Page 72 of Neverland

“Behind bars?” Romeo said, shocked by the idea. “That’s way too easy for the fucker.”

Laura shook her head. “Romeo, you need to step back from the situation—”

“That’s the last thing I need to do.”

“Laura could be right,” Charles said. “You and the girl have—”

“Lucy!” Romeo interjected. “Her name is Lucy.”

“You… and Lucy have a history together. You could put us all at risk by allowing your emotions to get involved, especially in a complex case like this.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Is it?”

“Yeah, it is. Because if anyone has the motivation to get him, it’s me.”

“The boy could be right,” Sol said, taking Romeo’s side. “But it could put you both at unnecessary risk.”

The table erupted in a heated discussion, those thinking logically, and others emotionally.

“I can tell you anything you need to know about Dominic Salvatore,” I interrupted, everyone turning in their seats upon hearing my voice. They waited for me to continue, “I can tell you about three cold-blooded murders, countless rapes, false imprisonment, drug trafficking. Anything. But on one condition.”

“And that is?” Sol asked.

“You remove Romeo from the investigation.”

Romeo pushed back his chair. “No, Lucy. That’s not going to happen.”

“It has to.” The desperation in my voice quietened the detectives, no doubt working through the list of dangers which faced them.

Romeo rose to his feet and cupped my cheeks. “Lucy, you’re asking me to walk away from bringing this guy down. From having him answer for everything he’s done to you.”

“And if you go, I run the risk of losing you, and I’m just not prepared for that.”

Lowering his lips to mine, Romeo kissed with a tenderness that melted my heart. I wanted more of it. I wanted to relish the moment in privacy, where only he and I existed.

A ringing cell phone cut through the silence, and we reluctantly pulled apart.

“Yep,” Charles answered. We all waited for a clue. It was twelve-thirty in the morning, an odd time to be receiving a call. When he hung up, he was all business. “We’ve been compromised,” he said, assembling his Glock. “If we don’t move now, we’ll be forever on the back foot.”

Sensing my panic, Romeo took my hand in his.

“What did they say?” I asked, needing to know how Dominic planned to attack. Charles remained tight-lipped, his jaw set like stone.

Everyone started moving with urgency, packing anything they’d need for our next location.

Romeo turned to me, concerned. “Lucy, I need to talk with Charles. Wait for me in my room.”

I was frozen in place, unable to move.

“Lucy,” his hands cupped my cheeks once more, drawing my gaze to his. “Lucy, I need you to listen. Wait for me in my room. I’ll be less than two minutes. Are you hearing me?”

I nodded, petrified. Truth was, I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want to be anywhere near dark shadows. With Romeo talking with Charles, I made my way to the bedroom and sunk to the floor in the corner. I’d been out of Dominic’s clutches for five days, but I feared it was now coming to an end. Romeo rounded the corner at speed, and pulling his duffle bag from under the bed, he packed the few items on the bedside table.

He knelt in front, wearing a small smile to put me at ease. “Ready for an adventure?”

---