Page 115 of Dark Romeo

But he didn’t, I argued with myself. Everything he did tonight was for me.

“You saved my life,” I said to him. “I owe you. I won’t turn you in. This can be…our little secret.” My list of secrets was growing rapidly. Where would it end…?

Roman leaned into me, his lip curling up into a scowl. Every cell in my body told me to back up. But I forced myself to remain where I stood. “You don’t seem to have any instinct to protect yourself around me. It’ll get you killed.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he disappointed that I wouldn’t arrest him? Did he think I was weak? “You seem to want to push me into either running away from you or arresting you.”

“It’s just easier if we remember which side we’re on.”

I flinched. I knew what he was referencing. I’d pulled a gun on him after he’d broken into my apartment to talk to me. So much had changed since then. “I don’t think we’re on different sides,” I admitted quietly.

I saw a flash of what I took as hope in his eyes. He stepped closer, his body turning towards me. I mirrored him without thinking. He was beautiful, even with flecks of blood across his face. Even in the pale light coming from the open warehouse door, I could feel his dark, hooded stare burning into me. He pushed back a wayward strand of hair behind my ears, his touch searing into my soul. “Jules…”

“You’re hurt,” I cried, noticing his busted bloody knuckles. I reached for his hand.

The sound of tires crunching on gravel tore us apart. A black Ford Taurus pulled up in front of us. Friend or foe? I glanced over to Roman but he looked as impassive as ever. My heartbeat climbed in my chest as the driver’s door opened.

Mercutio stepped out. His eyes widened as he took me in, torn clothes, scrapes, his gaze lingering on my jaw. The pain had faded during Eddie’s interrogation, the stress and adrenaline pushing it to the background. Now it returned with an aching throb.

Mercutio narrowed his eyes at Roman. “You didn’t tell me the cops were involved.”

“They’re not,” Roman said. “She is here as a victim. Someone tried to kidnap her tonight.”

Mercutio opened his mouth, then shut it. He eyed me suspiciously but remained tight-lipped.

“Take her home,” Roman said. “Make sure you’re not followed. Make sure her apartment is cleared before you leave. I owe you one.” Without even a goodbye, he turned to go back inside the warehouse.

I didn’t want to go without him. I didn’t want to leave his side. Somehow in the last few hours he’d become a safe place for me.

“Wait.” I grabbed his arm. His thick bicep tensed underneath my hand. I could feel Mercutio’s eyes on us.

Roman lowered his voice. “Don’t worry. I trust Mercutio. He’ll get you home safely.”

“Where are you going?”

A darkness bleed across his face making me shudder.

“To finish what I started.”

JULIANNA

____________

I could feel Mercutio’s disapproving glances at me as we rode in his car towards my apartment. It made my skin feel itchy. That, the adrenaline crash, the stress of almost being kidnapped, my confusion about Roman, the lateness of the hour, all conspired to put me in a foul mood. “If you have something to say, spit it out,” I snapped.

Mercutio focused back on the road. “And have you arrest me for speaking my mind? No, thanks.”

I’d gotten this kind of animosity from civilians before. “For this car ride, pretend I’m not a cop.”

“Yeah, right. I don’t trust cops.”

I let out a sigh and tucked my head against the glass. “Suit yourself.”

Mercutio said nothing. Several minutes went by, the street lights brightening up the skin behind my closed lids in a series of flashes. I felt my body grow heavy, sleep lapping at the edges of my consciousness.

“Why is he helping you?”

I opened my eyes at Mercutio’s question. Why indeed? I looked out the window at the familiar city streets flashing past. We were still several minutes away from my apartment. There was no way to avoid this conversation. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ve asked him. He won’t tell me.”

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