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“Don’t,” I warn, holding up my hands. My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “This is a public street. Someone will see.”

His laugh is sharp, humorless. “And what will they see? You’re standing in the warehouse district at five forty-five on a Tuesday. There’s nobody here, Sloane.”

He’s right. The street stretches empty in both directions—no pedestrians, no cars, no witnesses. My pulse spikes as I calculate the distance between us and the building entrance. Fifteen feet. Maybe twenty. Too far.

“Now stop fighting and get in the car,” he says, his voice dropping into something low and controlled.

I turn to run back into the building, only for Adrian to yank me back against his chest.

“Let go of me,” I snarl, driving the heel of my shoe into his shin. He hisses, his grip tightening like a vise around my waist. I twist violently, throwing my weight against him. “Somebody help me!”

“Go ahead, keep screaming. It’s not like anyone will hear you.” The answer freezes me, not because he sounds brave, but because he sounds sure no one will help.

I look toward the street. A delivery van rolls past. A man half a block down is staring at his phone. Nobody is close enough and that makes me fight harder.

“Stop being difficult.”

“Stop kidnapping me!”

Tires scrape hard against the curb, followed by the slam of a car door. “Take your fucking hands off her.”

Jace reaches us, his arm wrapping around me as he punches Adrian hard across the jaw, causing him to slam into the car door. Adrian’s head snaps back against the window with a sickening crack, and he slumps to the ground. Jace pulls me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me so tightly I can barely breathe.

“Are you hurt?” His hands running over my arms, my back, checking for injuries.

“I’m okay,” I manage, but tears blur my vision. I press my face into Jace’s chest, inhaling the familiar scent as I clutch the fabric of his shirt. “He just… he grabbed me and was trying to force me into his car.”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Jace bellows as he lets me go, only to grab Adrian by his jacket and hit him again. This one catches him square in the mouth, snapping his head back against the window.

Adrian crumples, blood spraying across the pristine car door. I press my hand over my mouth, watching in horrified fascination as Jace stands over him, beating the ever loving shit out of this man.

“Jace.” My voice comes out thin, barely audible. “Jace, stop.”

He doesn’t hear me. Or doesn’t want to. His eyes are wild, nothing like the playful man who flirts with me across conference tables.

I reach out and grab Jace’s arm, feeling the tension vibrating through him. “Jace, please. I already called the police; just let him go.”

Sirens sound in the distance, growing louder by the second. Adrian's attention shifts toward the street, and whatever he was about to say dies on his tongue.

Jace gives him a humorless smile as he steps back, pulling me with him. “Sounds like you’re about to have a very productive afternoon, Mr. Cross.”

Adrian picks himself up off the ground and straightens his jacket. “I’m not the only one. You should really learn to control that temper, Narváez. You’ll be hearing from my lawyers.”

“Oh, please. Let’s get lawyers involved. I’ll explain why I hit you while you explain why you’ve been stalking my woman and tried to drag her into your car. I’m sure the judge would love that.” Jace turns fully toward him.

“You’re lucky she called the police and not Elias.”

Sirens grow deafening, and Adrian notices the approaching police cruiser at the same time we do. He turns toward his car, reaching for the door handle, but Jace is already blocking him.

“Don't even fucking think about it,” he warns.

The cruiser stops in front of us before he can respond; two officers step out, and Jace immediately raises his hands and steps away from Adrian.

“Officers, that man just tried to force my girlfriend into his car.”

Adrian lets out an incredulous laugh. “I assure you, officers, that is a ridiculous accusation.”

“I bet the cameras beg to differ,” Jace says with a smile that even makes me shrink a little.