Page 3 of Giovanni
“Absolutely.” I push up, locking my knees with a slight jerk. “Mr. Olympia isn’t just a competition. It’s the pinnacle of everything I’m working toward.”
She nods, appreciative, her eyes reflecting a respect that makes me feel proud of my choice to compete.
“I can see that. Your dedication is kind of . . . inspiring.”
“Inspiring, huh?” I can’t help the smirk that plays on my lips. “I could say the same about you.”
She’s ripped herself. She could easily compete in a bikini competition or even fitness if she added more bulk. Either way, she is perfect, and her glutes are something I can’t help but stare at. Jenna picks up another set of weights, the motion fluid and deliberate.
“We all have our mountains to climb.”
She’s right. We all have our mountains, our giants to slay. And here, in this temple of transformation, we’re all warriors in our own right. I move on to the next set, adrenaline pumping through me while the energetic music pulsates around me.
“You’re pushing hard today, Gio,” Marco observes, coming over with his water bottle. He takes a swig, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Got to, man.” I pause, breathless, as Jenna starts chatting with a female trainer. “New year. New goals.”
He casts a curious eye over his shoulder at her. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with her, would it?”
“No.”
Marco chuckles, downing more water before replying, “Sure.Just don’t burn out, yeah?”
I give him a nod, but the hunger inside won’t be tamed, regardless of who’s around me. “No chance of that. It’s all about pacing, brother.”
My eyes catch Jenna’s reflection as she talks animatedly with her hands. Marco follows my gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Just remember, she’s got a rock on her finger even if she doesn’t wear it,” he murmurs a hint of protectiveness in his tone. I look away, a twinge of something—loneliness or longing—pulling at my chest. “I’m not looking to start anything, Marco. Just friendly talk, that’s all.”
He raises an eyebrow, unconvinced.
“Friendly talk can lead to . . . complications.”
I jerk the plate from the bar, ready to rack it and move away from my greatest temptation—Jenna.
“I know, I know,” I reply, keeping my voice even. “No complications.”
Marco claps me on the shoulder, a silent show of camaraderie.
“Just looking out for you, Giovanni. You’ve got a good thing going. Don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I glance her way again, the ladies’ conversation still flowing, before I turn my back.
“I won’t,” I assure him and myself, more than anything. “I’ve got too much riding on this year to get sidetracked.”
My gaze doesn’t stray again. The rest of my workout passes in a blur of focus and determination. The space around me narrowswhen I concentrate on the rest of my training. The music, Jenna, and even Marco fade into the background as I finish with a heaving chest and a sweaty sheen coating my skin.
As I head for the locker room, I don’t look back. There’s nothing for me there—not in the past, not in distractions, not in the blue of Jenna’s eyes. There’s only the path forward. I’ve got a title to win. And nothing, not even the soft curve of Jenna’s smile or the sweet melody of her voice will stand in my way.
2
KACIE
The fluorescent lights of my office flicker overhead, casting a clinical glow over the chaos of my desk. Right now, I feel more like a ringmaster at the world’s most disorganized circus than an assistant district attorney for the fourth largest city in the nation. My fingers drum impatiently on the mountain of files that stand between me and a semblance of order.
I’m on the phone with Dr. Bennett, our go-to forensic expert, trying to nail down a time for him to testify. He’s as busy as I am, and we do this awkward dance around our calendars.
“I understand, Dr. Bennett, but Judge Warner announced his retirement today, and now everything’s been pushed up.”
