Page 2 of His Broken Queen

“So do you.” I glanced at Mike who seemed to be a little overwhelmed in this environment. Stella told me he was a play-by-the-rules accountant who didn’t understand Romero’s world. I couldn’t blame him. I lived it and I didn’t always understand it. “Are you having a good time?”

“We are,” she said. “Everything is fantastic.”

“I agree.” Mike held up his drink. “I might need another.”

“I’ll walk you to the bar.” When Romero placed his arm around Mike’s shoulders, Mike jumped. “You look like you could use another drink.”

“Be gentle with him.” Stella laughed.

“I’ll be back soon.” Romero kissed my cheek. “I’ll make sure you get your champagne too.”

“Thank you.” I kissed him. “Hurry back.”

“You can count on it.” When Romero smirked, I knew he was thinking about me not walking tomorrow.

“Is Mike okay?” I asked.

“He’s fine.” Stella set her glass down on the table. “He’s not used to so many large, intimidating men in one room.”

“You get used to it.” I looked around. “Romero is sitting on a gold mine here.”

“Mike said that too.”

“Wouldn’t it be something if he could leave everything else behind and run this place full-time?”

“Instead of his full-time job?” She glanced in Romero and Gio’s direction. They were huddled in the corner, probably talking about that other business. “Do you think he’s capable of being a legit businessman?”

“I think he’s capable of anything he puts his mind to, but he’ll never relinquish the control he has in his world.”

As much as I wished we could walk away from this life, I’d come to terms with the revelation that Romero becoming untangled with organized crime wasn’t an option. The club was a safe place in my thoughts. If we had this, maybe we could break free one day.

“How does that make you feel?”

“As long as I have him, I don’t care what he does for a living.”

“He absolutely adores you. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

“I’ve never been this happy either.”

“You both deserve it.” She hugged me. “I love how he lights up when he sees or talks about you. Be good to one another.”

“We will.”

“I better go rescue my husband.”

“Thank you for being here.” I hugged her a little longer, hoping she knew how much I needed and appreciated her. “It means so much.”

“Where else would I be?”

As Stella walked away, Aria joined me with a fresh bottle of champagne. I looked around for Romero, but he seemed to have disappeared into the crowd. I didn’t know Aria well, but there was something off about her. She gave me a weird vibe. Almost as if she didn’t like me.

“Your impatient husband said your glass shouldn’t be empty.” She poured some into my flute. “Are you having a good time?”

“Yes.” I sipped the champagne. “Thank you.”

“Well, you are the guest of honor.” She placed the bottle in an ice bucket at the end of my table. “Although, there doesn’t appear to be many of your friends or family here. Mostly Romero’s muscle and some of his associates.”

How observant of you.

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