I don’t know what’s gotten into her today, but she needs to chill. I dig my nails into her thigh and she jumps. Her father decides to ignore her outburst, thankfully.
“I think it would be best if you three had round-the-clock protection. Sure, I made sure the windows of the penthouse are safe, but I’m not sure you lingering in the lobby is enough.”
Juliana pales, but Max grins. “So one of us should linger in the guest room?”
“Something along those lines. Or perhaps Konstantin can talk to the Volkov's and see if we can potentially borrow a safe house. Just to ensure your safety. They’d understand based on what I’ve learned about the newest .... addition.” He clears his throat.
Max eyes Juliana openly, drinking her in with obvious lust in his eyes. But she’s too busy glaring at her father. “You’re going to punish me for something you did now?”
“Juliana, we are in public.”
“Good. Then I can speak my mind. I’m not going to be stolen away to some safehouse. I’m not going to take time off work. I’m not going to become a piece of furniture you can move around when you feel like it and show off when you want to. I’m aperson. And a damn good one. Until you see that, don’t bother to contact me.”
Konstantin reaches for Juliana, but only manages to grab her purse with the dogs. He blinks at them as they whimper and pant, watching after her impatiently. I stand, but Uncle Tony points at the table.
“Max, retrieve her. By any means.” He orders.
Max adjusts his cufflinks and nods. “My pleasure.”
Fuck him. I glare after him, ready to tell Uncle Tony he shouldn’t trust Max with Juliana, but he orders food for us, then draws our attention. “Juliana will get over it. Her safety is the priority. Konstantin, go take care of those dogs. If they have an accident or start barking, I might put them up for adoption.”
He doesn’t have the right to do it, but Konstantin just pulls himself from the table with a grace I didn’t expect and walks outside. Uncle Tony shakes his head. “She’ll never learn. Always making scenes, and don’t think I missed how she’s been eying you and Konstantin. She’s going to seduce you and pit you against each other just to spite me.”
Of course, because that’s the only reason she can be interested in a man. To spite him. I still remember when we were younger and went to horse races. Juliana’s mother liked to pet the horses before the racing while her father was placing bets. We’d been no more than twelve and Juliana had caught the eye of a kid working the stalls. A jockey’s son.
Just as she’d kissed his cheek for giving her one of the horse whips to play with, her father had walked in. Aunt Rose had hurried me out of the barn before Uncle Tony had called her back. Something about ‘dealing’ with Juliana.
Juliana hadn’t said a word during the race. She’d just stared blankly at the track as her lip trembled. And the look in Uncle Tony’s eye is the same right now. It’s like he wants to punish her for being interested in someone.
“Uncle Tony, we can handle Juliana.”
“You told me that when you were with her in college. And then didn’t report anything.”
“Because she wasn’t getting in trouble,” I remind him. “she was just being a regular college kid.”
“Collegegirlsget drugged, hurt, kidnapped, and damaged. And to think that you weren’t there constantly protecting her.”
“She can handle herself against the average man,” I say clearly. “You made sure of that.”
He rubs his forehead and shakes his head. “One day, Gio, I hope you have a daughter. Then you’ll understand.”
He’s wrong about that. But I don’t bother to point out that I can see children as people and not property that’s at risk of being damaged. Speaking of risk, Konstantin is on his way back, but I haven’t seen a sign of Max.
Uncle Tony orders some food for himself and the table and I stand. “I’ll make sure Max has things handled.”
“Good man.”
Konstantin watches me walk away. I should ignore him. It’s better that way, but I pause. “Keep him busy. I have a feeling Juliana will get in trouble if I don’t find her first.”
Konstantin clears his throat. “Not a problem.”
I check outside, then I head towards the restroom. I hear a soft moan and look over to a small alcove. There’s Juliana with Max wrapped around her. He has her throat in his hand. I reach into my pocket, ready to put a quick end to this, but she arches her back, making me freeze.
“So that’s all you’re up for? Teasing me with could be’s after taking Daddy’s side?”
“If you can still think of him, I’m not teasing you well enough, am I?” Max says. His lips brush hers. “You teased me at the club.”
“We were interrupted.” She grips his shirt and jerks him closer. “So do something before we get interrupted again or let me go.”