Page 17 of Big Beefy Kingpin

“It’s Maeve. Gosh, that feels strange coming out of my mouth.” I say, turning to snuggle into him.

Roman chuckles softly and I can tell he is about to speak when the loud shrill of his cell phone cuts him off.

“Ignore it, sweetheart,” he whispers, his hands trying to lure me to sleep but I’m wide awake now. There is no ignoring the constant ring of his phone.

Part of me wants to do as he says, but something tells me that the call has something to do with me. It has to. There is no way Liam would keep quiet about spotting me back at the Casino.

He must’ve told Uncle Patrick.

I draw back from Roman’s arms, mourning the loss of his warmth and I gaze at him, swallowing hard at how perfect he is. Silky strands of hair cover his face, and his dark eyes are hungry as he stares up at me.

“You need to take that,” I whisper, swallowing the lump in my throat, adding when he furrows his brows at me. “Please.”

“Maeve, they can wait…”

“No,” I hurry to say. “You need to take it now. I think… I think it’s about me.”

Something akin to understanding crosses his face but he doesn’t immediately draw away; instead, he reaches up and cups my jaw.

“Amore,” he whispers, dropping his forehead against mine. “Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it. Okay? I will protect you with my life if need be.”

I close my eyes, breathing in deeply and trusting his words. “Okay.”

“Good girl,” he says, pulling back. “Now let’s get you cleaned up, whoever it is, can wait.”

Chapter Seven

Roman

My jaw clenches hard as I tear out of the driveway.

We’re leaving my home sooner than I would have liked but Maeve wouldn’t let me leave without her. There are few places in Vegas safer than my home, but she’d refused to stay behind.

“They will never believe you didn’t force me, please take me with you,” she’d begged.

“I don’t care what they think, no one can take you from me.”

“I know,” she’d whispered, cupping my cheek. “And I want to stay, here, with you and not have to face them. My family scares me but now… I have you. No one will touch me as long as you’re there.”

Everything in me had wanted to leave her safely locked behind closed doors but after she had told me about how her father never let her outside, I knew that I needed to let her see this through. Plus, it was hard to deny her anything when she stared up at me with her big beautiful green eyes.

“Please, Roman. Please let me come with you.”

And I’d given in.

Fuck!

I worry that perhaps, I shouldn’t have given in. Taking her into danger goes against all of my instincts.

A small hand closes over mine, startling me out of my thoughts. “I’m sorry for putting you in this position.”

My features soften when I meet her worried eyes. “I’m not angry at you,” I assure her.

“I would be angry at me if I were you.”

“Amore,” I whisper, closing my hand over hers. “You were forced to run away when you were only seventeen because your abusive father was going to sell you off to the Mexican cartel. Why would I be mad at you? I’m just happy you were able to escape.”

“I… I know this could cause a problem and end the peace between the Italians and the Irish mob, I’m sorry for putting you in that position.”

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