Page 9 of Summer Lovin'

“Do we have to go back to the resort?” I know my father and Peter. They’ll be looking for us, even if Peter didn’t know Johnny Romero’s name. It won’t take much for them to figure out who is missing and which vehicle is gone. If we go back onto the property, I know my father will be waiting.

Johnny gently brushes my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Sweet Jesus, baby girl. I’m sorry I didn’t come for you years ago. I had no idea it was this bad.”

“It’s okay, but if we could leave tonight, it will be easier on both of us.”

“Let me call Mercado and then we’ll go.” Romero places his phone on the dashboard and hits the speaker.

“Where are you?” Frankie’s voice is hoarse and strained.

“What’s going on?” Romero’s brow furrows.

“Those fucking assholes jumped Jesus.” Frankie growls, loud male voices yelling in the background.

“What?” Romero says at the same time I gasp and slap my hands over my mouth, “Oh my god! This is all my fault. We have to go back.”

“That’s not a good idea,mamacita.”

A male voice barks over the phone. “Julianna?”

“Yes?” I glance up at Romero.

“This is Paco Mercado. We haven’t met, but my boys have told me what I need to know. You coming back here would be a big mistake. I’m sorry to say, but your father is out of his mind, and I don’t think it’s safe right now.”

“I know, but he won’t stop if he thinks you’re standing in his way. We have to come back. I have to go home, or this will only get worse.”

Paco scoffs. “Listen up,mija. Do you love my godson half as much as my boys say he loves you?”

“I…” I lock eyes with Romero, my heart breaking all over again at the thought of losing him. “More.”

“That makes you family, which means you fall under our protection. I’m not afraid of your father—none of us are—so the best thing you can do for all of us right now is stay with Romero far away from here.”

Romero nods his agreement as he strokes my hair. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”

Frankie breaks in. “Nah, man. We’re at the cabin now. Jesus is bloodied and bruised, but he’ll heal. We’re packing up and heading home tonight—the sheriff insists. Besides, if we don’t get outta here, I’m killing Ty.”

“Alright. We’ll head home. I’m going to leave my truck in the garage.” Romero sighs.

“You know how to get inside.”

“I do. Call me when you get home.”

“Will do.”

The line goes dead while Romero and I stare at each other. “I’m so sorry,” I whimper. I didn’t mean to bring this to his doorstep. He got out of here, away from the drama, and after a few minutes with me, I dragged his family right back into the bullshit.

“This isn’t your fault, Jules. Don’t you remember all the fights we had in high school? Frankie beat Ty’s ass multiple times back then. I don’t know what it’s been like since I’ve been gone, and it kills me that I wasn’t here to protect you, but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

* * *

It’s late. After dropping Romero’s truck off at the garage, we’ve checked into a hotel on the outskirts of town.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go by your house and grab some stuff?” he asks.

I shake my head vehemently. “My father will be alerted as soon as we pull up to the house, and nothing there is worth letting him know where I am.” I don’t have my purse or my cell phone, although my driver’s license is thankfully in my back pocket. I wasn’t allowed credit cards—only cash—which means I have less than twenty dollars on my body. When I’m safe and settled, I’ll hit up Rosie and let her know where I am because I know she won’t rat me out.

I slump into the chair and glance around our suite, complete with a tiny kitchenette. Am I truly free and with the love of my life? Tears fill my eyes as a sense of relief rushes through my limbs. Slowly, I feel lighter than I have in years, my heart swelling with the love I’ve been without for so long.

And yet, a dark cloud looms overhead. The same dark cloud haunting me for the last five years. I know, better than anyone, how tentative freedom can be.

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