Another man is behind her. Her dog barks and attacks. It’s a little thing. It gets kicked quickly. I look at the mansion, the security that is unaware, then at the girl. Fuck it. I have to do something.
I get over there and tap the other guy on the shoulder before he can go after the other dog or the girl. “That’s not gentlemanly behavior.”
“I’m not a gentleman.” He throws a punch.
I catch it and grin. All my pent-up frustration. The weight I feel on my shoulders that my dad left there, I can finally get it out. I turn his wrist at an awful angle and kick him in the balls. Then I take on the second guy.
Or I try to. There’s already a knife at his throat. The woman isn’t panting. She’s not begging for her life. The light above them flickers on and I see Juliana. Because of course, it’s her.
She actually laughs. “Oh, sweetie, you picked the wrong woman.”
“All I see is a pretty princess.”
“Fuck.” I breathe.
I’ve seen her take down frat guys for calling her that. She kicks the man’s knee out. He drops his knife which leaves hers at his throat. She looks at the knife and then at her dress. “You’re lucky. You’re lucky that I have on a dress that costs more than whatever pathetic place you live and if I get blood on it my Daddy will beveryupset.”
“Julia,” I call.
He chuckles, then slices her calf. She trembles, her face paling, but she kicks him in the face. I grab him from behind and toss him into an ally. Juliana tries to go after him as her dogs' bark. The other guy is getting up, I twist Juliana behind me and punch the guy right in the face. He goes down. I stand there for a second, panting.
Juliana rips herself away from me. “I had it handled.”
“Some thank you.”
“You don’t always have to swoop in to earn my father’s approval.” She gives me that haughty look while pushing her hair back into her pony. I help her and then look at her ankle. “That’s not good.”
“I’ve had worse.” She dusts herself off and picks up her dog. She gently touches his side and kisses his nose. “You did a good job, Charlie.”
I stare at her for a while. We haven’t really seen each other since her mom died. There were a few dinners. I should have recognized the dog right away, but I didn’t. I’d always been caught by Juliana’s eyes. The way she kept them down at dinner. How she kept herself in check, choking her thoughts and feelings. It was like she was afraid.
“What are you even doing here?” She huffs.
“I thought I was playing hero.”
She laughs and shakes her head, but loops my arm without giving me a second glance. “Just like when we were kids? Am I supposed to be the villain?”
I shake my head and she swallows. “Don’t tell ..”
But we see him at the same time. Her father, standing there watching us. She swallows. “You saved me, Gio. You’re the knight. Congratulations.”
I’m about to say something, but her father comes over. “You saved my princess.”
I think Juliana actually flinches at the name, but she pulls herself away from me. “He sure did. Charlie thanks you.”
But she doesn’t. She’s making that plenty clear. A large guy with arms the size of thighs appears next to her father, but he doesn’t look at me and he doesn’t look at Uncle Tony, he only looks at Juliana. Does he know that looking at her will get him killed?
“Konstantin.” She greets.
“Go with him. Inside. Now.” Her father orders.
Juliana looks at him and for half a second, I want her to fight. I want her to stand up to him, but I know Juliana. I know her better than she’s ever wanted me to know her. Those nights in college, watching her. Growing up together. Seeing more than the put-together woman that stands right here.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“And I told you – Itoldyou, Juliana, you can’t trust people.”
“That’s why you do the trusting, Daddy.” She agrees.