Three armed men. No knock. No announcement. They walk in like this is their turf, and the lead one has a Glock leveled at my chest before the door finishes swinging.
I'm not wearing a goddamn thing but a sheet.
I shift in front of Elle before I've even decided to. Instinct. The kind that comes from years of protecting things I can't afford to lose.
Elle, to my absolute shock, starts laughing. She actually laughs. Sits up, sheet clutched to her chest, eyes wide and weirdly friendly.
Who the hell is this girl?
"Really, Jeffrey?" she says to the largest man. "You couldn't have knocked?"
The man doesn't take his eyes off me. "Get dressed, Elle. Now."
"I'm sorry," she says, still smiling like armed intrusions are a normal thing. "I know you're mad."
Christ. She knows them. These are the men who watch her. The guards she mentioned.
"Mad doesn't begin to cover it." The older guy she’s been directing her words at has a steel voice."Gayle is going to kill all of us."
Everything inside me goes cold and organized. I'm not used to being on the wrong side of a breach. I don't like the angle, the light, the smell of other men's decisions in my air. I quickly assess the situation. One exit. Knowing Elle is in no danger removes that from the equation.
But I’m not safe.
I’m the target.
My gun is in my coat jacket, the one I threw by the door. My pants are on the floor. I make a move to grab them, but Jeffrey's weapon tracks me like a shadow.
"Get dressed," he orders. "Now."
Elle's voice breaks. "Please, Nik. Just do what he says."
I don't take orders well. Never have. But three guns against no guns is arithmetic, not bravery.
I grab my underwear from the floor and pull them on. Slow. Compliant. Cataloging.
Three men. Lead has a Glock, trained center mass. Second has what looks like a Sig, held too high. Third is closest to the door, hand on his weapon but not drawn. The coats they're wearing are tailored, not tactical.
Jeffrey's jaw is set. "Both of you, get dressed. You're coming with us."
Elle's laughter is gone now. "Jeffrey, wait. I'll come with you, but..."
"Quiet," he snaps.
I catch Elle's eye. Wide. Terrified. Whatever game this was, it just stopped being funny.
"He doesn't have anything to do with this," she says quickly. "He's just a guy I met at the club."
"A guy." Jeffrey narrows his eyes at me. "Sure."
"Both of you," the second guard says, "clothes. Now."
I bend for my pants. Nothing threatening. Just a man getting dressed, hands where everyone can see them.
"Don't try anything stupid," Jeffrey warns.
I pull on my pants. Stand slowly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Jeffrey's weapon stays on me.
