Breaking the Billionaire's Rules

by Annika Martin

I go over what I know: Roman male prostitute who graduated to knife fighting. He murdered several people. Sharp dresser. Model good looks. And the way he looked at her, like a man in hell seeing an angel. And the way she gripped his back, the high drama. I turn the thing over in my mind. And then I just start laughing. Mia’s out the door moments later. She pulls her cart to my side. “Max! What are you doing?” “I heard some disturbing news about Antonio,” I say. “I don’t think Antonio is really any of your business,” she replies, eyes sparkling. “He’s extremely dangerous,” I say. “Did you know that he sold his body in the gutters back in Italy?” She looks bewildered. “Huh?” “Antonio would plunge a knife into a man’s heart as readily as he would slice a tomato. He’s killed before, you know. I’m thinking about alerting a friend on the force.” She looks pale. “A cop?” “He bathes in the blood of his enemies. Though on the upside, tomato-slicing skills like that would make him handy around the kitchen.” Confusion fills her face. I do my best not to smile, but I fail, and she sees it. “Shut up!” She slaps my chest. “Screw off. I can’t even with you.”