Page 107 of Dark Romeo

Why did he have to notice everything? I nodded, my throat deciding to knot. “Fine.”

He stared at me for a second. “If you’re going to freak out, I’d like some advanced warning.”

“I said I’m fine,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

He stared at me for a beat. Then nodded. “Okay.”

He walked around to get into the driver’s seat, leaving me rooted where I stood, half confused, half in shock. The car rumbled to life and the window of the passenger seat rolled down. Roman leaned across the seat so I could see his face through the window. “Get in,” he commanded.

Me, alone in a car with Roman Tyrell. The last time he and I were alone together… The car looked too small for the two of us.

“I can follow you in my car.”

“You’re two seconds away from going into shock. I’m not letting you drive anywhere.”

“I’m fine.”

He stared at me through thick dark lashes. “Are you scared of being alone with me?”

“No,” I said, just a little too quickly.

“Then get in.” His eyebrow lifted. “Don’t make me do this the hard way.”

This was a bad idea. I pursed my lips and glanced around again to see if anyone was looking before sliding into the car. As soon as I shut the door, the locks activated and the window rolled up, trapping us in together. Great, locked in a car with a body in the trunk and a possible psychopath in the driver’s seat. What could possibly go wrong?

Roman tugged the attacker’s gun from the back of his pants and leaned over, practically in my lap, his mouth inches from mine. I pressed back into the seat, trying to get some distance. “What are you doing?”

“Relax, Jules,” Roman said, his voice taking on an added caramel texture. If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was trying to be seductive. He popped open the glove box and deposited the gun into it. “I took the bullets out already.” He gave me a wicked look, his gaze dropping to my mouth before dragging back up to pin me with his dark stare. “Just in case you felt trigger happy.”

I rolled my eyes. And tried desperately to remember how to breathe properly.

After what seemed like an eternity, he straightened back up. I relaxed into the passenger seat and shut my eyes, letting my heart return to a normal pace. I felt us pull away from the curb and let the soft turns of the car rock me into a calmer state.

I would never admit it, least of all to him, but I was glad to have Roman here telling me what to do in his infuriatingly overly confident, bossy tone. It’s what I needed right now. My mind was too rattled to think properly. With him here I knew I would be taken care of. I was…safe.

Oh my God. I felt safe with Roman. Completely safe. That was ridiculous. He was a violent criminal gangster, for Christ’s sake.

Despite all attempts of my mind to convince me otherwise, I just knew Roman wouldn’t let anyone hurt me. He saved my life.

Because he was stalking you, Julianna.

Not stalking. Watching. Looking out for me.

Twist it any way you want, it’s still stalking. This should terrify me. Instead, this thought sent an illicit thrill through my body. Roman Tyrell watched out for me even though he shouldn’t. Like my own dark guardian angel. He cared about me even though he shouldn’t. Just like I cared for him.

I opened my eyes a crack and looked over at him. My stomach fluttered like a fan every time I caught flashes of his chiseled profile when we passed underneath a streetlight. He really was breathtakingly beautiful. And totally occupied with driving. I took this opportunity to roll my gaze over the rest of him. Rounded shoulders, firm chest, thick torso, hard bulge…hard bulge? No, wait. That was the bulge of a gun in his hip holster.

“Like what you see down there?” Roman asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Dammit. Of course he’d noticed me staring.

I tore my eyes away, my cheeks heating. “I was looking at your gun.”

“Sure you were.”

“You didn’t use it earlier.” Way to state the obvious, Julianna.

The skin around his mouth tightened. “I only use it when I need to. I didn’t need to with them.” In other words, he was such a badass he didn’t need a gun against two armed attackers.

“Do you have a permit for it?” I blurted out.

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