Alex stepped out of the shower. He’d hoped jumping under the water would cool him down, but it had done nothing to tamp down his frustration.

Or his desire.

Cam threatening him with handcuffs had planted all sorts of ideas in his head. Inappropriate ideas. Ideas that definitely were not welcome.

Especially not now.

Because she’d left in a huff, uneasy about their exchange.

And it had taken every ounce of self-control he had to not race after her, to not kiss her and caress her and find some way to drag her to bed.

He rubbed the towel across his wet hair, then shifted it to his torso. He dried himself more carefully, avoiding his chest as much as possible, then slipped into his clothes.

Steam swirled out of the bathroom as he opened the door. Sun streaked the hallway, a massive beam of light, and Alex glanced down the hall, toward the front door.

It was open, hanging drunkenly from its hinges. Sunshine streamed through like a spotlight.

He frowned. “Cam?”

Was she already back? Why the hell had she left the door open?

Something exploded against the side of his head. Alex stumbled to the side.

“Yo, Alec.”

Alex cradled the side of his head. His eyesight blurred from the blow as he tried to focus on his assailant.

Not one, but two guys stood in the hallway. He did a mental catalog of details as best he could. Male, Hispanic, early twenties. No visible piercings or tattoos. Facial hair—a goatee—on the taller guy. Probably 5’10. Shorter guy was heavier, too, with a cut across his flat nose.

The taller guy lifted a baseball bat, his expression menacing. “Heard there’s a bounty on your head, my friend.”

“Who are you?” Alex rasped.

The guy smiled. “Someone you don’t wanna fuck around with.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He sneered. “Yeah, right.”

“You have the wrong guy.” Alex knew he needed to sell it. Sell it big-time.

“Oh, yeah?” The guy took a step closer. His hand closed tighter over the handle. “So you’re not Alec, huh? Not part of La Gente, no?”

“The people?” Alex translated. “What’s that?”

The shorter guy snickered. “He’s good, man.”

Alex saw it then, the “55” tattoo on the guy’s neck. Shit. Groupo 55 were fucking everywhere.

“We tracked you here, man,” the taller guy said. “Saw your pretty girlfriend, too. You might wanna know she’s cheating on you. Showed up at some other dude’s house yesterday.”

The Chevy Caprice. These guys were in the car that had followed Cam.

She hadn’t been wrong.

“Don’t worry,” the guy said. “We’ll take care of her later, if you know what I mean.” He smirked. “After we take care of you, man.”

Alex’s stomach clenched.

“We should get him out of here,” the smaller guy said. He glanced at the door. “Before she comes back. Take care of him and then come back for her later. I’d like a go at that hot thing.”

Alex swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

Cam.

“Take me,” he ordered. “Take me now.” With any luck, Cam would return soon and realize something was wrong. And hopefully she wouldn’t stick around for if and when these assholes came back.

The guy in charge cocked his head. “Oh, so now you’re cool coming with us? Ready to own up, man?”

“I don’t know who you are or what you’re talking about,” Alex growled. “But you leave her the fuck out of it.”

A fist shot out, slamming into his stomach.

Alex doubled over.

“You think you’re in charge here, man?” The guy cuffed Alex’s ear. “I’m the one who decides what the fuck we do. You hear?”

Alex nodded. The blow to his midsection had missed his ribs, but it had still managed to steal his breath.

“Hey, Marco,” the shorter guy said.

Alex snuck a peek at him. He was moving toward the door.

“What?” Marco barked.

The shorter guy pointed. “There’s someone outside.”

Alex froze.

Shit.

He knew who it was.

Despite the pain roaring through his head and pulsing in his abdomen, he leapt into action. He vaulted toward Marco, tackling him to the ground. The bat he was holding clattered to the floor.

“What the—?” Marco struggled to get out from under Alex, raining blow after blow on his back and sides, trying to connect with Alex’s kidneys.

Alex smashed his fist into Marco’s chin, and the back of the man’s head hit the floor.

“Get off him.”

Alex turned.

The shorter guy was holding the bat.

“Get off him,” he snarled.

A shadow crossed in front of the light streaming in through the door. Someone was coming into the house.

“Nate?” Better to call out his name than Cam’s. He didn’t want to do anything to further jeopardize her.

To the guys who had just attacked him, he said, “You really want to fuck with a cop? ’Cuz that’s who just walked through the door.”

The younger guy’s eyes widened. Alex almost sagged with relief. He was buying the bluff. Thank God.

With the baseball bat still in one hand, the guy helped Marco to his feet.

Marco’s eyes cut into Alex. “Don’t think this is over, man. We’ll be back. And next time you won’t be so lucky. Or your little girlfriend.”

He and his buddy hurried to the kitchen. Alex heard the back door open, then close. Seconds later, a car engine roared to life and tires peeled out.

He pushed himself up off the floor. “Cam?” he called, once the coast was clear. “Is that you?”

A woman’s voice answered.

A voice he didn’t recognize.

“Hands up, asshole.”