Page 67 of Romeo

“It would help,” he admits.“Especially if we have dates of when it happened.Because then I can point Tucker to surveillance footage that might still exist somewhere.Private plane acquisitions and stuff like that.But I don’t have to tell them, Jules.I want to make that very clear.He can work with what he has.”

Dates.Except then he’ll know it’s almost my birthday and the anniversary of the day everything went wrong.“Just tell them.”I take a deep breath.“I just don’t want anyone looking at me andonlyseeing my past.”

“My brothers will never look at you like that,” he replies.“Ever.”

He reaches up and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.I stiffen, but not out of fear.The feel of his calloused finger brushing gently against my cheek ignites a fire in my heart that I thought was long dead.

He’s the only person who has touched me in the last twelve years that hasn’t made me physically ill.In fact, I’ve grown to crave it.The touch of his hand, the feel of his knee brushing against mine when we’re sitting side by side.

I shouldn’t feel this way.But I do.

And that makes Riley Hunt dangerous on so many levels.Right now, he’s the only person with the power to break me—does he know that?Can he see how I feel when I look at him?

“What did you want to show me?’

“Oh, right.”Riley tears his gaze from mine and starts walking down toward my grandfather’s study.

I stop again, grief burning a new hole in my chest.“I really don’t feel like going in there,” I tell Riley.The last thing I want to do is see more blood.I’ve seen enough for the day, thanks to the bullet hole left in Odie.

“Just trust me, okay?”he asks.

If only he knew that he’s theonlyperson I trust.But instead of saying the words, I step forward and push open the door to my grandfather’s study.

I’m expecting the mess that’s been in here since the night he died.

Papers strewn all over the place.

Blood on the floor.

But I’m greeted with a spotless space, all of his papers organized neatly on the desk.And above all—no blood.

Rushing forward into the room, I can hardly believe what I’m seeing right now.The blood is gone.How is the blood gone?“How did you do this?”

“I called someone in,” he replies, crossing his arms in the doorway.“After you fell asleep last night, I tried my hand at getting the blood up, but it had been there too long.That part of the carpet had to be replaced, but everything else is just the same.She even had a match in the back of her van and was able to put it in so you can’t tell the difference.”

Tears fill my eyes as I picture him in here last night, this strong man on his hands and knees, trying to get my grandfather’s blood out of the carpet because it served as a horrific reminder to me.“You scrubbed it?”

“I tried.”He shrugs.“I don’t want you to hurt any more than you already do, Jules.”

“When did she come here to do this?I didn’t see anyone.”

“While you were napping.She was only here about an hour.”

I turn back to the now unblemished carpet.It all looks so surreal, as though any moment now, my grandfather is going to walk right through that door.“Riley.”I can’t even begin to understand the onslaught of emotions running through me at his kind gesture.This man, who only signed on to find me, has remained by my side when anyone else would’ve run the moment they knew they weren’t getting paid.

He’s protected me.

Fought for me.

And now he’s worked to try to fix what little parts of my life he can.

“This is—thank you.”

He smiles softly, and my heart flutters at the sight of it.“You’re welcome, Jules.”

Given how late it is, I really should go to bed.But the idea of going back to my room, where I'll be alone and staring up at the ceiling, just isn't appealing.So, I decide to take a leap, even if it makes my stomach churn.

"Do you like movies?"As soon as the words leave my lips, I feel ridiculous.Of course he likes movies.Who doesn't like movies?

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