She rolls her eyes but smiles anyway.
Juliana takes the cocktail Muscles gives her and he’s kind enough to give me one as well. I raise my glass to him. “Are you trying to liquor me up?”
“I wouldn’t have to do all that. Just some flirting and a wiggle of my eyebrows.”
I laugh. “You know me well.”
“Better every day.”
We chat about nothing but the night we’ve had and I see Juliana relax a bit. She needed to get out. I was sure of it. Some liveliness and faces she doesn’t see every day have done her good. I pat myself on the back mentally.
The door opens and I lean my head back. “Our missing sheep has come home.”
“Very funny,” Gio grumbles.
Juliana opens her arms. “Hug.”
“Are you drunk?” He asks.
“Topsy and easy to please.”
Gio chuckles then gives her the hug she wants. He kisses her cheek. He does a shot and shakes his head. “Patricia is a handful.”
“Of course. She’s my friend. I keep thebestcompany.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t flirt with you.” Gio points out after wincing at the bourbon.
“Sure she does. It makes me feel all warm and special.”
“That’s my job, doll.”
She looks over the three of us and lights up. “I like you three in the same place. I feel so safe and loved and ... suspicious.”
Charlie and Nolan both perk up and look around, like that one word has summoned their attack mode. I sigh. “Why suspicious?”
Juliana stands and starts pacing. “The last time we’ve had an issue with my life involved was when we dealt with Sharon/ Jane. Why hasn’t John done anything? He knows where I am.”
“All three of us have been here. That’s a lot for the average man wanting to become a hitman.” Konstantin points out. “It takes training, patience, being able to manipulate a moment.”
“All skills a man like him doesn’t have.” I guess with a snort.
“You’re not wrong, but I feel like he might be putting his patience to work.” Juliana keeps pacing.
I wrap my arms around her. She’s making me dizzy. “Listen, you are safe. We’re going to keep making sure of that, so how about you sit down, or get some sleep.”
“Like I can sleep tonight.” She pats my chest, then does it again.
Yeah, she’s more than tipsy if she’s distracted by feeling me up. I rub her back. “Don’t make me tell you again, doll.”
“Be my snuggle buddy?”
I narrow my eyes. She’s extra brazen right now. Gio rolls his eyes and takes another drink. “Go on.”
“Is there a reason you’re choosing me?”
“Because I want to. You gave me all your attention tonight when Patricia was right there, practically drooling over you. I didn’t start a fight or make a scene. You didn’t give an inch. Let’s snuggle as a reward.”
That’s impossible to argue with. “We’ll snuggle soon.”