Page 134 of Forbidden Romeo

The gold band in my hand suddenly feels too heavy, and I place it on the side. Aimee on the rooftop, Aimee in the infinity pool.

I clear my throat, “I have a report.”

“You weren’t assigned anything to report on,” Padraic informs me as if that’s the end of the conversation.

But I stand my ground. “Have you heard anything about a bunch of guys in black coats?”?”

“Why are you hiring them?” Padraic scoffs.

“Who do they work for?”

Padraic shrugs, throwing his rag down and turning his attention to the blade itself. “They’re an imported mercenary group. I can’t remember who brought them over, but I imagine they’re dead now. The ‘black coats’ are only happy as long as you pay them and they aren’t above screwing you over for the next highest bidder.”

“They tried to kill me.”

Padraic snorts. “Who would anyone pay that kind of money to have you killed?”

“I guess someone who was bored of waiting for me to die in the ring,” I counter bitterly.

It’s the wrong thing to say. Padraic puts down his knife to look at me properly. “You die in that ring, you disgrace this family. Haven’t you done enough damage?”

I feel my jaw tense. “Father.” I watch as Padraic flinches at the name. “They came for us both, me and Roisin. They knew where we were and that we’d be alone.”

“The Maguires have a funny way of settling their scores,” Padraic says dismissively.

“You said it yourself, the ‘black coats’ only answer to the highest bidder,” I point out. “When was the last time the Maguires had that kind of money? Besides, Roisin says her brother wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Her brother murdered yours, or did you forget that along with your pride when you started fucking that whore?”

“Don’t. Call her that.”

Padraic brushes me off with a wave of his hand. “I know who Connor Maguire is. He’s a power-hungry little shit who will do anything to make his mark. Yourfianceehasn’t seen him in years.”

“Brute said that rumors have been circulating about a Maguire/Duffy alliance,” I say as evenly as I can. This is why I’m here, to do my duty to my family, then I can leave. “If people see our marriage as a threat, we could have a war on our hands.”

“What’s that pissant biker got to do with anything?”

“Bruteand his men helped us escape the ‘black cloaks.’”

“You needed help from a biker gang?” Padraic’s face twists in distaste.

I blink.That’swhat he cares about? “They came at us with a helicopter!”

“I don’t care if the ‘black coats’ came at you in a fucking tank, Jack. You deal with it, and you don’t run around owing favors to that mindless swarm of Italian leftovers.”

“They saved our lives.”

“That was your mistake.” Padraic raises his voice. “You keep disappearing from the mansion without any kind of backup; of course, you’re going to get attacked.”

“Because I don’t trust any of your men to have my back!” I argue back.

“Not my problem.”

I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Then what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Don’t you dare ask me that question, boy,” Padraic snarls. “You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out.”

It’s like I’m a petulant teenager, and he’s scolding me for being late to Mass.

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