Page 135 of His Juliet

By the timeI was slammed back to the ground, my stomach roiled with nausea from being swung around and my hair was plastered to my tear-stained face with sweat.

The bag was unzipped, and I was forced onto my knees. The tape stung painfully as it was ripped off my face. Deep, ragged breaths shook my chest while I squinted against the bright light. My heart sank as I realized where I was.

Inside a fucking airplane.

No no no.

It was obviously a private plane because the seats were large and spaced out. Men with guns and cruel faces surrounded me, but only one was sitting down, and I was kneeling right in front of him. He was an imposing man with a thick, muscular body and a bald head. He leaned back in his seat, legs spread, eyes fixed on me. A bolt of recognition hit me as I stared at him.

“I… I know you,” I said hoarsely.

“I’m glad to know I’m memorable.” His heavy gaze felt like ants crawling on my skin.

“You came into the bookstore.” I remembered him for his size and accent. He’d briefly been at the signing, but the first time he came into the store, he purchased a book on…

Holy shit.

The book had been about the history of the New York City subway system. The Albanians had been moving underground all this time, and I sold him the map of the tunnels.

The man laughed. “Are you putting it together, Juliet? Who knew I would find the answer to all my problems right inside your little bookstore?”

Hearing my name on his lips made me sick.

“What do you want from me?”

“You are the answer to my problems. You are the one who will restore our clan to our rightful place in the world.”

This man was crazy. He must have confused me with someone else.

“Romeo will find me.” I forced myself to keep my head high and my eyes on his. I wouldn’t cower.

His chuckle was a sinister, horrible sound. “Why would he rescue you when he was the one who gave you to us?”

My brain stuttered.

What?

No.

“Oh, she thinks the Italian really loved her. Hisstellina.” His men joined in, laughing. “He must have played his part very convincingly. Or maybe you’re just a gullible bitch who’s deluded enough to believe a man like Romeo De Luca could actually love you.”

No no no.

Waves of dizziness assaulted me, twisting my stomach. Sweat prickled across my skin.

This couldn’t be true. He said…

He said he loved me.

“Haven’t you ever wondered how Romeo found himself in your bookstore? Didn’t you think it was odd that a man like him—rich and powerful—would be interested in someone likeyou, a sad, pathetic, fat bitch? I tracked him to the bookstore that night. At first, I thought it was just a place for him to hide, but when he returned, I started wondering what kept him coming back. And then I figured it out.”

I didn’t want to hear another word this man had to say. Internally, I was screaming, but outside, my face was blank. I focused on the sensation of the hard metal handcuffs digging into my wrists. The pain centered me, keeping me from completely falling to pieces.

“Did you know I’m a triplet?” he continued. “My father tattooed us as babies so we would always know our birth order.” He pulled up his pant leg, revealing a faded blue “2” tattooed on his calf. “Thanas was my older brother by seven minutes, so he was raised to take over for our father as Krye. I was his underboss, his Kryetar. And our younger brother, Mihal, was the enforcer. That was until Thanas mether. Hana. He gave it all up—our family, ourdestiny—for some pussy.” He spat on the ground. “My dear brother faked his own death, and I ascended as ruler of the clan. But I knew my brother. I knew he was out there somewhere. It took me several years to locate him, but finding people has always been my skill.” He paused for dramatic effect, rubbing his hands together.

I refused to engage with him. I stared at where my knees dug into the dingy carpet.

His jaw clenched as he continued his story. “I tracked them to New York City and made my plan. I still remember the fear in his eyes as he begged me to spare his wife’s life. It’s one of my best memories—having my useless older brother, the man who was supposed to be Krye, sniveling on his knees before me.”

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