Page 129 of Dark Romeo

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Nobody followed me that night. I made sure of it. I doubled back and went a circuitous way to make sure. I slipped inside a small nondescript building on the edge of downtown Verona.

What am I doing here? My feet padded on the old worn carpet of the lobby. This was a far cry from Roman’s real apartment. The handler working for the man who tried to kidnap me works for the Tyrells.

Used to. He might not work for the Tyrells anymore. Think of how surprised Roman was to hear his name. If Giovanni Tyrell was after you, Roman had nothing to do with it.

Stupid girl. You really are so naïve and foolish.

I rode the elevator and stepped out onto the landing of the fourth floor before making my way to the faded gray door marked 17, the fluorescent light above me flickering ominously. I was here to confront Roman. I had to look him in the eyes when I told him what I knew. I had to watch his reaction. Then I’d know for sure.

I knocked. He answered the door within seconds.

For a moment, he just stared at me from the doorway, relief clear in his eyes. He pulled me into the apartment, locking the door behind us. He wrapped his arms around me, his face burying into my neck. “Fuck, you smell so damn good. I thought I might go mad today wondering if you’d come. I wanted to stay until you woke this morning but…”

I didn’t move to hug him back. He pulled back, one of his hands pushing back the hair from my face. “What’s wrong?” He searched my face. His own cracked into an icy mask. “You’ve come here to tell me that we are a mistake, haven’t you?”

“Tito ‘Goldfish’ Brevio,” I said simply.

Roman tensed against me. “I wanted to tell you…”

“But you were afraid at how it’d look?” I finished for him.

He paused. “Yes.”

“Did you know?” My voice had turned to ice. “Was this some kind of ruse to gain my trust?”

“No!” he said, his features twisting. “How could you even think…?” His lip curled up. “No, I understand exactly why you would think that. There’s no reason why you should trust me.”

I let out a small breath of relief. I knew from his reaction, Roman hadn’t been in on it. “Is Tito still working for your father? Am I in danger from your family?”

His nostrils flared with rage. Before I could back away he grabbed my face in his hands. His touch was firm, bordering on painful. The power in his grip, raw and coiled, triggered a deer-like reaction in me and I froze with a gasp.

“I will never ever let anyone hurt you, least of all my own fucking family. I would kill them all, my cousins, my brother, even my own damn father, before I let them touch a single hair on your head. Do you understand me?”

I. Couldn’t. Breathe.

I could barely think. My mind had gone.

Fuck, I think even my heart stopped.

He took a deep, shaky breath. When he spoke again his voice was calmer. “Do you understand me?”

I nodded. Or at least I thought I did.

“Words, Julianna. I need to hear them.”

“Yes,” I croaked out. I had to clear my throat, it had gotten so dry. “I understand.”

“Good.” His grip relaxed but he didn’t let go of my face. “You don’t need to be scared of me. Ever.”

“I’m not,” I lied. The truth was, I was scared. I was downright terrified. But not because I might lose my life…

I was scared I’d lose my heart.

I was terrified at how hard I seemed to be falling for him, even though it didn’t make any rational, logical sense, and that I just didn’t seem to care about the consequences.

Most of all, I feared the day that we’d be torn apart.

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