“Oh, you’re going to work something out, all right.”
“I, uhm—”
Lorenzo’s body jerked, and his eyes widened.
Sacha took advantage of the moment and leaned away, gulping air that didn’t smell like an oil factory.
Another person stood behind Lorenzo, taller and leaner. The mysterious figure gripped the collar of Lorenzo’s jacket and began to twist.
Narrowing his eyes on Sacha, Lorenzo pushed her into the wall and pivoted to face his opponent.
She stumbled but regained her balance. Her stare never left the stranger.
Relief flooded through her limbs at this momentary diversion, and she studied the area near the men. Not about to stick around to wait for the victor, she needed to disappear, and fast. If gauging the distance correctly, it was twenty feet or so to the front door.
“You despicable tosser.” The words were a quiet hiss, but the undertone of the voice familiar.
Sacha stopped, and drew in a ragged breath.
The man grabbed Lorenzo’s shirt and lifted his feet off the floor.
“You should’veneverput your hands on her.”
Sacha tilted her head to stare at her rescuer. His face was still blanketed in shadows, but light fell onto his chin.
A little upside-down hook above the lip made her heart soar with joy. “Fin?”
He shook Lorenzo until his greasy hair flopped back and forth.
“I—” Flushing face turning into an ugly, purple hue, Lorenzo gasped between each rough shake of Fin’s fists.
“Shut up.” Dark, scarlet eyes squinted on the man’s face, and a hard knot formed along Fin’s lower jaw, underneath his earlobe.
Sacha scanned the crowd, hoping they weren’t attracting attention.
The band switched to a loud, guitar-heavy number and the dancefloor erupted in rowdy cheers and shouts.
With Fin here, she felt safe and calmed.
Did he come here for me?
Fin shoved the larger man to the ground, threw a quick glance to the crowd, then held a hand palm up.
“Wait.” Lorenzo choked out, clawing at his throat. “Now don’t get too hasty. I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
“Not another word.” Fin glanced at Sacha. “You okay, love?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She stood on shaky legs and wiped at a smudge on her arm.
His lips curved. “Well, then, your Highness—what shall we do with this piece of shit?”
Lorenzo rose. His eyes widened, and he turned with hands upraised in surrender.
“I want him gone.” The urge to kick him in the balls flashed through her mind. “As far as possible.”
“Well . . .” Fin pointed a finger and made a tiny circle in the air. “I can think of no farther place than hell.” A green ball of light floated from his hands toward the pimple-faced man.
“Wait.” Sacha’s heart pounded and she scanned the room again. “Someone will see you.” Terror shot a sliver of fear down the length of her spine.
