Page 162 of Brooklyn Cupid

“Good.”

“Good?”

“Yes. Good. Finally. You sorted things out then, right?”

Here’s the thing with Roey. He might act like a dick, but he’s supportive of Lu and me. And that’s taking into account that he’s a womanizer and caps his new friendships after one night.

“I’m not going back to California,” I say. “Well, unless Lu throws a fit when I tell her about her father. And I will, Roey. There’s no other way. Even though he threatened me.”

“You’ve been to a war zone, Jace.” Roey chuckles, his voice unusually relaxed. “You know that when you are threatened, you make sure you have a good defense.”

“So, you’re not mad at me for losing the assignment?”

“Jesus, we didn’t lose anything yet. We are not going to cross Gordon. We are just going to get to Reznik and see what services we can provide for him.”

“And get killed by him?”

“Don’t be dramatic. We are businessmen. Our business is without casualties. We mostly do stuff by the book. Trust me, a man like Reznik will find our services useful. If it’s any consolation, this is the most fucked up yet the most interesting assignment I’ve ever had. Kudos to you.”

Fuck, Roey might be the most reasonable guy I’ve ever met. When it comes to work, not women, that is.

“Let’s chat at the gallery tonight, yeah?” he asks.

“Sure. That works.”

“And Jace? Honestly? I’m glad to finally see you happy. You deserve it. You just need to make this work with Lu. And Seth Gordon can fuck off.”

I fucking love this guy.

“Hey!”

I turn around to see Lu smile at me. I take the bags out of her hands and do my best to smile back.

The richest man on the East Coast just told me I can’t be with her and is digging a grave for me. But there’s no chance in hell I’m leaving her. Reznik is dangerous. She doesn’t know it. Nor does she know that the night we met wasn’t a coincidence. I’m so fucking in love with this girl that I can fight an army of Seth Gordons and Rezniks as long as she lets me stay by her side.

For that, I need to unwrap one last lie.

I might ruin this with her, but if there’s one thing she deserves, finally, it’s the whole truth. It’s also the only thing that might save us.

Her smile is finally more cheerful. “Can you help me to the gallery with all this stuff?”

“Sure.” I take a deep breath. “Lu, I need to tell you something. And I need you to promise me that you will take time thinking it over and not get mad at me.”

Her smile disappears. “You can’t come to the exhibit?”

“I’mabsolutelycoming to the exhibit.”

“Are you leaving the city?” Her eyes search my face.

“Absolutely not.”

“Does it have to do with your job?”

“Yes.”

“Something you didn’t tell me?”

“Yes.” I meet her eyes and lean over to kiss her forehead, gathering all the courage I have to make things right. “I need to tell you how I met your father.”

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