Page 8 of A Moment Too Soon

“Who?” Arden asks with her laptop, ready to start typing.

“Jerome Lombardi,” I tell her.

“Oh fuck,” Levi says, understanding. “He already paid?”

“What’s oh fuck?” Jett asks.

“Two-point-five million,” I say.

“Jesus…” Wilder says.

“Will someone explain?” Jett snaps.

“Jett, Jerome is a very well known mafia boss who is… untouchable. This isn’t like with Caleb, where we could just hunt him down. This is… bad.”

“Very bad,” Arden says. “Have you met him before?”

“Once before. He was at the house last week,” I say. “I found it odd because he… didn’t fuck me. Usually when another man comes in the house, that’s the first thing that happens.”

“What did he do?” Levi asks.

“He ate me out… for hours,” I say. “That’s it. Even Garrett thought it was odd. He was nice, all things considered. He actually called me by my name rather than just calling me whore or skank. Garrett wouldn’t let me speak freely, but I did answer a few questions about my age and education.”

“He was going to marry you,” Wilder says. “I know of him, but I’ve never personally met him. Jerome isn’t… Of all the people that you could get sold to, he would be the ideal one. I know that sounds stupid, but he doesn’t hurt women. All of the women he has had are seemingly happy and cared for. They have freedom and aren’t secluded from family. He definitely buys them, though.”

“I’m not really understanding why,” Jett says.

“Jerome wants a wife… and an heir,” I tell him.

“You mean to tell me that Garrett took two-point-five million dollars from the most well-known mafia boss so he could marry and breed you… but forgot to mention he forced you to have a hysterectomy?” Jett asks.

“Mhmm,” I say. Jett laughs heartily, and I smile at him. “No one ever said Garrett was smart.”

“He made you have a hysterectomy?” Levi asks.

“Yeah. A few years ago,” I say. “I’ve come to terms with it. Jett and I don’t want kids anyhow.”

“Hey, no period club,” Macie says with a grin. “The only perk of falling down a flight of stairs and having your placenta detach during labor months later is the emergency hysterectomy.”

“No periods is nice,” I laugh.

“Okay… Well, I was going to offer a plan to kill Garrett, but it sounds like this will be fairly easy,” Levi says. “Go to the cabin that Wilder and Macie own. Garrett seems like a bit of a dumbass, so he shouldn’t be able to track you there. That will keep him off your ass. There’s a one hundred percent chance that Jerome will find you up there.”

“Why would we…” Jett starts to ask.

“Jerome is fucking ruthless and will kill anyone without blinking, but he does not hurt innocent people,” Wilder says. “I will happily front the money plus a little for his inconvenience. When he shows up, cooperate and tell him the truth. Do not fight him or lie. The moment you see his face, tell him that Garrett lied to him. To him, he paid for you. You belong to him, but you are not who he is looking for. I have full confidence that he will be reasonable. Not to say he won’t push the limits of consent for fun, but as long as you are open and honest, you’ll be safe.”

“So I am expected to just sit there and watch him fuck her?” Jett snaps.

“At least you know he won’t knock her up,” Arden says with a shrug. I burst out laughing but slap my hand over my mouth, making the others laugh with me.

“Smartass,” Jett frowns at Arden.

“Oh, fuck off,” Arden laughs. “Look, man. He isn’t going to hurt her. I have actually met Jerome.”

“You have?” Levi asks.

“Oh, I think I have too,” Macie says. “Was he the really tall dude that broke that one guy’s arm when we went to Club Twelve?”

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