Top Dog

A fist came down onto my door and shook it on its hinges. My mother’s head whipped up from her book, and I promptly sent her upstairs. Antony helped her into her room before he cocked his gun, then stood just beyond the corner at the top of the steps. I grabbed my weapon from underneath the kitchen table and checked the magazine, making sure it was full.

Another crash came down onto the door, and I held my weapon up.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Open the damn door, Martine.”

I recognized that voice.

I yanked the door open and leveled my gun at the man’s face. The man from the park. Julia’s bodyguard. His face was stern, and he stared down the barrel of my gun like he was looking at a child’s play toy.

“Get that thing out of my face,” he said.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“Put away your toy, and we’ll talk.”

“Is Julia okay?”

“No,” he said. “She’s not.”

I looked up the stairs toward my brother, and he held his gun at his side. I nodded in his direction, then I put the safety onmy gun and holstered it at my hip. I ushered the man in, and he looked around, his eyes taking in everything he could.

I wanted to beat the man’s ass. After the incident at the park, I wanted to strangle him until he couldn't breathe. What the fuck was this asshole doing here, and what the hell was wrong with Julia?

“Talk,” I said.

“I want to apologize first.”

My brow furrowed in confusion as the man stuck out his hand.

“Name’s Enrico. I was hired by Giuliano when he took Julia to live upstate,” he said.

“Uh-huh,” I said as I took the man’s hand. “Julia’s bodyguard.”

“That’s my job title, yes. And I take it very seriously.”

“So, our little run in at the park?”

“I was only looking out for her and Matteo. It’s my job, and in her family, it’s a hefty one. I don’t trust anyone. I think you know how that goes,” Enrico said.

“I have an idea. Are you thirsty?”

“No. I’m not staying. But Julia’s gotten herself into hot water, and I can’t talk any sense into her.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I know what your family has done in the past and what you guys are capable of. I admit I’ve been trying to keep her and Matteo away from you. And I’m sure you can understand why. Your father’s reputation isn’t the cleanest.”

“Neither is Stefano’s,” I said curtly.

“Good thing I’m not loyal to Stefano then,” he said.

“You’re not?”

“No. My loyalty is with Julia and Matteo. Their safety is paramount to me. My number one goal, from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep.”

“Right. So what do you want? What is it that Julia has gotten herself into?” I asked.