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Tori was also following him in the mirror over the bar. "I'm a little worried for you right now," she said. "The Harts need to provide protection for you."
"Eliana makes women disappear. I'm not going to disappear from my life." She pulled out her phone. "I am, however, going to call Declan for a ride home."
Tori grinned. "What happened to making it sex only?"
"I think guarding my body is part of sex, don't you? Nothing personal here." She texted him.Declan. I need a ride home. Soon, if possible.
Her phone rang almost instantly, Declan's name flashing on her screen.
Tori raised her brows. "That was quick. He must have some super Piper sense about your well-being."
Piper tried not to care, but a part of her settled at the sight of his name. "He doesn't know me well enough to notice the undercurrent of terror in my text."
"No?"
"No." She answered the phone. "Hi."
"What's going on? What's wrong?" He didn't waste time with preamble.
Her throat tightened at his questions. Heknew.He paid enough attention that he'd picked up on her tension through a freaking text. She could hear the noise of the bar behind him, and realized he'd called her without even taking time to step away from the bar. "Dick."
"Dick?" He paused for a second. "You want sex?"
Horror shot through her. "Oh, God. No. I didn't mean that." She started laughing, that freakout kind of laugh that combined with building terror. "I was referring to that guy Dick from the fundraiser the other night."
"Oh. I was going to make a joke about sex, but I need to follow this Dick train first. Why are you talking about him?"
"Because he's here, he threatened me, and now he's watching me and talking on the phone. I'm a little concerned he has his heavyweights heading to my car or house right now to kidnap and torture me until I reveal her location. I have my friends here, but I don't want to drive home alone."
Declan swore. "Stay in the ballroom. Do not step away for any reason. Aiden! I'm leaving!" The background sounds of the bar faded, and she knew he was outside.
Her heart tightened. He'd run from the bar for her. God. She'd never had a man be the one to keep her safe before. It felt…foreign. And wonderful. "I'm at the Diamond Plaza Hotel."
"Got it." He paused. "GPS says I'll be there in thirty minutes. When does the party end?"
She looked around. "People are leaving already."
"Fuck. Are you near the bar?"
"Next to it, yes."
"Give your phone to the bartender."
"What?" She stiffened as she glanced at the bartender. He was quite tall, muscled, and looked like he could deal with any drunk who caused trouble. "No. I can handle this. I'll ask him to stay with us myself."
His truck roared to life. "Piper. Don't fucking do that to me."
She heard the edge of desperation in his voice, and suddenly realized what she'd done to him, dragging him back into a situation like the one that had haunted him, calling him when she was in danger. "Shit, sorry. I didn't mean to drag you into this?—"
"Do you think I'd prefer that you didn't call me, but this time, when I broke into your house, youwereactually dead on your kitchen floor instead of meditating? Is that what you think I want? Because let me clarify things for you. I'm a born protector, Piper. Ineedyou to call me and ask for my help any time you're in danger. Never apologize. Got it?"
She took a breath. "Yeah, okay."
"I request that you give your phone to the bartender, Piper. Please."
She felt the iron willpower it took for him not to demand she hand the phone over, and she settled. She could say no. He would never force her. But she knew how bad people could be, and so did he. "Okay."
She waved to get the bartender's attention and held up her phone. "Would you talk to my fiancé, please?"
