Page 27 of Under His Watch

“Romeo has been supervising surveillance on our enemies,” Dante said, full of authority, “and with this incident today, he will increase his effort in that regard.”

Please, please don’t expect me to leave him.I licked my lips, nervous as I watched Romeo stand there so serious and quiet, patient and open to listening to what I could decide.

The distance between us in this foyer felt too wide and far. The mere thought of being away from him hurt me. It tore at my mind and chipped at my vulnerable heart.

“Do you want to stay with me?” he asked.

I nodded, running toward him.

He held his arms open, and once I reached him, secure against his hard chest and hearing his heart beat steadily, I sighed with the basic and simple relief of knowing I was back where I thought I belonged.

With you.

11

ROMEO

“We need to go right now?” Tessa asked me.

“Yes.” I looked down into her dark-blue gaze, captivated all over again at the depth of trust that shone there. Nina and Tessa both confirmed that the truth was out about me. Tessa now knew that I was involved with the Mafia.

If learning that I’d killed those three men hadn’t scared her away, I worried that revealing my connection and importance to a Mafia organization might.

No worries there. So far.She’d run into my arms. That was a high sign that she wanted to be near me, not distance herself.

“We will stay in touch,” Nina promised. She reached out to grab Tessa’s hand and squeezed it, and I was damned glad that the blonde stayed tucked at my side. I didn’t see any reason to lower my arm, and keeping her close felt natural.

“I’ll ask Dante and Franco about our phones and whatnot.” Nina glanced at me as my father led her out the door. “Now that I know you’re with Romeo, I can reach you one way or another.”

“Yes. I feel like we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of catching up, mama-to-be.”

Nina’s smile was sweet and sincere, but she didn’t dally and try to linger with her best friend she’d only just gotten reacquainted with.

Once she was out the door, I caught my father’s eye and nodded at him. Before we came to the house, I told him that I’d move to a vacation house that wasn’t even under the Constella name. Most properties were hidden with shell corps showing as owners, but this one further out of the city was layered even further from discovery, willed to one of the old-timers who’d passed away several years ago. Like this house, the cabin had been sitting and neglected. The main perk about the place was the extensive network of surveillance cameras and tech capacity that could be started up again. Franco likely had already sent someone to hook it up and test it before I’d get there.

Beforewewould get there.

Alone with Tessa again, I felt the need to tread carefully. I couldn’t expect her to just give up her life and follow me. Everything felt tenuous and delicate, but I wanted to forge a path forward with her. “I understand that this is a big request, to relocate with me…”

She shook her head and stepped back. “But I want to go with you.” When she lowered her gaze, worry returned, but she faced me again. “If you want me to come with you.”

“Yes. I told you that I’d help you, Tessa, and that means lying low with me until you figure out what you want to do next, so that’s what we’ll do.”

She smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

“But I understand that you had a life before I found you. A job?—”

She scoffed. “Which one? The bar I left last night? My shift started an hour ago and that’s my first no-call, no-show. I’m fired.”

I frowned, not liking the resignation in her voice.

“The Hound and Tea?” She arched one brow. “Now that I know you’re a Constella and the owner of that steakhouse, I guess you could give me a sabbatical from waitressing there.”

I nodded, not relaxed enough to smile yet, but she had good points. “And you’re certain your parents won’t wonder…”

“I bet they’re pissed that I’ve gone missing, wondering where I am, butangry, notworriedabout it.” She crossed her arms, smirking. “I’m guessing my dad went to get his car, and that’s it.”

“No one else who’d notice you missing and report it or anything?”

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