Page 128 of Dark Angel
“She’ll be with me,” Gabriel said. “I’ll keep her safe.”
Neither was giving an inch.
“Who do you work for?” Wolf asked as his phone buzzed in his pocket.
“Myself. You?”
“Same.”
Gabriel had run out of patience. He had no idea who he was, but he was definitely protective of Halston.
“Where’s Barbi?” Gabriel asked.
“Like I said, getting ready.”
Gabriel made his way toward the back, but Wolf blocked him. Gabriel shoved the man out of the way, continued down the hallway.
“Barbi,” Gabriel called out as Wolf grabbed him by the arm, yanked him around.
“I said she’s getting ready,” Wolf said. “Just fucking wait.”
“What is your problem?” Gabriel asked. “If she agreed to go out with me, then what business is it of yours?”
Halston hurried out of the bathroom. “What is all the noise about?” She glanced from one man to the other, then pointed at Wolf. “Don’t be a dick.”
Then, she marched up to them. Even with her in heels, they both towered over her. “This is my idiot brother, Wolf Devereux. This is a friend of mine, Gabriel Santini, who is—at the moment—also an idiot. Be polite.” She shoved her finger in her brother’s face. “I like this one, so cool it.”
Glaring at both of them, she returned to the bathroom and closed the door.
“Sorry,” Wolf said. “She’s right. I’m super protective of her, which is crazy since she’s just a Kindergarten teacher. I mean, educators are super important?—”
“She’s an international travel writer,” Gabriel said matter-of-factly.
The two men shook hands. “That’s a new one.”
“Where do you work?” Gabriel asked.
“I was with a federal agency, but I left,” Wolf said. “Now, I do my own thing. How ‘bout you?”
“I run Santini International Euro and a few other businesses in Italy.”
Halston returned. Gabriel shifted toward her and her beauty stole his breath. Even as Barbi with a long blonde wig and tinted contact lenses, she did it for him. Beauty, confidence, and courage all wrapped into one hot package.
Maybe he did mean something with the rings. Maybe he was testing the water.
“I didn’t hear you two going at it, so I’m guessing you calmed down,” she said.
“I’m out,” Wolf said. “I’ll text you in a coupla days.”
She shifted toward Gabriel. “He’s making me a rubber finger.”
Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “You two really are close.”
She laughed.
“Ew,” Wolf said before he grabbed a padded bag, threw his backpack over his shoulder. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you. Thanks for helping me.”
