Page 22 of His Juliet

“As if,” I scoffed. There was no world where I could imagine myself leaving the Family and going legitimate. Working outside the law was too much fun. “I just need information about one particular business.”

“Uh huh,” she said, setting her tea down and grabbing her laptop. “And what business is this?”

“Olive Branch Bookstore.”

I ate my cookies while she typed on her computer.

“Okay. Olive Branch Bookstore. Owned by Arturo Prati. They’ve owned the bookstore for several generations and have always had ties with the Family.”

I grunted. “Can you see if they had a rent increase recently?”

“You have got to clue me in on what’s going on here,” she said.

“The other night I had to hide in that bookstore to escape the Butcher. I saw a letter that they had a rental increase and I thought I’d look into it as a thank you.”

Sienna tapped her long nails against her keyboard. “Well, that’s considerate of you. You must have been bored hiding out there if you started going through their mail. Alright, I do see a ten percent increase in rent.”

“Is that a lot?”

She shrugged. “Not like I’ve ever paid rent.”

Talk about living in different worlds. Juliet had to worry about money, and judging by the shitty apartment building she lived in, she didn’t have a lot of it. It was unfair. Why should I have unlimited funds when Juliet was stressed about bookstore rent?

I ran my hand through my hair. “Can we reverse it? Lower the rent? She can’t pay it.”

“She? Who is she?” Sienna’s eyes lit up, and I cursed myself for my slip. “Now we’re getting somewhere,” she said, rubbing her hands together.

I tried to play off my mistake. “She is just the bookstore manager. Arturo is retired.”

“How do you know he’s retired?”

Fucking hell. I was usually better at evading questions than this.

“The manager might have been there the other night.”

“Ahh, so you want to make sure the cute bookseller doesn’t have to pay more rent.”

I crossed my arms. “How do you know she’s cute?”

Sienna just laughed. “I didn’t. I can adjust their rent in the system and mail her an official letter letting her know.”

“Thanks,” I said with a glare.

“I think you mean,thanks, you’re the best, smartest, prettiest hacker in the world.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Maybe I’ll go to this bookstore. Check it out.”

I stood to leave. “Stay out of it, Sienna. Leave the bookstore alone.”

“Whatever you say.”

* * *

I returned to my apartment,my resolve firm.

Romeo

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