Page 4 of Romeo

The tightness in my throat migrates to my chest, filling my veins with restless energy. Something in me recoils at the thought of harm befalling the mysterious Thalia, even if it’s not at the hands of my men.

It’s true, even though I’m the ruthless mafia king of the New York City underworld, I don’t take pleasure in ending innocent lives. I try to conduct my business with as few casualties as possible, especially when it comes to women and children.

But this…. this… thisfeelingis something more.

I clench my fists, trying to focus back on Dante. I don’t know this woman, and I shouldn’t care about her well-being any more than any other stranger I cross paths with.

“Would you like me to send someone to her residence and scope it out?”

“No!” I shout, pounding my fist on the solid oak desk. I’m as shocked as Dante at my outburst, but I don’t let it show. As the head of the Di Salvo crime family, I must always be in control of my emotions.

“But–”

“I’ll do it.”

Dante blinks a few times, opening his mouth before closing it again. Good man. He knows I’ve made up my mind, even if he doesn’t understand why. Fuck if I know, but I can’t take it back now.

Dismissing Dante, I call my head of staff to have my black BMW waiting for me out front in five minutes. I guess I’m heading to Brooklyn this morning.

Half an hour later, I make my second drive around the apartment block where Thalia Brooks lives. I knew it was in a rough part of town, but I get that same tightness in my chest when I think about a defenseless young woman staying here alone.

Parking in a discreet location behind a few overgrown bushes, I silently climb out of my vehicle and check my surroundings before making my way to the woman’s apartment. It’s on the ground floor, which once again has something protective twisting up my insides.

Keeping my back to the wall of the building, I slink along in the shadows, taking note of everything around me. It’s barely ten in the morning, yet a junkie is shooting up around the corner from Thalia’s apartment in broad daylight. I also notice a hastily done drug deal a few doors down. Loud music blasts from an upstairs unit while a screaming match takes place in another.

I don’t need to sneak around. I bet I could walk up to any of these apartments with my weapon drawn, and no one would look in my direction. Still, old habits die hard, and I can never be too careful, especially since I took on this recon mission alone.

I still can’t explain it, but I’m drawn to this Thalia woman. Maybe I’m just getting soft after nearly twenty years of being the Don, but my gut tells me it’s something more. Something deeper. Something worth risking everything for. I didn’t get this position and keep it for so long by ignoring my instincts, so here I am.

Creeping up to what appears to be the only window in the entire apartment, I peer inside, squinting my eyes to adjust to the dim lights. I don’t see anything at first, and I fear I’m too late. But then a movement in the corner of the small space catches my eye.

Long auburn hair glitters in the tiny beam of sunshine filtering through the window, drawing my attention there. The woman turns her head to the side, allowing me to see her profile. My gaze wanders down the slope of her delicate nose, taking in her rounded cheeks and pouty lips as I let my eyes dip down to drink in her curves. Even in a ratty old bathrobe, I can tell this woman is full-figured, though I try not to eye-fuck her like a perve.

Snapping my attention back to her face, I can make out the shape of her wide, doe-like eyes as she blinks. I’m mesmerized by every inch of this angel, from her slightly upturned nose to the gentle sway of her hips as she prepares herself a mug of tea.

The more I study her, the more I realize her movements are tentative and jerky, like she’s scared of her own shadow. I watch as Thalia brings the mug to her lips, her hands trembling so badly she can hardly take a sip.

Thalia whimpers as hot liquid splashes over the rim of the mug, burning her hands, and I have the strongest, strangest urge to… comfort her? No, that can’t be right. I wouldn’t even know how to do that.

Yet, my hands twitch to help her clean up the mess before tending to her wound. Jesus, I must be losing it. First, I drag my ass out here on a mission better fit for a captain than the goddamn Boss, and then I go all soft for a curvy goddess in a heap of trouble she doesn’t even understand.

Thalia sets the mug on the counter and stands there, staring at it. No, she’s staringthroughit, right into the void that’s opened up in her life. I know that look all too well.

I tear my eyes from the confounding woman to examine her living quarters. The studio apartment can’t be more than four hundred square feet, with a mini kitchenette and a small bathroom off to one side. All the furniture is piled up in front of the door in a weak attempt to keep the boogeyman out. The table and chairs leaning against the door are older than the building itself, and I have no doubt I could burst through the door, furniture and all, without even scuffing my Italian leather Oxfords.

A twin mattress and box spring are stacked up in the corner on the other side of the room. The blankets and pillows are at the foot of the bed as if she feels safer curled up in the corner.

What is this tightness in my chest? This sinking feeling twisting up my gut? I don’t like the thought of Thalia being afraid of anything, and in this case, her fears are entirely founded.

She saw something, all right. And I need to figure out exactly what she knows.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, sending awareness prickling down my spine. Someone else is here. Someone else is watching her.

I dart my eyes to the left and right, catching a glimpse of a sleek navy-blue car before it turns the corner. I register the vehicle as one that drove by a few minutes ago, and I’m immediately on high alert.

Slinking back into the shadows, I keep close to Thalia’s apartment and watch as the blue car pulls into a parking spot in an abandoned lot across the street. Logically, I know this sketchy character could be here for any of the tenants in this building, but every instinct I’ve honed over the years tells me he’s looking for the same woman I am.

When I see his face, I know it to be true.

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