Page 64 of Ignacio

“No need for introductions, mate. I know exactly who she is. Delta J.” Vincent took her hand and brushed a kiss across the back of it. “Vincent Ryan. An absolute pleasure to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Vincent,” she said.

Vincent flung an arm around Ignacio’s neck. “I’m not as famous as this bloke here, but I’m working on it. One day, I’ll reach his level—mark my words.” He stepped back, giving Ignacio an exaggerated once-over. “Bloody hell, you’re built like an ox now.”

Ignacio chuckled easily. “You know how it is. Getting ready for my next role.”

“Ah, yes. The public has no idea how hard we work, do they?” He posed the question to Delta, but before she could respond, he said to Ignacio, “So, when’s the next shindig? Got my dancing shoes at the ready.”

“Hard to say. My schedule is packed for the foreseeable future,” Ignacio hedged.

He had no plans to throw a party anytime soon, and if he did, it wouldn’t be like they were in the past. Oddly enough, he didn’t miss the all-night partying and drinking. Something else he didn’t miss—smoking. He hadn’t craved a cigarette in a long time.

Vincent scoffed. “A busy schedule never stopped you before.” He winked and nudged Ignacio with his elbow. “Ah well, Isuppose I’ll just have to wait for my invite, yeah? You’ve still got my number?”

“Of course.”

“Brilliant. Oh, before I forget, congrats on gettingWrongfunded. I guess that’s one of the reasons you’ll be busy in the coming months, yeah? Miss Delta J, it was a delight to meet you. You’re more breathtaking in person than in your photos. I’ll catch you both later.”

When he walked away, Delta said, “He’s got a lot of energy.”

“That’s him being calm. He’s damn near out of control when he gets liquor in his system. At my last party, he was tossing furniture.”

“What?” Delta’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth as she laughed.

“He’s a good guy, but when he gets drunk…” Ignacio shook his head. “There’s a small crowd over there. That’s probably where the good food is.”

“Definitely,” Delta agreed.

They moved in that direction.

“Hey, there’s Leo Hargrove,” Ignacio said, using his chin to point out the producer, now executive, who had worked on Delta’s first album.

Leo had also produced the soundtrack forSleeping Poets.Dressed in a fitted tux with his salt-and-pepper hair neatly trimmed, Leo looked every bit the successful music mogul. This was the first time Ignacio had seen him in L.A. Leo lived in Atlanta, and that’s where he had run into him a couple of times over the years.

Delta’s small hand reached for and gripped Ignacio’s, and she pressed closer to his side, forcing him to halt his stride. Surprised, his eyebrows drew together, and he turned to her. Her chest rose and fell quickly because her breathing had accelerated. And she was staring at Leo.

What the…?

His gaze returned to the older man, who was now approaching them with a friendly smile. Delta drew even closer, as if trying to make herself invisible. Her hand tightened to the point of crushing his fingers. Her nails dug into his skin.

Leo stopped in front of them. “Delta, Ignacio, I didn’t know the two of you were here tonight. How are you doing this evening?”

Ignacio’s stomach churned as realization dawned on him. Before he had time to think, he reacted. His hand slipped from Delta’s, and he punched Leo square in the mouth. He crashed into a snacks table and tumbled to the floor. Guests jumped out of the way, gasping and screaming in horror.

Ignacio’s jaw was clenched so hard he’d probably end up grinding down his molars. Bending to Leo, who had blood dripping from his lip, he grabbed the older man’s lapels. Leo swung an arm across his face in a defensive move, but Ignacio didn’t hit him again.

He whispered in a growl, “Don’t you ever come near her again, you piece of shit, or I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

They locked eyes, and the fact that Leo didn’t demand to know what he was talking about told Ignacio everything he needed to know.Hewas the one who had violated Delta when she was a minor and had the audacity to approach her as if nothing had happened.

Ignacio stood upright and glared at Leo on the floor, fighting the urge to stomp his head with the heel of his shoe. He straightened his tux and then took Delta’s hand. Their security closed around them as they walked away, with everyone staring and whispering to each other about what had occurred.

Behind him, Ignacio heard Leo calming the masses. “Folks, it’s okay. Just a big misunderstanding.”

He almost went back to hit him again, but he’d done enough and didn’t want to traumatize Delta any more. She continued to hold tight to his hand as they left the venue.

“Call the driver,” he said in a clipped voice to Randall. Right away, his bodyguard pulled out his phone.

---