Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)

She was rooting around inside when she heard him.

“I knew I’d get you alone again.”

At the sound of John’s voice, she dropped her bag to the ground and reached for her gun, pulling it from her waistband. No sooner had she raised the weapon than he gripped her wrist in his big hand. Knowing better than to fight him since he was stronger, she released her grip, letting the weapon fall. She immediately swiped the coffee cup from the top of her car and flipped off the lid.

He’d sunk down to retrieve the gun, and she moved fast, throwing the steaming hot coffee into his face.

He screamed, his hands coming to his cheeks. “You bitch!”

They’d drawn a crowd but she didn’t care.

“I’m a bitch?” she yelled at him. “You’ve been stalking me for months, invaded my privacy, drove me out of my own apartment, and attacked me with a knife. Twice. And I’m a bitch?” She drew her leg back and nailed him in the balls just as a cop pulled up and a man she didn’t know put a hand on her shoulder to distract her before she went after John again.

Despite the fact that she was licensed as a PI and had a permit for the gun, she’d been taken to the police station to give a statement and press charges. Though she hadn’t realized there were witnesses before she’d made a scene, a man had seen John approach her first, and nobody was willing to admit to seeing her kick her ex in the balls despite John’s whining and claim. The coffee had been self-defense.

Luckily, her brother Mack was nearby on a call and said he’d meet her at the station where she’d been taken. And though she told herself not to rely on Damon, she’d called him first and wasn’t surprised when he came running in soon after Mack.

“Evie!” Damon called out her name and she flew out of her seat and into his arms. “Jesus, what happened?” he asked as he ran a hand over her hair, then pulled her in front of him to inspect her and make sure she was really okay.

She couldn’t control the grin that lifted her lips. “I kicked John’s ass, that’s what. I saw him and pulled my gun. He grabbed my wrist and I outsmarted him. I dropped the gun, took him off guard, and tossed my hot coffee in his face.”

“He’s still in booking crying,” Mack muttered. “Claims she nailed him in the balls, too, but there’s nobody willing to corroborate his story.” He winked at his sister.

Evie grinned wider.

Damon shook his head, a proud expression on his face. “You’re pressing charges?”

“Damn straight.”

“I’m telling you she attacked me!” John’s voice sounded loudly around the room.

She turned to see a uniformed police officer escorting John from the back room. He dove toward her and the cop yanked him into place beside him. “Sorry, folks. Taking him to a holding cell.”

Damon walked away from Evie and strode over to her ex. The holding officer’s eyes opened wide. “You’re Damon Prescott. I’m a huge fan, as is my son. Can I get an autograph for him?” the cop asked.

“You got it. Before you take this prick, can I have a word?”

The officer nodded and discreetly looked away, keeping a hold on John, who was in cuffs.

John’s eyes were huge with a touch of fear, and Evie got a lot of satisfaction from his panic.

“You touched my girl,” Damon said, stepping into John’s personal space. But he didn’t speak low. “Listen good. If you ever go near her again, if you look at her again, if you so much as blink her way, you won’t see me coming. But you will regret it.”

Damon glanced at the officer. “Thanks, man. I’ll leave an autograph for your son and a phone number. I’ll get you set up with tickets to a game, too.”

“Hey, thanks!” The officer grinned. “Let’s go,” he said in a commanding voice to his prisoner.

“He threatened me!” John yelled.

“I didn’t hear a damn thing, buddy. Now move it.” He gave John a shove and herded him across the room and through a door leading, she assumed, to holding cells. She didn’t care as long as he was out of her life, and she’d do whatever she had to in order to make sure he didn’t get another deal. Given how he’d lost his status since the last arrest, she was hoping there wouldn’t be an issue and he’d go away for a while this time.

Damon and Mack waited while she gave her statement to the officer. Both men refused to leave, and out of respect for Mack’s position and Damon being who he was, they let them stay with her while she was questioned.

Unsure how much time had passed, they walked out of the police station and back into the Florida sunshine.