His Juliet: An Age Gap Hurt Comfort Mafia Romance (Empire of Royals Book 2)

I threw back another glass of scotch, but no amount of alcohol could touch the swirling darkness inside me.

It was almost noon by the time I got back to my apartment. I should have gone to bed after showering, but instead, I sat on the fire escape and stared out at the city, watching the light change as the sun made its way across the sky.

My hands were numb from the cold.

At some point I’d tried crocheting to see if that would settle my mind, but I’d ended up throwing the entire project over the side of the fire escape in a fit of frustrated rage.

I couldn’t get the sights, sounds, the fucking smell of that place out of my mind. The brokenness in those girls’ eyes mirrored what I’d seen in my mamma’s eyes decades earlier. They all deserved so much better. They deserved to have been found faster… for none of this to have happened in the first place.

I didn’t want to feel this powerlessness and regret. I needed to not feel. But none of my usual standbys—fighting, fucking, or drinking—were appealing.

Brilliant green eyes and a soft smile filled my mind, and I suddenly knew where I needed to be. With her.

I was moving before I’d even made a decision.

I headed to the garage, but skipped taking a car. I didn’t want to invite any question about where I was going. I also might have been a touch drunk. I rode the train downtown like a fucking model citizen and then I was in front of Olive Branch Bookshop. It looked warm and inviting, luring me inside. The store was still open for another couple of hours so I wouldn’t have Juliet to myself, but just knowing I was near her was already soothing the rawness inside me.

The door chimed as I walked in. I got a few startled glances from people browsing the shelves, but I ignored them. I was here for one reason.

I frowned when Juliet wasn’t at the register and it hit me—what if she wasn’t working today? I ran my hand through my hair, my skin crawling with agitation. Obviously she couldn’t be the only employee, but I needed to see her. I didn’t understand why. All I knew was nothing would feel right until I was in Juliet’s presence.

I wound through the aisles, heart pounding, until I found her in the children’s section towards the back of the store. I let out a deep breath, feeling lightheaded with relief.

This area was bright and colorful, with quotes and art on the walls. Juliet was crouched down in front of two small boys who were squished together on a beanbag. They were absolutely captivated by her, eyes wide as she showed them two different picture books.

“I want the dinosaur one!” one boy shouted, holding out grabby hands.

“Here you go,” Juliet said, handing him the book. She turned to the second boy. “Do you want the unicorn one?”

The child looked conflicted. He leaned in towards her. “Are boys allowed to read about unicorns?”

Juliet let out a theatrical gasp. “Of course they are! Unicorn magic is for everyone.”

His face broke into a wide smile and took the book, looking at her like she was an angel. I was sure I wore an identical expression.

She stood and straightened a couple of books on the lower shelves before turning around. Her eyes widened and jaw dropped when she saw me. An involuntary smile spread across my face. Having her eyes on me was everything.

“Hi, Juliet.”

She looked around, brow furrowed, as if she thought I was talking to another person named Juliet. “Romeo. You’re back.”

“I am.” Would it be weird to ask her to say my name again? Maybe. But I was determined to hear it from her lips before the night was over.noveldrama

She inched closer, and my hands burned with the need to have her in my arms.

“Are you hiding from someone again?” she asked.

I shook my head, a tendril of anxiety tightening around my chest at the reminder of my close encounter with the Butcher. I didn’t want him on the same planet as Juliet, and I couldn’t wait to track him down and destroy him. Slowly. Painfully.

He would suffer for what he had put each and every one of his victims through.

But tonight, Juliet had my full focus.

“I needed a new book to read, and who better to recommend one than the best bookstore owner in the city?” Pretty sure the last time I read a book was last century, but she didn’t need to know that.

Juliet blushed and twisted her lips, trying not to smile. “What sort of book are you looking for?”

I bridged the space between us, curling the pink ends of her hair around my finger. Now I was close enough to breathe in her light strawberry vanilla scent.

“Whatever your favorite one is, pretty girl.”

Her brow furrowed, a cute little line forming between her eyes. “You’re here because you want to read my favorite book?”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“Nah. It’s as easy to believe as you hiding from some scary stranger because you’re too handsome.” She gave me a true smile, and it took my breath away.

The darkness in my soul settled. How was it that mere minutes in her presence made me feel alive again?

The chime of a bell caused Juliet to look over my shoulder, and I wanted to demand she put her eyes back on me.

“I need to get to the register. If you wait for a minute, I can get you some book recommendations.”

“Do your work, stellina. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her blush deepened and she brushed past me to head to the front desk where two guys in their twenties were waiting to pay. Possessiveness like I’d never felt before gripped me. No fucking way was I leaving Juliet alone with them. My jaw clenched as I followed her behind the desk. She jumped as I planted a firm hand on her hip. What she couldn’t see was the warning glare I gave both of the idiots who looked way too interested in her.

“Umm, this is an employee-only area,” she said.

I tightened my hold on her hip. “Do your work, baby. I already said I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Someone’s feeling very literal today.” When I still didn’t budge, she let out a sigh and turned back to the two guys.

“Is he bothering you?” Idiot One asked, glancing up at me. Up, because I had a good six inches on him. I gave him a sinister smile and he took a small step back.

Juliet hesitated before answering. “No, he’s okay.” She scanned the top book. “Great choice on this one. I really enjoyed it.”

“Oh, I know. I’ve already read it on my Kindle, but I needed to get the hard copy to have,” Idiot Two gushed. His eyes dipped to Juliet’s perfect tits, and I saw red.

“Watch where you’re looking,” I snapped, pulling her so she was flush with my body. Juliet elbowed my stomach, but I didn’t flinch. She huffed and finished the transaction, wishing them a good evening as they scurried out of the store.

The second they were gone, she spun around to face me. “What was that?”

Warmth settled inside me again, now that her eyes were back on me. It didn’t even matter that her arms were crossed and she was scowling.

“Well?” she prompted. I’d been too busy cataloguing every bit of her perfection to realize she was waiting for a response.

I shrugged. “Just didn’t like how they were looking at you.”

“They weren’t even looking at me. We were making small talk.”

I grunted in disagreement.

Juliet looked mildly exasperated. “Let’s get you a book.”

If she thought finding me a book was going to make me go away, she was absolutely mistaken. I felt alive when I was in Juliet’s presence and didn’t have the strength to leave.