He stared down at her. Hated the tear that had slid down her cheek. His hand rose, and he brushed it away, his fingers lingering against her silken skin. “I will make this better.” A promise that went soul-deep. And the first way to make it better? Get her out of there. Take her to safety. “Come on, Piper.” He twined his fingers with hers and led the way downstairs. Every muscle in his body was tight with fury and tension. Piper had been hurt, again, by this bastard. That shit wasn’t going to keep happening. Not on his watch.

Before he took her out of the gallery, he texted his team. Eric knew he’d get an immediate response. They exited the building, he secured the door behind them, and his gaze swept the area as he looked for any potential threats.

And, sure-the-hell-enough, he saw a shadowy figure moving toward them. Eric pushed Piper behind him, shielding her with his body as the figure came closer. A guy, tall, with a quick pace and wearing a hoodie—

“Piper!” The shout came from the guy as he finally cleared the shadows. “Thought I saw lights in your place.” He took another step toward them. No, toward Piper.

“Stay the fuck back,” Eric snarled.

The man blinked and shoved back his hood, revealing bright, blond hair. “Uh, Piper? Everything okay?” His head cocked as he tried to see her body behind Eric. “This guy giving you trouble?” And his voice went rougher.

Eric’s gaze raked him. The man had tousled hair, a pretty-boy face, and he wore a thick hoodie and jeans. But near his wrists, when the fabric of the hoodie sweatshirt slid back, Eric could just make out the dark etchings of tattoos. There were tattoos sliding up his neck, too. Black, twisting lines.

The man had been close by…close enough to see lights in the gallery.

Figured the fellow must be—

“Mark,” Piper’s voice drifted in the growing darkness. “Someone broke into my gallery. Destroyed my work. We’re calling the police.”

Mark Rogue’s face hardened. “Seriously? Shit!” And he hurried forward, reaching out his hands—

Eric made sure he stayed between the guy and Piper. “I think that I told you already…stay the fuck back. There isn’t going to be another warning.”

Mark blinked. “Uh, Piper? This the new boyfriend?”

“No,” she said.

“Yes,” Eric fired in the same instant. “And I don’t like it when random bastards come out of the shadows and head for Piper.” Especially when he’d just left the twisted mess in the gallery.

Mark’s brow furrowed at their mixed responses. “Piper?”

“Eric is…a friend. And my, um, bodyguard?” The last seemed like a question.

Since she was unsure, Eric decided to help her out. “Friend, bodyguard, boyfriend. Whatever she needs me to be. Mostly, I’m the guy telling you that no one else is getting close to her.”