His Juliet: An Age Gap Hurt Comfort Mafia Romance (Empire of Royals Book 2)

Snowflakes whipped around me as the driver opened the car door. My feet hit the red carpet outside The Sovereign, Boston’s most exclusive luxury hotel and event venue. Tonight, the richest of the city were gathered for a fundraiser. I had no fucking clue what the gala was fundraising for, and I doubted most of the attendees knew either. This event was about flaunting status, money, and power.

I waved at the cameras, forcing the playboy smirk the public was accustomed to seeing onto my face as I headed up the stairs. Resentment burned in my chest as I handed my coat to an attendant and entered the main ballroom. I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to be back in New York City with my girl.

Last night, I’d almost had a heart attack when Juliet walked into the bathroom while I was showering. I’d been terrified she’d see the stain on my soul and reject me, but somehow, she hadn’t. She’d looked right at me, touched me, fucking cut my hair. And not only that, she’d soothed the monster. It usually took me a while to come back to myself after I’d given myself over to the darkness. But with her, everything was different. Once she finished my haircut, I’d taken her to bed and we’d made love. Her body had been so soft against mine, so warm and alive.

When I was with Juliet, I no longer felt ashamed about who I was.

She’d texted earlier today asking permission to take out the pussy plug, which I’d granted, but I was pissed I hadn’t been there to do it. And now I wouldn’t even be back in the city in time for her to go to bed.

She was living with me now, but I felt like I barely saw her.

I fucking hated it.

I wove through the crowds, ignoring the many women throwing me interested glances. I’d spent my earlier decades reveling in public attention, but now I craved quiet nights on the couch with food, Mario Kart, and a deliciously naked Juliet coming on my cock.

I scanned the room, looking for the reason I was here. Sienna had been running continuous facial recognition software on all our surveillance cameras. Earlier today, she had gotten a positive match for the Butcher in Long Island. I’d immediately led a team to hunt him, but he had vanished like smoke yet again. Matteo and I had come to the reluctant conclusion that we needed to enlist the help of someone who was an expert at hunting people, which was why I was here in Boston.

A flash of red caught my eye, and I strode forward. Even in a crowd, Leona Byrne’s fiery hair was a beacon across the room. She was surrounded by a group of men who were practically salivating over her. Her green sequin dress was backless, and I guessed the front was equally scandalous.

“Oh, the new exhibit at the MFA is stunning,” she said.

“Oh yes. Absolutely riveting.” I slung my arm around Leona’s shoulders. She tensed for a flash of a second before looking at me, a playful smile on her lips.

“Romeo.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting, darling.”

The gathered men looked crestfallen, their fantasies of bagging Boston’s most beautiful heiress vanishing before their eyes. As if any of them could even dream of handling her—one of the top assassins in the world.

“If you’d excuse us, gentlemen.” I winked at the men and guided Leona to a secluded corner behind a large fake plant.noveldrama

Leona squared up with me, looking unimpressed. “What are you doing here, Romeo?”

“I’m here to call in our favor.”

“What favor?”

“What favor, she asks. The favor you owe the Don for not killing you after you put Sofiya at risk last year.”

Leona’s jaw clenched. We all knew she had never intended to endanger Sofiya and had done everything she could to protect her, but intent meant shit to Matteo when it came to the safety of his family.

“And to sweeten the deal,” I continued, “after you help us, you will be allowed to enter New York City without prior permission of the Don, as long as you follow our rules.”

Leona’s eyes flashed with interest. Her mother had been the daughter of an Italian capo and had lived in New York until she had a secret affair with the second-in-command of the Irish Mob in Boston. Leona’s mom ran away to be with him once she found out she was pregnant, and Leona grew up Irish in Boston, prohibited from entering New York by Matteo’s father. Matteo occasionally made exceptions, mainly at Sienna’s request, since she and Leona were friends, but this new agreement would give the Irish assassin significant freedom of movement.

“What is it you need help with?”

“The Butcher.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Finding him?”

I nodded.

She ran her hand through her red curls with a sigh. “I’m in, but I have a job to finish here first.” When I went to argue, she cut me off. “This is non-negotiable. Ronan has me on this. But you could speed things up if you were inclined to help.”

“What’s the job?”

“Relocating a piece of art.”

I rolled my eyes. “Relocating?”

She just hummed. “You in?”

I wanted to refuse and tell her she needed to return to New York with me now. But Leona was a wild card and could only be pushed so far.

“Fine.”

Amusement flashed in her eyes. “The Romeo I know would jump at the chance to cause some chaos. I wonder why he’s so hesitant to be away from home.”

“Leona,” I warned.

She threw her head back and laughed. “Come on, I’ll fill you in on the details while we mingle. It would be a crime not to be seen in this dress.”

I glanced down for the first time. The dress was skin-tight and plunged deeply between her tits. My body didn’t even remotely respond. But if Juliet wore a dress like that? I would blind everyone in the room before fucking her against the wall so they knew she belonged to me.

As we headed back into the main hall, Leona wrapped her fingers around the crook of my arm. My skin crawled and I fought the urge to shake her off. I wanted Juliet to be at my side, holding on to me, whispering snarky observations in my ear.

“The single women of New York City will be devastated when they discover Romeo De Luca is no longer on the market. Some of the married women, too.” Leona laughed at my responding scowl.

“Like I give a fuck about any of them,” I muttered. “So, what is this job?”

“Haruto Ito has discovered a Boston art collector has a never before seen woodblock print of Katsushika Hokusai, and wants us to get it.”

I groaned. Why were all the criminals of the underworld suddenly so riveted by art? I’d had enough of this talk from the Serbians.

“Since when are you working with the head of the Yakuza?”

Leona waved her hand. “There’s no official alliance yet, but Ronan is always open to making new friends.”

Matteo would be very interested to hear this. The Yakuza currently held Los Angeles. Matteo and I had met Haruto Ito two years ago at a party not dissimilar to this one. I had been surprised to find out he was three years younger than me, having clawed his way to the position of oyabun, or boss, through his penchant for violence.

“Who knew he was such a lover of art.”

We walked into a smaller room off the main hall containing silent auction items.

“Oh honey, look. A ski trip to Vail. Should we bid on it?”

I ground my teeth.

“Loosen up.” She nudged my shoulder. “Come back to my apartment tonight. We can talk through the plans.”

“Fine,” I said. The faster we got this done, the faster I’d be back to Juliet.

Romeo

How’s your day been, angel?

Juliet

Good. I practiced throwing punches with Matteo and baked cookies with Sofiya

I ground my teeth at the idea of my girl practicing self-defense with Matteo. I should be the one helping her. But I hoped this meant she had forgiven Matteo for beating the shit out of me.

Romeo

That sounds like fun

Juliet

Are you on your way back soon?

My chest tightened. I was waiting outside the bathroom for Leona. We would duck out from the gala soon to return to her place and hammer out the plan for the art heist.

Romeo

I’m sorry, pretty girl. There’s been a change of plans and I won’t be back tonight

Juliet

Oh

I’ll miss you

Will you be back tomorrow?

Romeo

I might be gone for a few days. You can stay at Matteo’s until I’m back

Juliet

I don’t want to spend the night here. I want to be in our bed

My heart ached. She’d called it our bed.

Romeo

Okay, baby. But don’t leave the apartment without a guard with you

Juliet

Slim chance of that

Romeo

Brat.

Be a good girl. I’ll be back as soon as I can

I love you

Juliet

I love you, too

Be safe.