Page 52 of Romeo

“Why?So you can find yourself back at the bottom of a bottle?We both know you aren’t strong enough for this.You’ll crack, and then what?I’m not our grandfather.I won’t bail you out of rehab, Jules.Your mistakes will be your mistakes.Not my burden.”

“I don’t need you to get me out of rehab.I’m doing fine.It’s been ten years.”

“Sure,”he scoffs.“And what are you thinking, hiring him as protection?They track people down.Not protect them.”

“He’s done a pretty great job so far,”she replies.

“So far?You were stabbed, Jules.According to him, you nearly died.”

She inhales sharply enough I can hear the intake of breath.“I’m not changing my mind, Odie.You don’t control me.”

“No,”he replies.“I never was able to lead you through the trouble, was I?You never trusted me enough for that.Good luck, Jules.I truly hope you’re not making yet another mistake.”

The video ends as he turns to leave.

My hand tightens around my phone, and I have to force myself to put it into my pocket before I snap it.The anger in my veins is nearly unbearable.Howdarehe speak to her that way?Caring brother?I’dneverspeak to Lani that way.Not in a million years.

I turn back toward the door.

No wonder she looked so hurt.He threw her past mistakes back into her face and claimed it was because he cared for her.

Has this woman ever known unconditional love?Or did most of her life consist of Odie telling her all the ways she wasn’t good enough?

Chapter19

Jules

Cooking in this kitchen while my grandfather isn’t working upstairs feels so very wrong.But I’d needed it.After convincing Riley to take me to the grocery store so I could grab a few things, I started to feel a bit more human.

I’d even seen Heather, the sweet cashier who’d always greeted me with a smile before.Of course, this time, that smile was saddened by the weight of pity over my grief.Everyone’s heard what happened.I shouldn’t be surprised.My grandfather was beloved.Active.A man who people would notice if they hadn’t seen him in a day or two.

And now here we are, two weeks later.

I double-check the potatoes boiling in a large pot on the stove.Then I finish cutting up the beef tenderloin so I can brown the pieces in the bottom of a teal Dutch oven my grandfather bought me two years ago for my birthday.

Birthday.

I nearly laugh.With everything going on, I completely forgot that my birthday is next month.A fresh wave of grief crashes down on me as I realize it’ll be my first one without him in years.The only other times we didn’t spend it together were during the years I was away.And even then, I imagine he’d been celebrating for me.

Riley’s words hang in the air around me.“I know exactly whose name is on the deed to this place alongside her grandfather’s, and I’m happy to provide a copy of that documentation if you need it to refresh your memory.”

It was news to me that my grandfather deeded his house to me before he died.I’d even requested Riley show me proof because I found it so hard to believe.But there it was, my name on the deed to this house—right beside my grandfather’s.

Why he would leave Odie off, I’m not sure, and until Odie finds the will he can’t seem to track down, we won’t know what other changes he made before leaving this world.

“That smells delicious,” Riley announces as he walks into the kitchen, Romeo trotting happily at his side.

“Thanks.”I force a half smile and try to hide the tears that were in my eyes mere seconds ago.“It should be ready in about half an hour.”

“Sounds good.”He walks over to the stove and leans in.“Beef tips?”

“It was my grandfather’s favorite.”

“Happens to be one of mine too,” he replies with a smile.“Do you want some help?”

“Uh, sure, if you don’t mind slicing mushrooms.”

“I don’t mind.I can even do it without cutting myself.”

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