“That’s not happening.” Leland didn’t raise his voice, but it cut like a blade through the room.
“He’s right,” Dev said. “You’ve done enough.”
Julia nodded, relieved. She would have done it if they’d asked, but she really didn’t want to. She wasn’t sure she could survive another night like the last one.
Across the room, Leland still hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
***
He didn’t remember leaving. One second, he was standing there, listening to them discuss procedures, leads, and strategy. The next, he was in the hallway with the door shut behind him.
Not him.Her words still echoed in his head.
She hadn’t been loud or dramatic. Just final.
And somehow, that made them worse.
It was all he could do not to flinch.
He dragged a hand down his face before bracing both palms against the wall, head lowered.
Breathe. Get it together.
She wasn’t wrong. That was the part carving him up inside. Julia had every reason not to trust him with her safety. He’d spent months pushing her away, drawing lines, convincing himself distance was protection. He’d done such a good job, now she believed him.
He shut his eyes, but it did nothing to erase the bruises left by cruel fingers, the swelling at her throat, the raw imprint of another man’s hands on her skin.
She’d been with strangers when it happened. With no one looking out for her. Choosing them over Devil’s Pointe because of him. Regret lodged like glass beneath his ribs.
There was no room for that now. What mattered was finding the man who thought he could lay hands on her and walk away without consequences. Leland pushed off the wall, cold purpose settling over him with lethal clarity.
The bastard was about to learn exactly how wrong he was.
Chapter 19
Mateo pulled the SUV into the service drive and parked beside the Gold Coast Catering van. He didn’t cut the engine immediately. Just sat for a second, scanning mirrors, entry points, the line of parked vehicles, the open service door. Only then did he shift into park.
“Wait for me to come around.”
Julia didn’t reach for the handle. Didn’t argue. She already knew the drill.
He got out and walked around the front of the SUV, his eyes constantly scanning—not overtly, but he didn’t miss a thing. Staff crossed the driveway. A server emerged from a side door. A delivery truck idled farther down the street.
He opened her door. “Stay close.”
About her age. Maybe a few years older. Several inches over six feet, all taut muscle, built for speed more than bulk. Mateo was like every D&A man; he radiated the same quiet competence and authority she’d spent the past few months trying not to miss. It was deeply annoying.
She put that out of her mind and slid out.
The high-end private party had been on the calendar for weeks. The venue was small, as was the guest list, which made it easier to control.
What mattered most, her security team had signed off on it.
Inside, the kitchen was a hive of activity. Steam rose from pots on the stove; knives rhythmically chopped on cutting boards. Emily’s brigade, in crisp white coats, flushed with the heat and concentration of service.
Julia took her place at the pass, already tying on an apron. “Sorry I’m late.”
“You’re here. That’s what counts,” Emily replied without looking up. “Salad course is done. Hot apps in three.”
