Page 102 of Forbidden Romeo

“Do we?”

“Engaged to the same woman.”

“She’s wearing my ring,” I point out.

But Arnie ignores me and continues, “Both mediators to the two most powerful families in the Irish mob.”

“Is that what this is?”

“And we’re both bastards,” he finishes, using his bottle to salute me.

I frown at this. “You’re not legitimate?”

“Oh, I am. They just tell me I can be an asshole sometimes.”

I let out a long sigh. “Couldn’t imagine why.”

“Why did you call, Jack?”

“If we’re so similar, I would have thought you’d have figured it out.”

“I’d like to hear you say it,” Arnie says. “Because the fact you’re here means you’ve exhausted every other option.”

I chuckle at that. “You think I’m still trying to figure out who you are?”

His face drops a little.

“Arnold Knight,” I continue without missing a beat. “Leader of the disgraced Italian gang, the Novas, after all that business with the Lucas. Position kind of fell into your lap, didn’t it? No one left alive to pick up the mantle.”

“I manage,” he says, sitting back.

“No men, no home, no experience at leadership. You were a hitman before all this, right?”

“I prefer ‘assassin’. It’s sexier.”

Fuck, it’s hard not to like this guy.

“So, my question isn’t who you are,” I say, pointedly ignoring him. “It’s: why did you join the Maguires when the Duffys clearly have more to offer?”

“So, you’re here to recruit me?”

“I’m here to have a conversation.”

“Does Padraic know you’re here?”

“What Padraic doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“The rumors are true then.”

“Aw, has Connor been gossiping about me?”

“Connor likes… information.”

I practically grin at his hesitation. “Trouble in paradise?”

“He’s made some questionable decisions lately,” Arnie says, breaking the rhythm of our back and forth by looking over to the bar. I’m about to push him for more when his guard goes up again, and he turns back to me with a wry smile. “Not least, letting my fiancé fall into enemy hands.”

“Myfiancé,” I reply with emphasis. “Would hardly call me an enemy.”

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