Page 23 of Hunted Hearts
Theo darted a look around before he reached into the back seat for Juliette.
Her big eyes flashed up at him. “I know how to exit a car without assistance.”
“This is how we do things, Juliette.”
She issued a small huff through her nose before letting him take her hand and lead her from the SUV.
As soon as she was out in the open, Theo threw his body in front of hers like a shield and Denver took her back.
“And who is this?” Her voice echoed with surprise.
“He’s part of the security team. And my brother.”
“Well, you could at least introduce him!”
They hurried her in through a side door Denver cleared before their arrival. As soon as it slammed shut, he waved at his brother. “Juliette, meet Denver.”
She extended her hand, and Denver clasped it. Theo found himself watching his brother’s face. Did he feel those little half-moons of callus on her fingertips too?
A quick sweep of the corridor revealed a single guard dressed in uniform. “Security’s supposed to be heavy, but I want to check it for myself. Let’s get her to the dressing room. You can stay with Juliette while I look around.”
He had the map of the venue memorized, and he led Juliette directly to the dressing room door. As he entered, a motion-sensor light illuminated the space. He performed a quick sweep of the space before he stepped back to allow her and Denver inside.
Theo leveled his brother in his gaze. “You know the drill.”
He gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Theo shifted his attention to Juliette, but she was already moving toward the long sofa in an ugly floral pattern.
“I’ll just wait for my team to arrive,” she said.
Theo scoped out every corridor, every stairwell, every emergency exit. After that, he tested emergency lights and the locks on every exit in the building, including the kitchen, where a crew of caterers were busy at work.
A few ladies giggled when they saw him, then blushed when he glanced in their direction.
Nothing seemed off, but Theo trusted his instincts more than reports. If something was going to happen, he wanted to see the signs first.
When he looped back to the dressing room, he found the room filled with Juliette’s team.
Denver stood near the door, looking like he’d rather face a firefight than a room full of tuxedos and champagne flutes. He looked relieved to see Theo.
He twitched his head for his brother to follow, and they stepped into the corridor. As soon as the noise of the room faded behind the closed door, Theo spoke. “Everything appears to be secure.”
“You’re the fourth person to check. I’m sure it’s solid.”
“Can’t take chances.”
“No.”
“Thanks for coming when I called. Sorry to interrupt your vacation.”
Denver grunted. “No, you’re not. Asshole.”
Theo couldn’t hold back a grin. “Not when you got to catch all the fish.”
“Everybody pretty much left after you did. Gray and Honor left that night. Willow went home with Oaks and Shiloh.”
“And Colt?”
