“She took a bag of precious stones from him,” Gia said.
“Jesus,” Vander scowled. “Cut her loose.”
“Vander, no.” Gia grabbed her brother’s arm. “You know she had a rough childhood. She—”
“Is an adult,” Saxon said, interrupting her. “She can’t keep using that as an excuse to fuck up.”
Gia’s eyes narrowed. “You might’ve grown up with a set of silver spoons shoved in your mouth, but she didn’t.”
“She’s trouble, Gia,” Easton said. “Always was, even though you couldn’t see it. Your loyalty is admirable…”
“No, it’s not,” Saxon said. “It’s stupid.”
Those brown eyes—surrounded by ridiculously long lashes—flared hot. “You never miss a chance to tell me I’m stupid.”
“Contessa—”
“No.” She cut her hand through the air. “Willow has no one. Anyway, she’s gone now. If she calls, I’ll tell her to return what she stole.”
Shit. Saxon did admire Gia’s loyalty, but he was still mad. He knew that whoever Gia loved, she protected them fiercely.
Vander crouched by the man. “Who’s your boss?”
The man didn’t hesitate. “Kyle Dennett.”
Saxon barely controlled his sneer. An upstart trying to make a name for himself in the San Francisco drug trade. The guy had a few legit businesses—bars, a club. But you didn’t have to dig far below the veneer of businessman to find filth.
“You tell him that Gia is off your radar, otherwise he’ll deal with me,” Vander said.
The man nodded.
Saxon stepped closer, then noticed something. He gripped Gia’s chin and tilted it up.
“Hey, hands off—” She tried to jerk out of his hold.
“Your cheek is swelling.”
Three sets of male eyes swung to the man. He looked like he was hoping the ground would open and swallow him up.
“Did you hit her?” Saxon asked softly.
Gia cleared her throat. “Guys—”
Saxon gripped the back of the man’s shirt and started dragging him across the courtyard.
“Saxon!” She moved to follow.
Then Saxon heard her make a sound.
“Let go of me, Easton!”
Saxon delivered a hard punch to the man’s face. He groaned. Saxon felt icy, deadly calm spread over him.
Suddenly, the man leaped up and attacked. He kicked Saxon’s knee and Saxon staggered, but caught his balance.
The man launched at Saxon. Clearly, the guy had been play-acting, and wasn’t as hurt as he’d seemed.
“Do something!” Gia cried.
“Sax has it,” Easton murmured.
Dennett’s man lunged forward, and Saxon let him get a hit in. His fist rammed into Saxon’s gut. But that got the man close, and Saxon followed through with a hard jab to the face, then a chop to the back of the man’s neck. Saxon put all his strength into it.
With a groan, the man went to his knees, blood streaming down his face and soaking into his shirt.
“Hurt her again, and this will seem like just a bit of fun,” Saxon warned.
Then Saxon turned, tugging the hem of his jacket and dusting it off.
Gia was staring at him, her gaze running over his body like she was looking for injuries. Then she looked behind Saxon. Her face changed and he tensed.
Suddenly, she broke free of Easton. She was right near the construction and scooped up a hunk of rock. She threw it.
For a second, Saxon thought she was throwing it at him.
The rock sailed right past him and as he swiveled, he saw the chunk of stone hit Dennett’s guy right between the eyes.
He howled, and dropped the gun that he’d pulled from somewhere.
The Norcross brothers raced forward, and soon had the man on his belly, hands zip tied.
Saxon stared at Gia. He saw fear on her face before she quickly hid it.
“Bastardo.” She spat at the man on the ground.
Saxon’s lips twitched. Mrs. Norcross was Italian-American, and had clearly passed on some curses to Gia.
God, she was beautiful. A tiny Italian goddess.
“Gia.” Saxon desperately wanted to touch her, but couldn’t risk it.
He’d want more, take more.
He was pretty sure her brothers wouldn’t like him kissing the hell out of her in front of them.
“Lucky you were so damn good at softball, Gia,” Easton said.
Vander and Easton heaved the man up.
“I’ll take care of this.” Vander shot Gia an unhappy look. “You fucking deal with Willow, Gia. She’s out of your life.”
With one hand clamped on the groggy thug’s arm, Vander dragged the man away.
“I’ll check on Rhys,” Easton said. “He’s with Haven, and mom and dad, keeping an eye on things inside. I’ll let everyone know that you’re okay.” Easton swiveled and headed up the steps back to the gala.
“I’ll take you home,” Saxon said.
Gia wrapped her arms around herself, her face pale. “I have my driver.”
“I’ll take you home,” he said again.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve had enough for tonight. I want to be alone.”
“You need to cut Willow off, Gia.”
“Don’t start, Saxon.”
He grabbed her arm. “Her mess could have gotten you killed. Tonight could have turned out very differently.”
Gia looked sad and tired. “She’s my friend.”
“She’s not a very good one.”
“Enough. God. You’re always questioning my judgment. Back off, Saxon. I’m not a brainless doll.”
No, she was one of the smartest, savviest people he knew. But he didn’t want her hurt. Willow would take advantage, like she always did.
“I never said you were brainless, but sometimes you make bad choices when it comes to those you care about.”
“And you never let me forget it.” Her hands balled into fists. “Quit picking on me!”
He reached out and tugged on one of her curls. He loved her thick mass of curly, dark hair. “Contessa, if I didn’t pick on you, you’d feel deprived.”
She made an annoyed sound and knocked his arm away. “Leave me alone, Saxon Buchanan!”
He waited a beat. She usually got creative when she started ranting. “That all you’ve got?” Damn, arguing with her got his blood pumping.
Her nose wrinkled. “I was hoping for something more dramatic than that, but that’s the best I’ve got. I’m tired and sore.” She stormed off, her dress flaring behind her.
Saxon shook his head. It was getting harder and harder to ignore how he felt about Gia. He’d been trying to leave her alone for years. His hands flexed.
Gia Norcross had been off-limits for a long time.
But tonight, that changed.
Chapter Two
She was going to need more concealer.
In her lovely bathroom, her little sanctuary, Gia dabbed on her makeup.
She was headed to work shortly, had a full day ahead of her, and needed to hide two sleepless nights and her bruises.
She hadn’t slept much Saturday night after the gala, and she’d spent Sunday locked in her apartment, ignoring the world, and worrying about Willow. Everyone had called to check on Gia, and she’d done her best to reassure them she was all right. Last night, she’d been exhausted and sure she’d sleep. Instead, she’d had nightmares of Dennett’s man chasing her…but as she ran, he’d morphed into a steely-eyed Saxon, which had strangely scared her more.