Dazzled by Silver by Lacey Silks Page A

would have invested in anything this stalker was selling. Besides, everything she owned went into Kissed. Was she in some kind of trouble?
    He stepped even closer and, this time, I was the one to match his advance, backward.
    “Kendra owes us a large sum of money. I’m sure you could come up with a way to help her, being in the underwriting business and all. Otherwise, we may need to settle the payment the old fashioned way.”
    My heart stilled at his deadly gaze. A hint of beer lingered on his breath. I forced strength to my shaking knees and let the last adrenaline remaining in my body hold me up. I could probably outrun him, but not now. My ten mile jog was almost over, and my limbs couldn’t take much more. He would grab me before I set off. But we were in a public park, in the middle of the day.
    Out of the corner of my eye I saw a police officer on her bike, just over a hundred yards away. “I don’t appreciate your threats, Mr. Smith. Excuse me.”
    He blocked the way toward the cop, grabbing my wrist. The squeeze of his cigarette stained fingers almost burned.
    “Come up with the money by next week or else.” He bared yellowed teeth.
    I froze.
    “Get your hands off her, Martinez.” Out of nowhere Gabe pushed the vagabond look-a-like aside, freeing my hand. “You touch her again, and you’ll lose the use of your hand before I rip your throat out.” His mouth formed a straight line.
    Gabe pointed something at Smith from within his sweatshirt pocket. The extended stare between the two could manifest daggers into the opponent’s heart.
    “This is not the last time you’ll see me, Ms. Connor,” Smith said.
    “Leave, now!” Gabe stood almost nose-to-nose with Smith, jutting his pocket and whatever was in it at Smith’s beer-belly.
    “Is there a problem here?” The police woman jumped off her bike.
    Smith raised both his hands in the air. “No problem, officer. I was just leaving.” He walked away.
    “Hold it!” She raised her voice, but Smith didn’t stop.
    Gabe gently touched her shoulder and showed her what looked like a white business card. “You better let this one go, Officer Green.”
    I couldn’t see what was on the card, but she examined Gabe knowingly and said, “Yes, Mr. Silver, but if you need any help, you call us.”
    “Of course. But this is Cross business.”
    The name Gabe referred to sounded familiar. I pictured a huge corporation behind it. Officer Green watched the scum walk away. Wearing a frown, she jumped on her bike and rode away.
    My knees were wobbly.
    “Are you all right?” Gabe pulled me into his arms.
    “Yes.”
    “Was this the first time you’ve seen him?” he asked while punching a few keys on his cell phone.
    “Yes. Kendra’s in trouble.” I pulled away, looking at Gabe. “I have to help her.” Somehow, strength returned to my legs and I was ready to bolt straight for Kissed, where I assumed Kendra was sleeping.
    “Hold on, Sam. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. How exactly are you going to help her?” Gabe reached out and held me by my wrist.
    I paused, shocked by his firm grip. “First, talk to her. Ask how much she owes.” I looked at his hand, and Gabe let go immediately, his apologetic eyes back to their silver hue.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “You called him Martinez.”
    “That’s his name.”
    “How—? Was that a gun you had?” I took a step back.
    Gabe reached for my hand. “Sam, in my line of work a gun in an accessory I never part with. The guy’s name is Noel Martinez. If you want to help Kendra, you need to come with me.”
    “Okay.”
    Gabe lowered his hand to the small of my back and guided me toward the end of the park.
    “Where did he come from? What the fuck does he want from Kendra?”
    Gabe kept focused on the park exit.
    “What kind of work do you do, exactly?” I asked, following his rushed steps. All I really knew was that he owned a private investigations company. The nature of his job was still a