Page 70 of Devil in a Tux

I stopped a few feet from him.

He pulled a recorder out, eager to add to his scoop.

“I’ll tell you about both. Evan wasn’t around. I got this from somebody in fucking Brooklyn, not him.” I turned up the volume. “Evan McAllister is a better man than you’ll ever be, and I’m proud to be his girlfriend. Proud. Do you think I’d agree to move in with him if he’d been the one to do this to me?”

My onslaught had the desired effect on the mousy asshole as he backed up a step.

“Well, do you?” I yelled, pacing forward.

“No,” Camera Jackal mumbled.

“Damned straight that’s a no. Evan offered to kick the guy’s ass for me, but that’s not my style. I’m a broad from Brooklyn, and we remember who wronged us. Then we get even. The guy who did this won’t ever see me coming.”

He nodded along, eating this up.

“Now leave us the fuck alone.” I turned before he could ask anything more, and we passed back into the lobby. Inside, I was jittery with adrenaline. “I hope having people know you’re dating a broad from Brooklyn won’t hurt your reputation.”

“I don’t think we’ll need the PR guys on Monday after all,” Evan said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “You’re a force to reckoned with, Allie.”

I leaned into him. “Thanks.” I looked out the window again and scowled with an unanswered question.

Evan tightened his grip. “If you’re wondering, I think you said enough.”

I shook my head. “That’s not it.” I knew the paparazzi were relentless, but this was over the top even for them. Hanging out on Evan’s block on Saturday morning didn’t make sense. “How did he know to ambush us here?” I demanded.

“I think I might know.” Evan’s eyes turned to the young concierge on duty this morning. There was something distinctly dangerous in his stride and the clench of his fists as he approached the counter. “Xavier,” he said with more frost than I’d ever heard in his voice.

“Yes, Mr. McAllister.”

“You called them,” Evan accused.

“No, I wouldn’t ever,” the boy stuttered. “I mean—”

When Evan’s fist hit the counter, the sound reverberated in the lobby. “Don’t bother trying to deny it.” His words came out laced with venom.

The blood drained from Xavier’s face.

“I won’t put up with anybody ambushing my girl.”

Xavier shrank a few inches.

Evan pointed upward. “You see that chandelier?”

Xavier looked up and nodded.

My eyes also followed Evan’s finger.

“If you ever do that again,” he hissed, “I will cut your puny little balls off and hang them up there. Do you understand me?”

The boy nodded, wide-eyed with fear.

“That was a yes or no question,” Evan bellowed. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Xavier squeaked. “Never again.”

Evan pivoted, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to the elevator.He twined his fingers with mine as the doors closed and the car started its ascent.

“Thank you. Nobody has ever… Well, just, thank you.”

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