Page 152 of Forbidden Romeo

Despite the weariness we all seem to share, the men look at Jack in admiration, seemingly keen to ask him a hundred questions about this new faction of the mob and how he intends to lead it. But the best part is the way Jack is looking back at them—he’s tired and he’s hurt, but he’s thinking. I can almost hear his mental wheels turning, bursting with ideas to form and reform this new organization. Sixteen people against the Dead Eyes… but with Jack, I think there’s a chance.

I take the opportunity to step in. “However, tonight you are all prescribed bed rest. So, if you’ll excuse us…”

Jack looks at me with a grateful smile, even though the men seem equally as thrilled by this announcement.

I help Jack up, even though he stubbornly insists on walking by himself, and we slowly make our way to the room Kate assigned to us.

Despite being underground, I’m pleasantly surprised by the amount of light Kate has managed to wire into this place. The decor is earthy and inviting, and it takes Jack all of two seconds to collapse onto the bed.

I don’t bother undressing before falling down right next to him.

We lie together in silence for a moment, both of us presumably thinking over the last 24 hours. It’s not until I turn my head to see Jack staring at me that I realize I may have taken a little too long.

“What are you worried about?”

I wince a little. “Everything?”

He chuckles, a little wryly. “You’re not the only one,Chroí. You worry to me, I’ll worry to you, and we’ll keep the family—our family—from worrying at all.”

“It’s just… everyone knows I’m not Roisin now. What if people start looking for her again? What ifConnorstarts looking for her again?”

“We won’t let that happen to her,” Jack says, squeezing me a little. “If we get even the slightest notion that people might be after her, we’ll bring her down here.”

I bite my lip.

“What is it?”

“Should we have picked her up already? I mean, who knows how dangerous it is out there for her now? I mean–”

Jack silences me with a kiss. “Once we’ve gotten a secured line available, you can call her and catch her up on everything. Then she can make her own choices.”Besides, I thought you wanted her to have a normal life?”

“I do,” I concede. “I just wish it wasn’t this complicated.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Jack says, empathy lacing his words.

I rest my forehead against him. “I just miss her, that’s all.”

“You’ll see her again, I promise,” Jack says, holding out his pinky finger.

I smile at his childishness and take his finger in mine. “I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Duffy.”

“Oh,Chroí,I’m counting on it.”

***

THANK YOU FOR READING FORBIDDEN ROMEO

DON’T MISS THE FREE SIZZLING BONUS CHAPTER

EXCLUSIVE FREE BONUS CHAPTER

Jack lowers his face closer to mine, but I place a hand in front of his lips. “Please tell me you didn’t clear out the meeting so that you could fuck me in private.”

“I thought we already established,Chroí,”he says, bypassing my hand and kissing me anyway. “I’m not going to share you with anyone.”

“Jack…” I groan, already feeling my cheeks color again. “Someone will walk in.”

He pulls away with a mischievous grin. “Actually, I have a surprise for you.”

---