Page 19 of Romeo

“Same goes for you, Tweed,” Romeo orders.

I shouldn’t, but I giggle at his comment anyway. I don’t think Martin’s going to try anything else tonight. He’s howling and writhing on the floor, lucky to be alive.

“Fuck me, you look stunning in that dress,” Romeo speaks directly to my soul. “I can’t wait ‘til you’re wearing one for me.”

A joyous tear breaks free against my attempts at holding it back. With it, the floodgates open wide, and I weep. Not with the same somberness as before. I’m so overwhelmed and overjoyed; these tears are the only way I can express it.

I finally work up the courage to face Romeo. He’s crouched in the hole Father’s men left, his gun trained squarely on Father’s head.

“You’re going to reg?—”

Romeo opens the door with his free hand and gets back to his feet.

“Shut your fucking mouth. I’m talking, you’re listening,” Romeo barks. Father nods. He extends a hand to me, and I take it.“You’re ordered to cease operations at Mayfair Pharmaceuticals, effective immediately.”

“Why the hell would I do that?” Father asks, gulping as he stares down the barrel of Romeo’s pistol.

“Because, Billy boy, you’ve seen what I can do on my own. Next time I come knocking on this door, I’ll have the Lion’s Den behind me.”

“Sal Lione sent you?” Father’s turning different shades of green. Almost looks like he’s going to be sick, knowing the mafia’s after him.

“He did. Your move, Billy. I urge you to consider it wisely.”

“If it’s money you’re after?—”

“It’s not. Not anymore.” Romeo turns his eyes away from Father and looks deeply into mine.

I keep my eyes on Father, as much as I want to stare straight back into Romeo’s. He will not get a chance to try anything stupid.

“You’re really going to do this?” Father asks. For the first time in my life, I see a different emotion other than mockery on his face. “Set this whole world on fire for her?”

He’s scared, but there’s something else there too.

Respect.

“I would. I did. Isn’t he proof?” Romeo flicks his wrist to point the gun at Martin.

“Why not kill me? End this before I can cause waves?” Father’s breathing is erratic. As if this is the question that’s going to have Romeo change his mind and end it.

“You didn’t kill me, either. Said it was because of Jess.” Romeo pulls me into his side and squeezes me against him tightly. “Has to mean somewhere deep down you love your daughter, that you want what’s best for her and know that it’s me.”

“And you are,” I say, nestling cozily under his arm. “My Romeo. My monster. My beast.”

Father talks again, but neither of us listens as we walk backward through the door. He keeps me tucked under his arm the entire walk out of Mayfair Manor and to his car a short distance up the road.

It’s over. He knows it, and so do I.

We can finally be happy.

EPILOGUE

JESS

Three Months Later

Ican’t get enough of him. His body, his mind, his soul. We’ve spent the better part of our three months together in his bed. His mouth feasting on mine, our bodies tangled in a magnificent web of desire, and our thoughts synced on one thing—how are we going to blow each other's minds this time?

“I’ve given it some more thought,” Romeo says from the bottom of the bed. His cheek rests against my inner thigh.

---