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We made it halfway down the pool before one of the men in all black stepped in front of us. His eyes locked on Andre. “Ms. Torres, is everything alright?”

Of course, he knew my name. “Oh,” I lowered my voice and took a half step closer to him. “I just wanted to get another drink. He,” I glanced at Andre, “insisted on showing me.”

Andre looked confused. “I was just––”

“I’ll take it from here,” the guard cut him off before stepping between us, blocking Andre and giving me a clear path toward the bar.

I hurried on, letting relief wash over me as I spotted Ama still with Pedro. I stopped at her side and held her elbow. She smiled and leaned her head against mine. From behind, it likely looked like she was comforting me.

Pedro’s brows furrowed. “Are you okay?”

Ama pulled away just enough to look at me. “Did something happen?”

Knowing we likely still had an audience, I put on a performance. “I must be putting off a signal or something. I went to watch the volleyball game, and this guy came up. He started flirting, so I told him I was going to get another drink.”

Ama sighed. “A classic escape move.”

“Only he insisted on coming with me. He put his hand on my back, and I moved away. Then he tried taking my hand.”

I couldn’t fabricate too much since there were so many witnesses.

“One of the security team guys cut us off and kept him from following me.” I leaned in toward them. “Is he still watching me?”

Pedro straightened with a glare. “Yeah, looks like Terrance is talking to him now.”

Ama rolled her eyes. “I swear, some guys think simply existing is an invitation to take whatever they want.”

I leaned in and rested my temple on her shoulder. “I wish Alessio were around. I swear bad things happen when he’s not.”

She patted my head, and Pedro looked back at me. “Something else happened?”

“At the club opening.” I straightened as Ama took over.

“She was just sitting next to me, and one of the guys,” she tapped her lips, “I don’t remember his name, but anyway, he was asking her all these questions as if he had any right to even speak to her. Then he fucking threatened her!”

Pedro reared back. “No.”

“Yes, so I told Sergio to take out the trash.” She waved like that was the end of the story. As if he didn’t have him beaten before Alessio put a bullet between his eyes. Maybe she didn’t know.

Pedro shook his head. “Good. The audacity of some men. It makes me sick. He might as well have doubted Alessio to his face.” He stopped and smirked. “Well, now this idiot is going to learn a lesson. You never touch a woman, no matter how seemingly innocent, without her consent.”

“What?” I turned around to see Andre being held with his arms behind his back by the guard who stopped us while Terrance and Alessio spoke.

He narrowed his eyes, then cocked his head to the side while glaring at Andre. “Get rid of him.”

Oh, shit.

Ama and Pedro couldn’t have heard the order, but they seemed to know what was going on the second the guard pushed Andre forward, following Terrance away from the pool to the side of another building.

“Disrespect isn’t tolerated.” Pedro dismissed the scene. “Sorry that happened, Millie, but at least you can enjoy the rest of the party without him bothering you.”

I did my best to smile.

“There she is.” Alessio wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I spun to face him and smiled up at him. “Finally.”

“Sorry, I got tied up.” He frowned. “I’m more sorry someone bothered you. My guards should have been keeping a better eye on you.”