Page 13 of His Juliet

I hung up as I got off the elevator. Sienna and I shared this floor and she had decorated my apartment, making it look like someone actually lived here. But as I slipped inside, silence the only thing greeting me, I felt empty.

6

ROMEO

I threw backanother glass of scotch, but no amount of alcohol could touch the swirling darkness inside me.

It was almost noon by the time I got back to my apartment. I should have gone to bed after showering, but instead, I sat on the fire escape and stared out at the city, watching the light change as the sun made its way across the sky.

My hands were numb from the cold.

At some point I’d tried crocheting to see if that would settle my mind, but I’d ended up throwing the entire project over the side of the fire escape in a fit of frustrated rage.

I couldn’t get the sights, sounds, the fuckingsmellof that place out of my mind. The brokenness in those girls’ eyes mirrored what I’d seen in my mamma’s eyes decades earlier. They all deserved so much better. They deserved to have been found faster… for none of this to have happened in the first place.

I didn’t want to feel this powerlessness and regret. Ineededto not feel. But none of my usual standbys—fighting, fucking, or drinking—were appealing.

Brilliant green eyes and a soft smile filled my mind, and I suddenly knew where I needed to be. With her.

I was moving before I’d even made a decision.

I headed to the garage, but skipped taking a car. I didn’t want to invite any question about where I was going. I also might have been atouchdrunk. I rode the train downtown like a fucking model citizen and then I was in front of Olive Branch Bookshop. It looked warm and inviting, luring me inside. The store was still open for another couple of hours so I wouldn’t have Juliet to myself, but just knowing I was near her was already soothing the rawness inside me.

The door chimed as I walked in. I got a few startled glances from people browsing the shelves, but I ignored them. I was here for one reason.

I frowned when Juliet wasn’t at the register and it hit me—what if she wasn’t working today? I ran my hand through my hair, my skin crawling with agitation. Obviously she couldn’t be the only employee, but Ineededto see her. I didn’t understand why. All I knew was nothing would feel right until I was in Juliet’s presence.

I wound through the aisles, heart pounding, until I found her in the children’s section towards the back of the store. I let out a deep breath, feeling lightheaded with relief.

This area was bright and colorful, with quotes and art on the walls. Juliet was crouched down in front of two small boys who were squished together on a beanbag. They were absolutely captivated by her, eyes wide as she showed them two different picture books.

“I want the dinosaur one!” one boy shouted, holding out grabby hands.

“Here you go,” Juliet said, handing him the book. She turned to the second boy. “Do you want the unicorn one?”

The child looked conflicted. He leaned in towards her. “Are boys allowed to read about unicorns?”

Juliet let out a theatrical gasp. “Of course they are! Unicorn magic is for everyone.”

His face broke into a wide smile and took the book, looking at her like she was an angel. I was sure I wore an identical expression.

She stood and straightened a couple of books on the lower shelves before turning around. Her eyes widened and jaw dropped when she saw me. An involuntary smile spread across my face. Having her eyes on me waseverything.

“Hi, Juliet.”

She looked around, brow furrowed, as if she thought I was talking to another person named Juliet. “Romeo. You’re back.”

“I am.” Would it be weird to ask her to say my name again? Maybe. But I was determined to hear it from her lips before the night was over.

She inched closer, and my hands burned with the need to have her in my arms.

“Are you hiding from someone again?” she asked.

I shook my head, a tendril of anxiety tightening around my chest at the reminder of my close encounter with the Butcher. I didn’t want him on the same planet as Juliet, and I couldn’t wait to track him down and destroy him. Slowly. Painfully.

He would suffer for what he had put each and every one of his victims through.

But tonight, Juliet had my full focus.

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