He looked down at me, a slow smile curving his lips, his gaze deep and bright. "Lost, little rose?"
Little rose?
I glanced down at my strapless red dress. No time to question the nickname. I grabbed the front of his shirt and begged. "Sir, please, call the police. Someone in there just tried to force himself on me."
"The police?" Jesse glanced past my shoulder, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You're too naive, little rose. In a place like this, the police can't solve anything. Your only option is to hold on tight to me."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the men caught up.
The one in front spotted Jesse and froze. "Mr. Swanson, this one belongs to our boss. If you could just—"
Jesse let out a low, derisive laugh and lit a cigarette with no particular urgency.
"What a coincidence. I've taken an interest in her too. Tell your boss to come talk to me himself. You don't have the standing."
The standoff that followed was how I learned the truth. The so-called investor was a gang boss out of Midtown Harbor District. And the man shielding me behind his back was Jesse Swanson, the crown prince of Harbor City.