They scared the hell out of her.
“Whoops,” the one with the tattoos said. “We breakin’ up the party?”
The other grinned, two front teeth gleaming gold.
“Sure looks like it’s gonna be fun.”
“Sure does. You think maybe they want company?”
Caleb’s hands dug into her shoulders. She could almost feel the tension radiating through him.
“Caleb,” she murmured. “Don’t.”
“Kay-Leb,” the tattooed one said in a falsetto, “don’t!”
Oh God!
“Caleb,” Sage said sharply. “Are you coming or not?”
“Yeah, man. You goin’ with her or not? ’Cause if you ain’t—”
Sage twisted free of Caleb’s grasp, grabbed his hand and all but dragged him to the stairs.
He tried to shake loose. She wouldn’t let him. She hung on with fierce determination and he knew that the only way he’d be able to loosen her grip would be to hurt her, and he’d sooner have slit his throat than do that.
“Dammit,” he growled, “I’m not going to run away from those—those—”
They reached the first landing. She moved close to him and put her finger across his lips.
“There are two of them,” she whispered. “And one of you.”
He laughed. It was a hard, terrible sound and she knew that the pair downstairs could never be his equal in a fight.
Still, she couldn’t let him run that risk for her. He’d already done enough, more than enough, to keep her safe tonight.
Sage acted on feminine instinct. “Yes, but what if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not.”
“What if you are?” she insisted. “What happens to me then?”
He looked at her.
And the downstairs door slammed shut.
The breath whooshed out of her. She went boneless with relief.
Caleb cursed softly, wrapped his arm around her and she slumped against him. She could feel his heart thudding; his body felt as if it had been forged out of steel.
Then, slowly, he let out a long breath.
“It’s okay,” he said softly.
She nodded, turned her face into the curve of his neck. It was okay, now that he was holding her.
What if he hadn’t been here?
She gave a little mew of distress. He held her closer. They stood that way for long minutes. Then she drew back.