Page 132 of His Juliet

“Now, tell me why you think Romeo doesn’t want you anymore, and I’ll tell you why you’re wrong.”

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “I’m probably just being silly. I haven’t heard from him much the past few days.” I took a sip of the margarita and was reminded of the last time I drank alcohol—that first night with Romeo in the bookstore.

“That has nothing to do with you.” Sienna’s voice was gentle. “He got roped into some work with Leona.”

I kept my face blank, not wanting to give away that I’d seen the article about them. “Who’s Leona?”

“Oh, she’s the top assassin in the Irish Mob.”

I blinked. “What?” I apparently needed to confront my prejudices because I would never have looked at Leona and thought she was an assassin.

“She’s also a spy and thief. That’s what her and Romeo are working on now. I don’t have the details, just that Matteo wants Leona to help them find the Butcher, and part of the agreement was that Romeo would help her with a job she’s doing for Ronan—the head of the Irish Mob.”

“Oh, okay.”

Romeo had spent the past four days with a gorgeous assassin-spy-thief? No wonder he wasn’t dying to come home or even talk with me on the phone.

I must not have sounded convincing, because a small crease formed between Sienna’s eyes. “There’s nothing going on between him and Leona, I promise. He used to be a bit of a playboy, but he’s always been one of the most loyal people I know. I’ve never seen him this obsessed with anyone, or this happy. He’s all in with you, Juliet.”

I tried to let her words sink in, but after a life of abandonment, they just bounced off me.

I plastered a smile on my face and hung out with Sienna for another thirty minutes before I lied and told her I was heading to bed.

Back in the apartment, I tried to find something to distract myself from my dark thoughts. From the first moment we met, I’d known I didn’t fit with Romeo. He was sexy and dangerous. Seeing him beside Leona just made sense. Why would he ever be interested in me when he could have a woman like that?

61

ROMEO

If I never saw anotherfucking piece of art again, it would be too soon.

Four days of planning had finally led us to this moment. Leona’s hacker had successfully disabled the house’s security, and the owner—a black market art dealer—had left earlier today for the Hamptons.

“I’m going to freeze my ass off,” I grumbled.

“Damn, you’re such a baby. It’s not even that cold.”

Leona was dressed in a black, skintight suit. I wore a less-tight black tactical uniform.

“My fingers are frozen.”

Leona just rolled her eyes. “Come on. The sooner we do this, the sooner you’ll get back to your girl.”

My heart ached with missing Juliet. Leona and I had spent the last few nights staking out this home and the days planning our burglary, meaning I hadn’t even gotten to talk to Juliet on the phone.

I clenched my teeth to keep them from chattering. “Just know I’m never doing you a favor again.”

We headed to the edge of the roof and set up our harnesses and gear. We’d gone over every way to enter the brownstone before coming to the unfortunate conclusion that rappelling from the roof was the best way to get inside.

“You ready, lover boy?” Leona asked, eyes gleaming. The more time I spent with the Irish assassin, the more I saw how truly dangerous she was.

“Ready.”

* * *

Leonaand I got into the dark SUV. Her driver, Aidan, gave her a nod and pulled away from the curb.

“That was too easy.” Leona was practically pouting, the wrapped piece of art resting on her lap.

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