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through, Jensen close on her heels. Jensen took the lead to the car after Tanner locked the front door, Nica between them.
    The warm night air seemed to dampen any and all sound but that probably had more to do with it being after three a.m. Tanner heard no car noise, no noise of any kind. Their neighborhood rolled up its sidewalks by ten o’clock most nights so that wasn’t unusual.
    But the man who stepped from between two parked cars in front of the house next door… He made Tanner reach for Nica just as Jensen stepped in front of her, shielding her from view.
    Why? Hell if Tanner knew. He just knew whatever this guy wanted, it wasn’t good.
    “Hello, Niccola. I hope you don’t mind me showing up like this but you left me little choice.”
    Tanner felt Nica freeze behind him but she spoke without any hint of fear. “I thought I was clear the first time we spoke. I have no interest in working for you.”
    The man came closer and—holy hell, he was built like a brick shithouse. Muscled from shiny, shaved head to shit-kickers-clad toe. Someone sent to do someone else’s dirty work.
    “Jensen, take Nica back to the house.” Tanner never took his gaze away from the behemoth who kept moving closer.
    What the hell could a guy like this want with Nica? What could she be wrapped up in?
    The man smiled a toothy grin as Jensen moved in front of Nica, stepping next to Tanner to form a wall in front of her.
    “Oh look,” he mocked. “Aren’t the eteri cute? Do they think they can protect you?”
    Eteri ? What the hell were eteri ? Some foreign slang?
    “I don’t know who you are or who you’re working for,” Nica said, “but I will not help you.”
    “Now, I don’t think you want to make such a hasty decision. It took us a long time to track one of you down. My employer will make it worth your while. It’ll be easier if you just come with me.”
    Tanner had had enough. “There’s no way she’s going anywhere with you so you can turn around and leave before this gets ugly.”
    The guy didn’t even look at him or Jensen. He kept his attention squarely on Nica. Jensen tensed and Tanner knew he was getting ready to jump the guy. Tanner wouldn’t be far behind.
    Then Jensen jerked as if something had hit him and Nica shouted, “No!”
    Out of the corner of his eye, Tanner saw Jensen fall, clutching his chest as if he’d been shot. Tanner shot forward, aiming to tackle the guy in front of him. The thug pointed his empty hand toward Jensen, as if he held a gun. Tanner hadn’t seen a shot or smelled gunpowder. All he knew was that his brother was down and this guy was responsible.
    “Tanner, no!”
    Nica’s voice rang loud in the silence, a command in her tone he didn’t heed.
    He didn’t get far before he was tossed backward.
    He stumbled back into Jensen and Nica, who’d gone to her knees next to Jensen and gathered him into her arms. Tanner didn’t have time to check on either of them because the guy still stood there. Not moving in for the kill. Just standing there staring at them.
    No, not them. He was fixated only on Nica.
    “This is just a warning, Niccola. You have until Monday. Next time you will come willingly. Or there will be more casualties.”
    Then the guy turned and walked away.
    Tanner struggled to get to his feet but the guy must have hit him harder than he’d thought and he fell back on his ass on the pavement. His ears rang and his lungs felt as if someone had dropped a concrete block on them.
    “Jensen, can you hear me? Jensen!”
    The increasing panic in Nica’s voice finally broke through Tanner’s confusion and he turned to find Jensen out cold in Nica’s arms.
    Tanner scrambled to his knees, reaching to touch his brother’s pale face. He didn’t see any blood but… “Shit! Is he shot? Nica, what the hell just happened—”
    “We need to get him inside.” She stared straight up into his eyes, hers wide but not terrified. “You need to carry him inside and let me work on