Reluctantly, Gideon looked again at the girl's slender foot, then at the satin-clad slightness of her body. He inhaled sharply. One of the men had pushed down the strap of her white gown and her left breast was fully revealed: Velvet white, pink crested, surprisingly voluptuous.

He felt an unmistakable tightening in his groin and the muscles of his stomach knotted in a response that was half anger and half lust. Dammit, before long they'd have her stripped naked for every man in the bar to gawk at. Why the hell didn't she choose one of those bastards and take him upstairs? Didn't she realize she was inviting a gang bang? He muttered a curse beneath his breath as his gaze lifted to her face.

She didn't realize it. He doubted if she even knew what was happening to her. It was Na Peng all over. Only this time he couldn't stand by and let it happen. He had been helpless then, but, by God, he wasn't helpless now.

He set his glass down on the bar. "Tell Ramon we'll have to postpone our little chat. I'll send word when I'm available for another meeting." He turned away from the bar.

"Where are you going?" Ross was staring at him, dumbfounded.

"The girl," Gideon said simply. "I'm going to get the girl."

"Right now? Can't it wait, for heaven's sake? She seems a little busy at the moment."

Gideon shook his head. "I'm going to get the girl," he repeated. "I don't think she knows what the hell is happening to her." He started across the room, his tall, lithe body suddenly radiating a near-explosive tension as he cut an unswerving path through the crowded tables toward the girl pinned against the wall in the back of the room.

Ross hesitated, his gaze on Gideon's broad shoulders. He had an impulse to hurry after him and try to persuade him to forget about the girl.