Page 83 of Romeo

His gaze drops to my lips before returning to mine, but he doesn’t make a move toward me.And because I can’t stand the idea of waiting to know how it feels any longer, I stretch up and press my lips to his.

It starts soft.An easy kiss that soothes the ache I’ve carried over the past couple of days.Really, since I met the man, though then I’d believed that spark was merely frustration.

I was so very wrong.The spark turns into a wildfire, devouring all rational thought in my mind.Still, he moves slow.

His hand cups the side of my face, but he lets me set the pace, giving me space even when I’m giving him the opportunity to do the exact opposite.

I pull away and look up into his eyes.“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”He pulls me in again, more frantic this time, one hand on my face, the other around my waist.As his lips capture mine again, I lose myself in the feeling.In a kiss that Iwant.

Because it’s the first one I’ve ever had.

Riley pulls back and releases me.“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to do that.”

Yet he held back.For me.I raise my hand and place it on his chest.The beat of his heart is heavy beneath my palm.“You’re the only man who’s ever made me feel like that.I never thought I’d want any kind of relationship again.Not after—” I close my eyes and take a deep breath before opening them again and looking up at him.“You make me feel renewed.Like I’m not as ruined as I thought.”

“You’re not ruined,” he says, cupping my cheek again.“You’re perfect, Jules.”

Tears sting my eyes, and I lean in, wrapping my arms around his waist and letting him hold me close.We remain just like this for a few moments.Then I pull back and wipe my eyes.“Now.Maybe we’ll find something that answers everything for us and this nightmare will end.”

Riley grins at me.“I’ll do my best to focus.”

Two hoursand every book in my grandfather’s expansive bedroom library has been checked and confirmed to be empty.“Maybe I was wrong.”I take a deep breath and run a hand over my forehead.

“Is there anywhere else we could check?”he questions.“If there was only one thing in this room you could grab before it went up in flames, what would it be?”

“Easy.The quilt.But he couldn’t have hidden anything—” And as I’m shifting my gaze back to Riley, something catches my attention at the corner of the quilt.I move toward it, a moth to flame, and lift the quilt.It’s small, a minor detail, but the stitching is a different color on one of the squares.

“What is it?”

“My grandmother made this before she died.I was young, so I don’t remember much about her, but I do know that she was incredibly attentive to detail and didn’t use a different color thread.This was also the blanket I used whenever I got sick.It was my favorite.My grandfather knew that.”I hug it close, my heart hammering excitedly when I feel a hard spot beneath the fabric.

Hope shoots through me.Victory.Because Iknowit never made that sound.

Eyes wide, I turn to Riley.“There’s something in here.”

Chapter28

Riley

Watching Jules meticulously pull the stitches out of her grandmother’s quilt only deepens my affection for her.She hasn’t hesitated when the choice is her life or the truth, but she’s so unwilling to sacrifice this blanket because of the treasured memories it holds.

Each of my brothers is gathered around waiting, and while they’re all being patient, I know Dylan is about ready to just rip it open and find the truth.He’s not one for subtleties.Beckett has been on the phone most of the afternoon, checking in on her assistant and also putting out feelers for the dead private investigators.

So far, we’ve got more questions than answers, but my hope is whatever is in that blanket changes that.I have my own theory about what is hidden in there, and if I’m right, it’s an answer.

“Okay, done.”She sets the seam ripper puller aside then gently peels back the fabric and top layer of stuffing.There, tucked away, is a large document-sized envelope.Jules withdraws it and opens the clasp then reaches in and pulls out a stack of papers.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT is printed right across the top one.Jules scans it closely.“I don’t understand.Why would this be hidden?”

I haven’t had the chance to tell her that her grandfather revoked his will.

“Can I see?”Beckett questions.Jules offers it to her, so she begins scanning the pages.One after the other, we all sit in silence as she skims the document.“Well, here’s the will we were looking for.It lists Jules as the sole beneficiary of everything in his possession and is dated before the power of attorney, which makes it valid despite Odie’s power grab.”

“Power of attorney?”Jules asks, turning to me.

“We found out right before I went upstairs.Odie filed a power of attorney with your grandfather’s lawyer, alongside a doctor’s note from Dodger claiming he was losing his faculties.Prior to that, your grandfather must have sensed something was coming because he added you to the deed and revoked his previous will.”

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