Page 122 of Dark Romeo

“No, Father.” I almost thanked him but I bit my tongue. My father would slap me if I thanked him, if I thanked anybody for anything. I was a Tyrell. I was entitled to whatever I wanted. Thank no one, apologize to no one. That’s what he always taught me.

I turned, eager to see this house in my rearview mirror. It felt like the lion’s den.

I was almost to the door of my father’s study when his voice made me halt. “How did you know, by the way?”

A knot developed in my throat as I turned back to look at him. “Know what?”

“How did you know that someone ordered her capture?”

Shit. I was so furious at the thought that my father could’ve been the one behind this, I barely thought twice before coming over here. I just wanted answers. Now I may have betrayed myself.

I shrugged, keeping my face casual. “I have my sources just like you have yours.” I walked out of his study before he could ask any more questions.

Abel scowled at me as I strode past him, but I ignored him. As I showed myself out, I felt the eyes of my father’s men stationed around the house. My senses tingled with anticipation. None of them pulled a weapon on me. Or tried to stop me.

Did I believe my father? Did I believe that he had nothing to do with this? If he did order her capture, then he just lied to me. He lied to me, which meant that he didn’t trust me. If he didn’t trust me, then I was already in trouble.

If he tried to kidnap Julianna, he’d try again. Not so soon after a failed attempt. But he wouldn’t wait too long either. Being around her was too risky. I had to stop watching her if I knew what was smart. I couldn’t step in to save her again if it meant exposing myself. I had to stay away from her.

But telling myself to stay away was futile. It was clear from the way I had launched at the two attackers last night without concern to myself that I’d do anything to protect her. Even risk my own damn life.

JULIANNA

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I rubbed my forehead with my fingers where a headache was building. I knew I shouldn’t have reported this. I glanced up from where I sat behind my father’s desk, Espinoza sitting on my right. “I said I’m fine.”

“You’re fine?” my father repeated, his voice hard and rattling with fury. “Julianna, somebody tried to kidnap you.”

“But they didn’t succeed, did they? I’m sitting right here.”

“Sitting right there with a bruise on your jaw the size of Texas.” My father exhaled so loudly it reminded me of a bull.

My jaw let out a throb as if to agree with him.

“Do you have any ideas on who would be behind this?” Espo asked. It was the first thing he’d said since I’d revealed last night’s drama.

Goldfish. Whoever that was. “I don’t know.”

“I bet it’s the goddamn Tyrells,” my father said, emphasizing his words with a fist slamming on the desk.

I stared at him, indignation at his prejudice tightening my grip on my chair arm. The Tyrells couldn’t have done this. Roman was the one who saved me.

A worm of doubt threaded through my stomach. What if his father or someone else in their organization was doing this behind Roman’s back? It was possible.

Or Roman’s playing you, a small voice said inside me. He organized his men to try to kidnap you so he could come in like a hero. Do you really believe he just happened to be there?

I shoved that voice down. I didn’t care how stupid it sounded, I knew Roman. He wouldn’t harm me.

“Why would the Tyrells do it?” I asked.

“The Tyrells have a vested interest in you because of your investigation into Vinnie’s murder case.”

“Which stalled. They know that. What did they have to gain by kidnapping me? It would be a stupid move on their part.”

My father’s chair creaked as he sank back into it. “I’ll have a plainclothes officer stationed at your apartment building while you’re off duty.”

I could feel the protective walls clanging up around me, just as they had for the years after my mother died. My father had gotten so strict and paranoid he barely let me out of the house then.

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