Page 91 of His Juliet

“Yes.”

He fixed me with a stern look. “Are you lying to me, Juliet?”

I shook my head. “I’ll be okay.”

He leaned in closer and I breathed him in. “I’m terrified of coming back here and finding you bleeding out. I just… can you promise me that you won’t hurt yourself? I can’t…” He swallowed hard and rested his forehead against mine. “I can’t handle seeing you like that, angel. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you never feel like that again.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart aching. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”

His tone was as firm as his grip on me. “What did I say about apologizing?”

“I’m still sorry for scaring you. I won’t do it again. It had been a long time since I’d done that. Things just got to be too much yesterday.”

“I know what happened is my fault.”

I shook my head, but he pressed his fingers to my lips to stop me from arguing.

“No, it is, and that fucking kills me. But I swear, Juliet, I will never make you feel like that again. I need you to promise me you won’t hurt yourself.”

It had been so long since anyone cared about me like this, and it was overwhelming. “I have a whole list of coping skills now.” The corner of Romeo’s lip curled into a smile, and mine matched his. “I promise I’ll do my very best.”

We both took deep, shuddering breaths as we held each other.

Romeo gave my hair a gentle tug. “Come on, I think we have time for one Mario Kart tournament before I meet with Matteo.”

46

ROMEO

My skin crawledas I rode the elevator to Matteo’s office, and it had nothing to do with facing his fury, which was inevitable, but everything to do with leaving Juliet. I’d tucked her under blankets on the couch with a snack and hot chocolate. She’d teased me for fussing over her and assured me she would be fine, but my fingers curled around my phone to make sure I didn’t miss it if she texted or called.

I hesitated at the office door. I didn’t like upsetting Matteo and wanted him to accept Juliet as mine.

I knocked. The faster we settled this, the sooner I could get back to my girl.

“Come in.”

Matteo was sitting behind his desk, a massive window showing the New York skyline behind him. It was snowing, and I wondered if Juliet might want to go into the private courtyard or rooftop to play in the snow. It seemed like something she would like if she felt comfortable enough to leave the apartment. Maybe I could help her create some more safe spaces.

“Romeo.”

I stopped in front of his desk. There was no chair for me to sit in.

His fingers were steepled in front of him. “You had an assignment—monitor the Serbians. You abandoned your post.”

I nodded, jaw clenched.

The Don held my gaze, his expression blank, and then he sat back in his chair with a sigh. “I understand why you did it. But it can’t go unpunished.”

My heart pounded wildly in my chest even as I kept my expression blank. “You can’t separate us or send her away.” I took a step towards him. “The Albanians know about her. She needs me, and I need her here.” I didn’t want to betray Juliet’s confidence by sharing what happened yesterday, what she had done, but I needed him to understand the severity of the situation.

Matteo scrubbed his hand down his face and swore. “When did our lives become so complicated? I’m not going to send her away.”

My shoulders sagged with relief.

“The ring. Tonight,” he said.

I had disobeyed him. He couldn’t let that slide, even for his second-in-command. I would take whatever punishment he dished out happily as long as I could keep Juliet by my side.

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