Okay, now she was beyond worried. Now she was downright scared. The look in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. If he got her into that car it wouldn’t end well for her.
Sapphire tossed the bags of groceries at Ivan and ran. If she could reach Jake’s home, she could buzz for John. She ignored Ivan’s angry yell and raced toward the stoop, her low heels clicking on the concrete sidewalk.
A heavy hand came down on her shoulder and she was whirled around. She had a moment of deja vu, as it reminded her of the night of their date. Ivan grabbed her arm and started dragging her toward the car. Sapphire dug in her heels and started yelling for help.
Ivan swore and yanked her against his chest, slapping his palm over her mouth. Oh God, he was actually kidnapping her.
“Let her go.” The voice was male and deep, but not one she recognized.
“Stay out of this. My wife is ill. She gets like this when she’s off her medication.”
She couldn’t believe Ivan’s audacity. She shook her head and stared at the stranger, pleading for help. She lifted her legs, letting Ivan take her full weight at once. His grip loosened and she landed on the sidewalk on her butt. Wasting no time, she scuttled away before Ivan could grab her again.
But Ivan wasn’t about to be deterred and lunged for her, only to come up short when the stranger stepped in front of her. Ivan glared at the man. “Get out of my way. You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”
Sapphire inched away, chest heaving, limbs quivering. She had to get to Jake’s place to get help. She eyed the stranger more carefully. He was around six feet tall, broad with short black hair. But it was the way he carried himself that made her take a second look. It was familiar somehow.
It was like Jake, and John for that matter. This man had to be military or former military.
“No, I don’t think you have any idea who you’re fucking with, Gregor.”
Ivan stopped and stared more warily at the man. “Who the hell are you?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” Sapphire sucked in a breath. She really didn’t think the guy was kidding, nor was he finished. “You’ve got much bigger problems on your hands without bothering the lady here.”
“You don’t tell me what to do.” Ivan was furious, but he was also scared. She could see it in his eyes.
The man shrugged. “Just giving some friendly advice. You can take it or not. Up to you.” It was obvious the man didn’t care one way or the other.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sapphire caught a flash of something. She turned and almost started to cry at the sight of Jake bearing down on them, his long legs eating up the sidewalk. He glanced at her and she realized she was still sitting on the sidewalk. She pushed herself up, her legs trembling. “Hi.”
He ignored her greeting and went straight to Ivan. “You stay away from her.”
The front doors of Ivan’s car opened and two men in dark suits climbed out, both taking up position on either side of him. Ivan squared his shoulders, more at ease with his bodyguards beside him. It reminded Sapphire of a bad movie, and these guys were obviously the muscle.
“I don’t take orders from some bodyguard.” Ivan laughed. “I did some research on you and you’re nothing but a former army bum.”
“Think what you want, but stay away from Sapphire.”
The stranger shifted slightly to the side, moving closer to one of Ivan’s men. There was an air of alertness around Jake and this man that made them dangerous. Sapphire shivered. Jake didn’t even glance in her direction, but somehow he saw it. “Go on up to the house, Sapphire. I’ll be along in a minute.”
One of the bags of groceries was strewn all over the sidewalk. The other was still intact. She grabbed that one and walked as fast as she could to Jake’s place. She pushed on the security buzzer for his brother’s apartment and felt a huge weight lift when John answered. “Yeah.”
“John, it’s Sapphire. You need to come down. There’s trouble.”
No reply, but seconds later, feet pounded down the inside staircase. The door opened and John stepped out, gun in hand. “Get inside.” He ushered her into the foyer and shoved the door shut.
Sapphire set down her purse and bag of groceries and leaned against the door, watching out the window as John approached the group of men. He kept the gun down by his side, mostly hidden from view.
“What’s going on?” Topaz’s heels clicked on the stairs as she hurried toward Sapphire.
She shook her head. If she started talking she’d probably burst into tears. Plus, she didn’t want to take her gaze off the men. She released a deep breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding when Ivan climbed into his car with his goons and left.
Jake spoke to the stranger who’d stopped to help her. Sapphire’s gaze narrowed when the two men did some kind of complicated male handshake. Then John slapped the stranger on the shoulder and said something to him. It was clear that they weren’t strangers. Jake knew the man who’d helped her. A neighbor, maybe?
The stranger left before she could get the door open to thank him. One second he was there, the next he was lost in the growing evening shadows. Jake gathered the spilled groceries, dumping them back into the bag, and then he and John strode back to the building. She wanted to throw herself in his arms, but wanted to be strong. After all, she wasn’t hurt, only scared.
Topaz stood behind her, tapping her toe against the tile entryway floor. “Will someone tell me what is going on?” she demanded as soon as John walked in the door.
“That’s what I want to know.” Jake’s jaw was clenched and she could tell he was angry. “What are you doing here?”
She leaned against the wall, needing the support. “I wanted to surprise you with dinner.” She motioned to the bags with the slightly squished groceries. “Surprise.”
He lowered his head and released a long breath. “It was a surprise, for sure.” Jake raised his head and reached for her with his free arm, tugging her against his chest. He squeezed her so tight she could barely breathe, but she felt safe.
The adrenaline that flooded her system during the confrontation now left her feeling weak and slightly sick to her stomach.
“You okay?” The concern in his voice almost made her burst into tears, but she blinked them back.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Well, I’m not. Who was that guy and what was going on?” Topaz was using her big sister voice, the one that usually got quick results.
Sapphire sighed. “Can we talk upstairs? I need to sit down.”
Jake shoved the grocery bag at his brother. John barely caught it before Jake let it go. “Bring the groceries,” he ordered. Then Jake scooped her into his arms and started up the stairs.
“I can walk,” she told him. It was stupid to have him carry her up the stairs, even though it felt really nice to be cared for.
“No, you can’t. I need to hold you.” Jake buried his face in her hair and inhaled. His muscles were like iron as they surrounded her.
“Who was the guy who saved me? I need to thank him.”
“No one you need to know.” Jake’s curt reply made her frown.
“You know him. That much is obvious.” She glanced over her shoulder at John and could see the surprise on his face. “Who is he, John?”
Her future brother-in-law shook his head. “Not my place to say.”
Sapphire glanced at her sister and Topaz gave her a slight nod. She’d get the name and information out of John if Jake wouldn’t tell them. Sapphire knew she could count on her sister to get answers.