Page 1 of The #2 Guy

PROLOGUE JOHNNY

The two of them make me sick. I wanna puke at the stars I see in Roque’s gaze. He is the deadliest Don there ever was. Before he met her, there was nothing but death in the black irises of his eyes. But now all he sees is her. Feeling the ugliness churn in my gut, I turn away from Roque and Romina.

“You hate her, don’t you?”

I feel Chloe’s eyes on me. The little shit is young but old. She’s seen too much for a girl of her age. “Nah, I don’t hate Blue. But she is annoying as fuck.”

Chloe laughs. “Sometimes she is. I’m so lucky to have them.”

I turn to the girl. “You are.”

“So, what’s your story? I’ve read theirs’s…” Her chin nods over to the couple lost in their own world. Roque and Romina, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story. At least that’s what Hollywood’s dubbed them. But if you missed their story, this is the wrong book. You need to rewind to Savage Poet…

I shrug. “Mine’s better. I can’t believe he’s a bestseller when my story has more angst, more drama, more utter heartbreak. Not to mention the sex is off the hook,” I wiggle my brows.

“Ugh, gross. TMI, Uncle Johnny.”

“Good. Stay away from boys. They’re nothing but bad news. Keep your head in the books, the ones that will teach you shit.” I snap a flower from the garden, shredding the petals then reach inside the pocket of my suit jacket for my smokes.

She rolls her eyes. “That shit will kill you.”

I shrug, “So will a broken heart.” The words tumble from my lips before I can stop them. There’s something spooky about the girl, no wonder Roque spilled all his secrets to her. Her wide innocent eyes make you want to just blurt your shit out loud, as if somehow, someway this slip of a girl could help you. My eyes scan the edges of the garden looking for threats, finding none. How did I miss the biggest threat was her? Christine? My eyes squeeze shut. Just saying her name in my mind is enough to feel a slash to my soul. “I thought Roque had her eliminated. But he saved her for me.”

“Where is she? This woman who hurt my Uncle Johnny. Maybe Romina and I will have a go at her?”

I snort, looking down at the sun shining down at the top of her golden head. “I have first dibs.”

“Are you telling me this tale of angsty, juicy heartbreak or what?” Roque and Romina are still lost in each other, necking under an arbor of roses.

“Sure. Walk down to the beach with me? I can’t stand still for long. If I do, my body starts twitching. I wouldn’t want to freak you out.”

“It’s okay, Johnny. I’ve always known you were kind of a freak…,” she grins, putting her arm through the crook of my elbow. We stroll through the garden until we reach stone steps leading down to the beach. It’s not the med but the Atlantic side of the Hamptons is nothing to sneeze at. Roque still has a safehouse out here but these days he and Romina have converted it to a beach home, complete with its own artillery room.

“Don’t ever fall in love, Chloe. It sucks balls.”

She rolls her eyes. “Was it love at first sight?”

“No. But it sure was lust. We were at a club in New York. Roque, me and Rafe. We were in our usual VIP area above the fray. The hostess let in about five girls a cut above the rest. One was straddling me, already DTF. My hands were all over the broad when suddenly she was ripped off my lap and replaced. The woman was spiting sparks and her mouth was bold and sassy just like the eyeliner and smoky eye she was sporting. Her hair smelled like wildflowers after a spring rain and her skin was smooth to the touch. I wanted her on sight. She wrapped her hands around the back of my head and kissed me. It was hard. Thorough. We made out in the club, drank pink champagne as we grinded on the dance floor. I took her home. She rocked my world and trust me—I thought it couldn’t be rocked any harder. We went all night. She was insatiable. So was I. When I woke up, I thought she had gone. The bed was cold, but the sheets still smelled of her. Of us. I took a shower and padded out to my kitchen, following the smell of frying bacon and coffee. She was cooking, naked. I took her hard. Right then. Right there. Fuck. Sorry. Sometimes I forget you’re still young and I probably shouldn’t say this shit to you.”

“Um… I’ve read Roque’s diaries, remember? He was quite detailed on how and when he lost his V-Card…”

I smirk, “TMI, Chloe. Besides, men don’t have V- Cards.” I ruffle the top of her head. Her face turns red as our feet touch sand. I bend down to remove my socks and shoes. She does the same as we make our way down to the surf.

“What made her so different? What was it about Christine that made her stick to your soul?”

My eyes cut to the thunder of the pounding surf. “A million different things, many you can’t physically see. Who knows why your soul cries for some and not others? Maybe there is something to that destiny shit. Anyway, she crawled into my heart and made a home. It was more than the sex. We cooked together. Worked out together. She was all woman but had crazy jitsu moves. That should’ve been my first clue she was law. We had the same taste in TV shows… classic cars… but now I don’t know. Maybe it was all a lie. Maybe we had no common interests, and she was just acting—playing me so she could worm her way in and gather intel. Anyway, I’ve known since before the trial that she lives. Like a fuckin’ chickenshit, I’ve left her where Roque has her stashed away. I want her but I hate her. Truthfully, I’m scared shitless I’ll see her and realize I loved a fake persona… the longer I stay away, it allows me to love the girl I thought she was… I’m a dumb fuck. Right?”

“I don’t know, Uncle Johnny. But I do know the only way you’ll get closure is by asking her. Go get her and get the truth out of her by any means necessary. It’s the only way you’ll ever have peace.”

My eyes meet hers. “You are a little minx, eh? Any means necessary?”

Her cheeks turn as red as a Maine Lobster. “It’s what Roque would do.”

I pick up a rock, hurtling it sideways, watching as it skips over the waves until it drops. “Yep. It’s exactly what he would do…”

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