Page 109 of Dark Romeo

I swallowed hard, almost afraid to ask. “So where are we going?”

“Somewhere quiet where we can talk to him.”

I bit my lip, warring with myself. I should take Eduardo in. It was the right thing to do. But…

Roman was right. If I wanted answers, I had to talk to him first. No police station, no cops, no law. A strange rush traveled under my skin. Some part of my brain told me this was wrong, but somehow it felt like the right thing to do. I had always hated how the good guys had to stick to the letter of the law while the bad guys got to scribble lines all over it. Tonight I was leveling the playing field a little bit. Tonight it was personal.

“Just talk?” I asked.

“In a matter of speaking.” Roman shot me a look. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. You get to keep your pristine reputation.”

What was that supposed to mean?

Roman pulled into an unlit lot and turned off the engine. The sudden silence in the car was so loud it was pressing into my ears. He switched off the headlights. My world went dark for a moment before my eyes began to filter in the pale moonlight. I flinched when I found Roman leaning into me, staring at me in the dimness, his minty breath swirling around my cheeks. “Jules…”

We could have been two love-struck teenagers parked in a secluded spot on their first date. “Yes,” I breathed.

“Lock yourself in the car.” He climbed out of the driver’s seat and walked around the back, disappearing behind the trunk lid when he opened it.

What? I climbed out after him. “Where are you going?” I skidded to a halt beside him. Eduardo was slung over his shoulder again.

“Get back in the car.” He slammed the trunk closed with his free hand.

“No. You’re not leaving me behind.”

His eyes narrowed at me. “You don’t want to watch this.”

“What are…?” The realization of what he was going to do suddenly became clear through my shock-addled brain. “Oh my God.”

“Did you think I was going to bring him to my apartment for a nice little chat? Make him some tea, perhaps?” Roman gave me a hard look before he strode towards the dark warehouse.

I jogged after him. “Are you going to hurt him?”

Roman turned towards me, gravel crunching under his heel, managing even with a limp body over his shoulder to make it look graceful. “Jules, he tried to take you.” The aggression rolling from him in hot waves made me shiver. “If I have to beat him to within an inch of his miserable life, I will find out who hired him and why. That’s why you’re staying outside in the car.”

“No.”

“If you stay outside you can plausibly deny you know anything about it.”

“I’m already lying to them about you. What’s one more lie?” I blurted out.

What’s one more lie? This was a slippery slope. I was already losing my grip.

Roman let out a growl of frustration. “Inside this warehouse…I might have to say some things…do some things… You shouldn’t witness it.”

I bristled. “I’m not an innocent little girl, you know? I’ve seen my fair share of?—”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it about?”

His features twisted, etched with anguish. Something was tearing him up inside.

“Tell me, Roman.” I stepped closer to him, pleading with my eyes for him to trust me.

He opened his mouth. Eduardo let out a soft moan.

“Damn you, he’s waking up.” Roman strode forward and kicked at the warehouse door. It crashed opened with a bang that made me jump. He disappeared into the darkness of the warehouse with his burden across his shoulder.

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