“Juliana Giovani.”
“Max.” I draw my hand back and then take my dogs from Gio. “Are you Gio’s sub?”
He chuckles. “You act like you’re not happy to see me, it wounds me. Do I at least get a smile?”
I arch an eyebrow at him. Sure, he has killer looks and I’m sure that all he has to do is spend an hour in a gym to get a date, but I’m not that easy. And there’s nothing I love more than proving myself. Max is just another challenge.
Walking to the register, I ring up, grab my bag and return to the active pissing contest between Max and Gio. They’re growling at each other while I’m thinking about how to get back on Konstantin’s lap and get a little more than a taste.
“Juls?” Gio asks. “Are we leaving?”
I incline my head. “I have a lot of emails to check.”
“And your father said you were difficult. You may be the easiest job yet.” Max sounds disappointed.
“If I told you what I had planned, there would be no fun in watching you chase after whatever taxi I put myself in.” I pat his chest and try to ignore how solid he is.
He pouts at me. “Ruthless.”
“Some cardio will do you good since it’s clear you spend all your time on the weights.”
“There are better ways to get Cardio in, princess.”
Gio steps between us. Probably a good move. He knows how much I hate being called princess. He knows an uncomfortable amount about me. And Max probably only knows what my father has told him.
Since he’s more than happy to eat up the mandatory bodyguard time with flirting, I may be able to get some answers from him. Like why I’m not trusted to go anywhere alone.
“I’m not watching you today, but we’ll have a good time when I do.”
I loop my arm around Gio’s. “Enjoy your date with the attendant first.”
He doesn’t even glance at her as Gio and I walk out.
“I don’t know if having Maxwatchyou is any better than leaving you on your own,” Gio grumbles. “The man hasn’t met a woman he doesn’t want to charm.”
I roll my eyes.
“I’m serious, Juliana. Older than you, a grade A womanizer and your father is trusting him?”
“Daddy doesn’t trust anyone.” My voice hardens. “He hasn’t for years and you know that, Gio. It’s not just me that you and Konstantin and Max are watching.”
Gio stops me on the street, not letting me move forward until I give him an answer. Before I can, Charlie goes on the attack. He snarls and growls at the alleyway. Nolan sits on my feet, not letting me move forward. My anxiety ramps up and I grab Gio’s hand.
“What’s gotten into them?”
“They don’t bark at nothing,” I whisper.
Someone rounds the corner, some greasy-looking guy who has all the appeal of a rotten avocado. I see a gun in his hand. He tsks. “Sorry. You’re real pretty, but money speaks louder than your body.”
Gio barely looks at the man before breaking his wrist and jerking him close to whisper something in the man’s ear. The man’s eyes go wide and he stumbles back. Swallowing he looks between us. “I didn’t know, sir. I didn’t ... please, don’t ... I wasn’t here.”
He sprints away and Charlie calms before trotting back to me, proud of himself. I pick up both my dogs and set them in my purse. Closing my eyes, I push my hair out of my face and fight the trembling in my arms. Twice in two days.
What shit is hitting the fan that I don’t know about?
Gio comes to me. “Hey, you’re all right.”
“No, the fuck I’m not.” I lift my chin and glower at him. “I need to know what the hell is going on and why I’m suddenly a target. What do you know?”