Page 39 of Forbidden Romeo

Kate furrows her brow. “How stealthy are we talking?”

“Snuck up on me,” I admit, albeit bitterly.

Kate nods in understanding, considering she’s the only person who’s been able to do that before. “Sounds a bit like Arnold Knight.”

“Arnie?” Buzz pipes up. “He’s a hit man, not a mobster.”

“Aye, but his uncle was Tony Nova,” Padraic mutters. “Kate. Set me up a call with the Italians. I want to know what’s left of the Novas.”

“I thought they’d all been hunted down,” I say, wracking my brain for the details of their recent demise at the hands of the Lucas.

“Clearly, not all of them,” Padraic snaps at me without bothering to look my way.

Kate seems to sense the tension and steps in. “But even if the Novas are aligning themselves with the Maguires… that can’t pose much of a threat. The state both their families are in…”

“Families are always at their most hair-triggered when they’ve got nothing left to lose,” Andy says slowly before turning to address Padraic directly. “Both the Novas and the Maguires will be fighting for their lives on the ground. It would be wise not to underestimate them.”

“Complacency is what got Graham killed, after all,” Buzz says with a pointed look at me.

I try not to seethe on the spot. “May I suggest leading a search party for this Arnie person? He seemed interested in making contact with me specifically; I think I could draw him out.”

“You are dismissed, Jack,” Padraic cuts across me like a knife.

I blink. “But I can help—”

“You are dismissed.”

I look at Padraic in disbelief. Surely he knows I have a tactical advantage in this situation? He’s never sacrificed the success of the family to take it out on someone like this before. Hell, he even found a use forMorrisin his ranks.

But as I search for an ally among my father’s closest ranks, I find nothing but unreadable reservation—or, in Buzz’s case, delight.

“Fine,” I say through my teeth and turn on my heel.

As I leave the conference room, I check my phone. Hoping that perhaps Aimee had a chance to call. Hoping she might, at the very least, provide a distraction for the pounding anger currently reverberating in my skull.

Instead, I see a message from Raymond.

RAY:I heard you got yourself caught at Padraic’s hotel.

JACK:I didn’t snitch on you, if that’s what you’re worried about.

RAY:Will you be trying again?

JACK:Why?

RAY:Our friend just checked into Coney Island Amusement Park.

Chapter Ten

Jack

If anyone asks, I invited Aimee to Coney Island because Ray pointed out I’d stick out like a sore thumb if I went on my own. Big Irish guy stalking the attractions and stalls on his own? Creepy as fuck. Big Irish guy taking a girl on a date to one of the most popular places this side of the East River, on the other hand? The way I see it, this is a two-birds-one-stone operation.

I watch her from a distance, leaning casually against a low wall and scrolling through her phone. She arrived almost ten minutes ago, looking even more stunning than when I left her naked in the pool this morning—a feat I wasn’t sure anyone would ever be able to accomplish.

She’s also completely oblivious to the fact that I’ve been watching her. Obviously, I didn’t want to seem like I arrived too early. For one, it would make me look a bit desperate, and two, I needed to climb a fire escape to survey the areabeforewe met. It isn’t really “agent” behavior.

Lying to Aimee leaves a bad taste on my tongue, and I dislike both the fact and the realization. But it’s not like she’s the most forthcoming with her own truths, either.

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