Page 89 of Romeo

Maddie jolted forward slightly when Romeo’s chest bumped her back. “Her goddamn name is Maddie. Or Madison. Or even Ms. Goddamn Goodson. It ain’tMad.”

Roger blinked at Romeo’s unexpected fury. “If she doesn’t like me calling her that, she would’ve told me.”

She did. Most likely a dozen times before she gave up.

“Tellin’ you… Don’t fuckin’ call her that again.”

Roger’s brow dropped low. “No reason to use profanity.”

“Got every damn reason to use it. You’re disrespectin’ your employee.”

“By telling her to follow the rules? Rules she agreed to when she was hired?”

She didn’t remember any rules about eating out on the floor, but that was neither here nor there right now.

Maddie pulled in a breath and turned, placing a hand on Romeo’s chest. She caught his gaze and widened her eyes at him in a silent plea. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

“You fuckin’ mind. You told me that.”

“Rome…”Fuck.“Marvin, I appreciate you standing up for me, but it’s unneeded.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Unneeded?The fuck if it was unneeded.

Romeo’s growing suspicion that ol’ Roger was the source of Maddie’s stress was now confirmed. All she had to tell him was that her boss was a dick. Actually, more than a dick. He was bordering on abusive.

Romeo found that un-fucking-acceptable.

And the fuck if he would let it continue, no matter how much Maddie wanted him to stay out of it.

Fuck that shit.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Carter, but it looks like you might not be a good fit for my establishment after all. I’m going to have to ask you to leave since you can’t control yourself. I’ll refund your visit today if you’ve already paid.”

Romeo spun on the man, making him lurch back a step. Even pale slightly like the little bitch he was. “You think I ain’t in control? I’m fuckin’ in control. You wouldn’t want to see me when I lose my shit.”

Smith was the kind of pussy-ass bitch who’d press charges if Romeo even poked him with a finger.

Buthe certainly wouldn’t be poking the guy. He’d be hauling off and planting a fist right in her boss’s mouth. And once he was down, maybe even crushing that motherfucker’s face with one of his boots.

But Romeo was in control.

Barely.

It was time to leave before that changed and shit went sideways. He normally didn’t wear any jewelry, so cold metal cuffs were not his style.

When he turned towards Maddie, he noticed she was frozen in place. Not only that, he didn’t think she was aware she held the peach in a death grip and its juice was dripping off her fingers and onto the floor mats.

Smith must have spotted that at the same time, too.

“You made a mess, Mad. Now go get something to clean it up. This is a perfect example on why food isn’t allowed out on the floor.”

Romeo pulled in a deep breath, jerked his head to the left, then to the right to crack his neck, then forced his fingers to uncurl.

The asshole didn’t know when to shut the fuck up.

Smith was also pushing his luck by calling Maddie “Mad” after Romeo made it quite fucking clear not to do that again.

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