Page 38 of Romeo

Romeo’s vision of a “sure thing” was now destroyed.

His cockiness possibly taken down a peg.

He also now knew she wasn’t a pushover.

Chuckling, Zeke came back to the billiard area and slapped Romeo hard enough on the back to make him lurch forward. “Better luck next time, brother.”

Oh shit.Romeo was already annoyed, but to have Zeke rub his loss and the fact Maddie pulled one over on him in his face…

Not smart.

She opened her mouth to tell Zeke to let it go. Before the first word slipped past her lips, it turned into a squeak when Romeo grabbed her wrist and began to take long strides toward the exit with her in tow.

“Romeo…” She kept her voice calm and low to avoid Zeke freaking out and coming to her rescue.

The big man didn’t stop until they were outside and away from the door. Once they were, he backed her against the exterior wall, dropped his head and locked eyes with her. “That was fuckin’ bullshit.”

She lifted her chin. “You only think that because you lost. Bet you wouldn’t think it was bullshit if you had won.”

The second he released her wrist; she spun in the direction of her car. He quickly stopped her by slamming a hand against the side of the building, blocking her path. When she spun the other way, he barred her escape with his other arm, caging her in.

“Let me leave, Romeo.”

“Ain’t leavin’ ’til I’m fuckin’ done with you.”

Oh yes, the man was not happy.

“I’ll leave when I want to leave. You have no right to stop me.” Could he detect the tremor in her voice?

Was she stupid to push him like that?

She knew him but she didn’t know himthatwell. Even so, she never heard of him abusing or hurting women. He only used women sexually. But it was always consensual, like with her five years ago.

However, he had no reason to get this pissed. The only thing he lost was a game of pool. He wasn’t scammed out of anything of value. Her plan had been to only put him in his place.

Zeke had no idea that Maddie and Romeo hooked up during that weekend up in Manning Grove. As far as she knew, nobody did. She hoped like hell it stayed that way.

Zeke only went along with the plan because he thought it would be funny that big, bad Romeo would be beaten by a “girl.”

“Maddie, you okay?” came from behind Romeo.

Speak of the devil.

“She’s good,” Romeo growled, still keeping their eyes locked.

“Wanna hear it from her,” Zeke insisted, his voice dropping an octave, too.

Romeo’s nostrils flared and she swore he was grinding his teeth.

She would not be the cause of a brawl between Zeke and Romeo. That would cause issues. Not only for Romeo and Zeke, but between the Dirty Angels and the Dark Knights.

She would not be the reason their long-standing, solid alliance cracked or even became shaky.

“I’m fine, Zeke,” she reassured him.

Romeo continued to intensely stare at her, but they were both fully aware of Zeke still standing behind the Knights’ president, ready to step in to rescue her.

“Don’t be a goddamn sore loser, Rome. She beat you fair and square.”

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