ROBERT

"The lady is with me." I firmly repeated, wrapping my arms around Renee's waist and drawing her close.

I sized up the man before me, noting his thin frame, dark eyes, and brown hair trimmed short and spiked at one end.

He was impeccably dressed, as was everyone else in the room, but something about him stood out. I suddenly became wary of him for no apparent reason.

Perhaps it was the determined expression on his face and his straight stance. Or maybe it was how he held his head ...