the restaurant. A guy grabbed her and tried to pull her away.”
“Xander wrapped an arm around me and we made it to the car that Cassidy arranged for us.” Sasha hadn’t been as freaked out by the incident as he had, mostly because she’d been in those situations before. But now? “Do you think it’s the same person? The guy who grabbed me and the one who left the note?”
“Serafina is within walking distance,” he said of the restaurant. “It could be the same person. Or it could be two different people.” He’d begun pacing back and forth in the suite.
Although the room normally felt big, with his long strides and large build, the area seemed to shrink, and she grew more aware of him. It didn’t matter that there were three others in the room. Xander took up all her oxygen.
“Either way, I don’t like this.” He turned to face her. “I’m calling a friend of mine who runs a bodyguard business. Alpha Security is the best and I’m bringing them in,” he said.
“I—” she began.
“Not up for argument.” Xander had an obstinate expression on his face as he interrupted her and his determined gaze met hers.
She shrugged. “I was just going to say I have a company on retainer. I don’t plan on being stupid with my safety.”
Dina cleared her throat. “Your firm in LA is solid,” she said. “A lot of my clients use them.”
Xander glared at her. “Alpha is excellent and they’re local. Dash uses them, and if they’re good enough for the Original Kings, I feel comfortable hiring them for Sasha.”
“You feel comfortable? Why are we considering your feelings? And why is everyone talking around me instead of to me?” Sasha glared at Xander, the person she was most upset with, the memory of his reaction to their kiss still lingering along with the hurt she felt at his rejection.
“Excuse us a minute,” she said to everyone else in the room before grabbing his hand and pulling him into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them.
* * *
Xander knew he was in trouble. He let Sasha drag him into the adjoining bedroom and waited for her to explode at his high-handed behavior. Not that he cared. There was no way he was going to turn her safety over to anyone but the best.
She faced him, hands on her hips. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you’re protected. Do you think I’m going to let the PR firm who didn’t tell you about potential stalker issues handle your safety?” he asked.
Her beautiful blue eyes opened wide. “How about you let me handle it? God knows I’ve been capable of taking care of myself since you left me.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I’d say you checked out of the relationship first, but that’s not the point.”
He didn’t want to get into a petty fight about the past when he needed to focus on the present. She’d been threatened by a stalker, and he intended to take care of her—without allowing himself to dig into the reasons why he cared so much. From the moment that crazy fan had grabbed her and tried pulling her away, a switch had flipped inside him and his protector instincts had kicked in.
And since she looked about to launch into an argument again, he cut her off. “I can make one call and have someone by your side in under an hour. Are you going to argue?”
“Fine.”
“Good.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket and got his brother on the phone. “Dash, I need a favor.”
“Talk to me.”
Xander heard music playing in the background. “Your security people. I need someone immediately for Sasha. She’s at the Gansevoort, but I’m bringing her to my place, where it’s quiet and we can see a stranger coming. Can you get me someone to protect her?”
“You’re bringing me where?” Sasha’s voice echoed in the room. Her pouty lips parted in shock, and Xander prepared himself for another fight.
On the other end of the call, his brother was silent and Xander knew why. It was only a matter of time before–
“What the fuck are you doing?” Dash asked. “Didn’t she hurt you enough the first time?”
“That’s not what this is about. Can you help me out or not?” Xander asked.
Xander glanced at Sasha, who was tapping her foot, her anxiety and fury obvious. He didn’t blame her. No more than he faulted his sibling for worrying about him. Xander would do the same if the situation were reversed.
“On it, bro, but I hope you know what you’re doing. Someone from Alpha will be in touch soon.”
“Thanks.” Xander disconnected the call.
“I’m not staying with you. That’s what a bodyguard is for,” Sasha said.
“That may be true but this is Manhattan. It’s crowded. Look how easily that guy got close to you today. And someone managed to reach your floor and slip a note under your door. What if the man shows up with a room service cart?”