Page 23 of Cardinal

"She called for me to take her home because she wasn't feeling well and wanted her friend to come along too. She was fine for most of the ride but went into an episode shortly before we came home." The guard reported to me.

"What's going on with Juliet?" At least I could appreciate her friend's genuine concern for her.

Ignoring the boy's question, I momentarily glanced down at Juliet. "Did any of you say or do something to trigger her?" I questioned with a pointed look at the guard and Juliet's friend.

"No, I did nothing but drive and keep quiet." The guard answered calmly and politely.

Her friend was quick to shake his head in denial. "No, I didn't say or do anything. I kept quiet and let her hold and play with my hands while she looked out the window. Literally, she was fine one minute, then she became inconsolable the next."

Keeping Juliet safely pressed against me, I rubbed her upper arm as she trembled against me. "Hilly, go get some water and snacks for Juliet from the kitchen," I ordered her bodyguard with a quick, stern look.

Without a word, she nodded and slipped away, leaving me alone with two anxious adult teens.

Not looking directly at the boy, I merely peered at him out of the corners of my eyes. "How was she at school?" I doubted I would get a straight answer—or any—from Juliet right now.

"Not herself." Well, no fucking shit Sherlock. "She's been really anxious all day long and just…" Frowning, the boy clenched his fists by his sides. "Is she going to be okay? What's wrong with her? She won't tell me anything, but I know something must have happened over spring break for her to end up like this."

Juliet's scratchy voice came out muffled as she had her face against my chest. "Gale, I'll be okay…" Slowly, she turned her face to look at her friend with a weak smile.

"Juliet, if you weren't in the arms of a gangster, then I'd be more inclined to believe that." Gale sighed with a wary look at me.

Scoffing with a sneer, I turned my head to fully face him with a displeased scowl. "I'm one of the heads of The Syndicate; don't make me sound like a street rat with a gun that has one functioning brain cell amped on drugs." I couldn't help but chuckle a little out of amusement when Gale flinched a bit from my snappiness.

"Luciano, be nice to him. He's my best friend." Juliet softly snapped at me with a pout after she pushed apart from me.

Softly, Juliet hit my chest. "Quit looking at him like that, too. You're gonna scare him, and if you do, I'll make you regret it." Okay, it was impossible not to laugh a little at her cute little—empty—threat. "I'm serious." She growled softly with a flurry of smacks against me.

Grabbing her wrists, I held both in one hand and petted her head. "Do you want me to leave you with your friend? Seems like you two have a lot to talk about." Did I want to? No. The only thing I wanted right now was to literally grab Gale and chuck him out the door to have Juliet give me her undivided attention.

Okay, maybe the last bit would be a bad idea since I wanted to distance myself from her. Actually, I probably should leave her and Gale alone, but I hated the thought of that. Thinking about Juliet being alone with anyone of the opposite gender rubbed me the wrong way, which was ridiculous and selfish of me.

Fuck, maybe I need to get my head set straight again.

Sighing softly, I settled her fully against the couch and did a quick once-over to make sure she wasn't injured in any way. "Do you want to talk about what triggered you? Or do you want to talk about it later?"

Surely, something had to have set her off. Juliet hasn't had any random panic attacks recently without a trigger. The first two to three days were a little rough because of her nightmares and constant relapse into her trauma, but she faired better in the coming days after the therapist.

"Later, please." She replied in a small voice, averting her eyes from me to pick at her painted nails.

Cupping her face, I gently wiped her tears away with my thumbs before stroking her cheek slowly. "When Hilly gets back with water and food, I expect you to take it. You need to replenish yourself, alright?" My eyes searched for Juliet's, making her look at my firm gaze directly. "If I hear otherwise from Hilly later, then you don't want to know what I have in store for you."

Lord, I hope she won't disobey me because I did not want to come up with a punishment that didn't involve her baring her juicy ass for me to turn red with my hands. How the hell was I even supposed to punish her? I shouldn't have let my mouth run on instinct and habit.

Juliet wasn't my sub—far from it. So, I needed to stop, even if her bratty ass needed a good lesson or two. But hell, I shouldn't be thinking about that kind of stuff with her. After what she had been through, I wouldn't be surprised if she chose to remain celibate for the rest of her life.

Chewing her bottom lip softly, she nodded her head with a defeated sigh. "Yes, sir."

Fuck. Me.

Chapter 14

Juliet

"Juliet, why are you in a mobster's home?" Gale asked frantically in a hushed voice, waving his hand around the area.

Curling my legs up to my chest, I hugged them tightly and picked at the seams of my sweatpants. "It's my home now too…" I admitted almost shamefully.

Hesitantly, Gale scooted closer to me with his arms open as if he were ready to hug me. "Juliet, what do you mean? What's going on? I mean, do you know who he is?" Gale continued to worry with a deepening frown.

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