Even in the darkness, she knew who it was.
She swallowed an inner groan. Of course, it had to be him. The bane of her existence. Her nemesis.
A shaft of light caught his face.
It was a hell of a face. Saxon Buchanan was not one of her brothers. He was her brother Vander’s best friend, and Gia had known him half her life.
He was tall, with a muscled body that almost hid his strength. His collection of well-cut suits—which included the designer tuxedo he currently wore—disguised just how muscular and strong he was. It somehow minimized his broad shoulders and powerful legs. Her gaze moved back to his face.
Saxon had been in the military with Vander. He was from a wealthy, San Francisco family that went back generations, and they’d forbidden him to join the Army. He went anyway.
Saxon made his own rules.
He finished hitting her attacker and the man curled into a ball on the ground.
Saxon’s head lifted, his gaze on her. The light caught his hair, and she couldn’t decide if it was dark blond, or golden brown.
“You have some explaining to do,” he said.
She sniffed.
His good breeding showed in the most handsome face she’d ever seen— strong jaw, straight nose, aristocratic features, and green eyes. Those eyes flared. He strode toward her and grabbed her forearms.
His long fingers on her skin sent a sizzle of sensation up her arms. She gasped. “I just needed some air.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Now isn’t the time for clever words and games, Gia.”
“Everything’s fine. I had it under control.”
Saxon made a harsh sound. “Under control? He was about to carry you out of here.”
Wow, Saxon was really pissed. He was usually Mr. Cool and Suave, so it was interesting to see the tension in his face and body.
“It was fine.” Damn, he had a habit of seeing her at her worst and rubbing it in.
He snorted. “What have you gotten yourself mixed up in?”
“None of your business.” She went toe to toe with him. She hated that he towered over her measly five feet, four inches. “You always try to stick your nose into my business. I already have three brothers. I don’t need another one.”
Saxon glared at her. “Believe me, I don’t think of myself as your brother.”
They stared at each other, gazes locked. Then one of his hands slid up and cupped her cheek. Her traitorous body shivered.
“I just saved you, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Thanks.” She was well aware she didn’t sound very grateful. She struggled for some control. “I had it in hand.”
He glanced at the man, then back at Gia. “Willow dragged you into something.”
Gia lifted her chin. “Like I said, none of your business.”
Saxon leaned closer. “Contessa, after seeing this asshole shoot at you, I’m making you my business.”
What? “Don’t use that ridiculous name.”
“What the fuck is going on?”
The deep voice, with a lethal edge, made goosebumps rise on Gia’s bare arms.
She turned her head and saw Easton first. Her older brother wore a tuxedo and looked gorgeous. Their Italian-American heritage showed through in Easton’s dark hair and good looks. He had an air of authority, every inch the big brother and successful businessman. He frowned at the attacker, then scanned her, relief on his face.
But it was Vander who’d spoken. He stood half in the shadows, like the darkness wanted to cling to him.
He stepped forward. Vander had badass deeply embedded in his DNA, and it had been there even when he was a kid. Despite loving him to bits, there were times when he scared her.
He was intense, and he thrived on control, and she was well aware that he was dangerous.
His tuxedo didn’t hide any of that.
Saxon gave her a little shake. She looked up at him and she gave a start.
She realized that he had the same dangerous glint in his green eyes. He just hid it better than Vander.
She cleared her throat. Time to face the music.
* * *
Saxon Buchanan was pissed as hell.
He saw the man on the ground move and shot him a glare. The guy stilled. The asshole had fired on Gia. Tried to abduct her. Had put her in danger.
Saxon’s fingers flexed on her arm. Big mistake.
He looked down at Gia. As always, her stubborn jaw was lifted as she faced down Vander. And as usual, Saxon felt the competing urges to hit that jaw, or bite it.
The thought of biting Gia Norcross—in many and varied locations—fired his blood.
Fuck.
He shut the thought down as best he could. He’d had years of practice. He tried to remember her as the opinionated, twelve-year-old from the first time he’d met her. At sixteen, after being booted out of his expensive private school, Saxon had been sent to a local high school. Despite their differences, he and Vander had clicked. He’d spent as much time in the Norcross family home as he could. It had been much better than the stifling mausoleum his parents called home.
He’d watched Gia transform from his best friend’s pesky sister into a gorgeous, feisty, smart woman.
It’d been uncomfortable at first—the flashes of lust he’d had for her when she’d grown breasts. Definitely not appropriate.
But as always, she’d been off-limits—far too young, and Vander’s little sister.
Vander wasn’t related to Saxon by blood, but they were brothers in every other sense. Saxon had vowed that he would never, ever cross the boundary with his best friend’s sister.
It didn’t help that he and Gia seemed to irritate each other without barely trying. Damn, Saxon loved seeing her chocolate-brown eyes fire up.
She was no longer underage, but after ten years in the military, and a lot of those in Ghost Ops doing the dirtiest, meanest, and hardest jobs the government needed done…
Saxon blew out a breath. Not to mention his fucked-up family. He had baggage he’d never, ever unload on a woman. He liked his relationships brief, uncomplicated, and simple.
And Gia would always be Vander’s little sister.
But seeing that asshole draw a gun on her…
Seeing her in danger.
Something inside Saxon had cracked open. He would pull out all the stops to keep Gia safe.
“Willow has a thing,” Gia said.
Vander cursed and Easton looked up at the night sky, jaw tight.
Saxon knew it. That woman was trouble.
Vander cocked his head. “Willow dragged you into this mess, which ends up with you getting shot at and almost snatched.”
“Yes.” Gia’s chin lifted another inch.
“Cut her loose,” Vander bit out. “I’ll get word out to whoever’s after her that you are not involved.”
The man on the ground finally shook off his grogginess and raised his head. He looked at Vander and went still. “You’re Vander Norcross.”
Vander just stared at him.
“And she’s his sister,” Saxon added.
“Fuck,” the man breathed. Then he gathered himself. “It won’t stop my boss. He wants his gems back.”
“Gems?” Saxon cut a glance to Gia.
She sighed. “Willow was seeing a guy. They had words—”
“He dumped her drug-addicted ass,” the man said.