“Juliana.” I can hear the disapproval rolling off Max.
I reach in and pull out two throwing knives and my favorite stabbing knife, along with a crowbar and a taser. Sighing, I sit back on my heel and look over my shoulder at Max. “Do you have a preference?”
“What is ...” He gapes at my stash. “What is all this?!”
“More toys. A different kind.” I shrug. “The safety kind.”
Max reaches in and looks at the options. I flash my ‘stabbing knife’ which is a pearly pink and makes me happy because a person has a right to defend themselves and still be stylish at the same time. I grin at the knife. “My dad doesn’t have anything to do with any ability for me to be safe. Between Gio’s lessons and the lessons my father made me take growing up, I’m plenty capable of that.”
Max groans and rubs my hips as he kisses my neck. “Independent, vicious, ambitious. Your charm gets more intense every day.”
I laugh and lean into his touch. If he wants to go for another round, I’m more than happy to. But something beeps on the iPad, and Max sighs. “Make your choice and put this back together for me, doll.”
“Kay.”
I hear Max on the phone, and come out with Charlie and Nolan on my heels. Nolan growls while facing the sliding glass door. I don’t see anything but I nod to Max. He doesn’t see it. I take the iPad and click the buttons until the light in the backyard turns on. I see someone, dressed all in black, freeze, then dart over the fence.
Charlie and Nolan run at the door, barking angrily. Max looks at me. “What’s that?”
“Someone got in the yard,” I report. “They didn’t want to be seen, all in black.”
A sharp tone leaves Max’s throat as he chastises the other guards. He’s normally so light-hearted, so easygoing, but that commanding tone, the blatant anger, and threats he makes. Something about it, and knowing that it’s there to protect me, makes me a little dizzy with lust.
Max rubs my hip as he hangs up. “We’re going to have a full sleepover tonight.”
“Me, you, the dogs, and all my weapons?” I guess.
“Muscles and the kid will be joining.” He texts something quickly and sighs. “Shame too. There are more toys in there I wanted to use. “
“I’ll start the fire. We can make smores and braid each other’s hair,” I say simply.
Max chuckles. “If they try again tonight, we’ll be prepared.”
“How did they get the address?”
“Your phone has been off, and I know that there’s no way for us to check inside it, but is there anything else that could be tracked?”
I start to say no, then groan. “My laptop. I brought it to work on things. I was just on it recently and-”
Max goes to it, checks a few things, and sighs. “There’s a tracking program on it.” He clicks a few more buttons, moves the mouse around, and then sighs after about ten minutes. “I’ve deleted it completely and corrupted the chain, not that it will do anything now.”
“I bet I could sell three of my handbags and have enough to pay the person after me with more than Mr. Alister can.”
Max rubs my shoulder. “I think we passed that point, doll.”
Within an hour, all three of my men are in one place again. Gio and Max are tense, but Konstantin just pets Charlie. I’m starting to think I’m losing my therapy dog to the sexy hulk in the room. I glance over at Max and Gio.
“No fighting,” I warn them.
“I’ll play you rock, paper, scissors to deal with the two goons outside,” Max offers.
“They’re incompetent! If someone was able to get into the backyard, all it would have taken was one shot and-,” Gio starts.
“All the glass is bulletproof. I confirmed that,” Konstantin says.
“That doesn’t excuse the fact that the person was able to get into the backyard. That’s inexcusable,” Gio hisses.
“You and I have never been more on the same page, kid.” Max agrees.