Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
STEPHEN
Over the next several days, work keeps me busy, but at night, I get to spend time with the one woman I can’t get out of my mind. I fall hard. For the first time in my life, I’m content and determined not to fuck this up.
Content?
Christ. I used to think contentment is weakness—men like me don’t get comfortable. We stay sharp. We stay ready. And yet lately, when she’s curled against me at night, I feel something dangerously close to peace.
I know she's still struggling with my name, my past, and that of my family, but in time, she'll come to learn that we're trying to do the right things, trying to correct our past wrongs, even if they’re for good intentions, keeping those we love safe.
I recall my father once saying, “In our world, love and protection are two sides of the same coin.
It's your duty to keep your loved ones safe, no matter the cost.” His voice echoes in my mind, a reminder of what it means to protect fiercely, a legacy of hard decisions, and the burden of doing what needs to be done.
Just as I’d keep her safe from anyone who dares to take her from me.
And that’s the part I can’t soften for her. Protection in my world always means force. Finality. She believes in courts and due process. I believe in eliminating threats. Bridging that gap may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Lucien, accompanied by Anthony, strides into my office. I can see by the slight concern marring their brows that they’re worried about something. My guard goes up, and I lean back in my chair, willing to give them my full attention.
The steady rhythm of keyboards outside my office continues, phones ringing intermittently, the muted thud of the copier down the hall. Business hums along like nothing is wrong, like war isn’t always one misstep away.
“What?”
They sit and look at each other quickly before turning back to face me. “We’ve found out why Alex Romero’s sister, Isabella, is back on the scene. She’s been bequeathed a large real estate portfolio from Matteo. The building happens to be the Fairbanks building.”
“Next door to me here?” What the fuck. I think about that coincidence, and I know it’s far from that. “What is she going to do with it?” Nothing in this city happens by accident when a Romero is involved. Property lines are battle lines. Proximity is a strategy.
“Nothing, from what we’ve found out so far,” Anthony states.
“Isabella is as crafty and dangerous as any Romero. She’ll likely use the building to keep an eye on you and our real estate branch of the business.
Or she’ll rent it out, which I’m sure is probably the plan.
She’s an astute businesswoman, much smarter than her family, and its probably why Matteo bequeathed her the building above anyone else.
He knows she’d do something with it. While it’s not ideal that she’s so close, there is little threat for her to be so near at this time. ”
“Any Romero within a foot of us is never ideal.” My words cause Anthony to flinch, and I have to ask, “You were fucking her, weren’t you?” I pause. “Don’t deny it. There’s a history there that Lucien and I picked up on when we saw her at the bar the other week.”
“It’s long over. I haven’t seen her in years,” Anthony answers, a muscle in his temple working.
“Doesn’t mean there isn’t a history and one that could place you at risk,” Lucien says. “Would she likely try and reach out, do you think?”
“Unlikely.” Anthony shifts in his chair, clearly uncomfortable with the questioning. “It didn’t end well.”
Nothing ever does with that family. You don’t walk away clean. You leave pieces behind. I frown but decide not to push the matter further. Our cousin doesn’t want to discuss the Romero chick, and I’ll drop the subject—for now.
“How’s it going with Dallen? We’ve not seen you much lately, so I’m assuming everything is going well?” Lucien asks.
I can’t stop the smirk that twists my lips. “I’m in love with her. I think she’s the one, guys.”
Lucien’s eyes go wide. Anthony gapes. “Shit, really?” Anthony states, shock resonating in his voice.
“Yeah.” I run a hand over my jaw, unable to process the feelings that rise in me whenever I think of Dallen, whenever I’m around her.
“She’s an amazing woman. So goddamn smart and independent, and she doesn’t take any shit—not from me or anyone.
While I know she’s struggling with her family and their dislike of me, we’re having dinner tonight, and I’m hoping to clear the air a bit. ”
Hoping her father sees the man I’m trying to be, not the one I was or hid when necessary. Hoping she doesn’t wake up one morning and decide loving me costs too much.
“Does she know of us?” Lucien asks. “Did you have that talk we discussed?”
I nod. “Yeah, I told her, and she’s torn. Clearly, she’s a lawyer—how could she not be? But she hasn’t run from me yet, so I’m hoping she’s working through her fears.”
The thought of losing her, of her not being in my life, isn’t something I can stomach.
I’ve buried men. I’ve buried enemies. I don’t know how I’d bury what she makes me feel.
I don’t know how it is that I’ve fallen so fucking hard, but I have.
I won’t lose her to anyone. Not her family. Not because of those who hold grudges.
“Where are you going for dinner?”
“Delizioso.” Thinking that my restaurant and one Dallen enjoyed dining at might smooth out her parents’ nerves. If they knew that I owned the restaurant and if I mentioned my real estate portfolio at some point throughout the meal, they may see that I’m trying to move out of my father’s shadow.
If I show them stability. Legitimacy. Growth. Maybe they see I’m not the ghost of Leo Moretti. If only the Romeros allowed us to.
They are always there, lurking, poking, and trying to start shit that none of us wants.
“I’m closing the restaurant, so it’s just us.
My security card, in case my charm of Dallen’s parents doesn’t go well, and we’ll not have any Romeros popping in, making their presence known.
” Because if one of them so much as looks at her the wrong way in front of her father, I won’t be able to contain myself.
And I can’t afford that—not when I need the dinner to go well.
Everything is riding on the fact that it does.
“Good idea.” Lucien narrows his eyes. “So if she’s the one, do we need permanent security around her? Anyone connected to us needs it when they’re going to be part of this family. An unfortunate perk, but one that’s necessary when father’s enemies refuse to leave us be.”
The word permanent does something to my chest. “I’d appreciate it if you implemented that, yes, and I’ll speak to Dallen. Let her know what the deal is. She won’t like it, but…” She’ll think I’m controlling her again. And maybe I am. But I’d rather have her angry with me than unprotected.
Dead...
“Briar didn’t like it either at first. Now Greg, her bodyguard, is her shopping buddy. She has him eating out of her hand, so much so, I sometimes wonder who’s looking after who.”
I chuckle, knowing that Briar has turned Lucien’s world upside down, but in a good way.
I want the same with Dallen. I want a future with her, a home, one day a family.
A house that doesn’t have reinforced glass.
A life that doesn’t require contingency plans.
I don’t know if that’s possible for me, but I want it with her.
Damn, I have it bad.
“I know we have our issues. Each of us has a history that, at times, is shady and not for public consumption, but I’m going to try to be a better man for her.
I know we all need to rectify issues the legal way, and I said I’d try that before anything else, but when it comes to our enemies, the Romeros, it’s fucking hard not just to be rid of them without fuss. A challenging habit to break.”
“It’s not easy.” Anthony sighs. “With Matteo’s death, they’re just waiting to strike at us. They know we did it. Even if they can’t prove it, they will strike at us, so be on your guard. The women we love are a sure way for payback. Just remember that.”
The women we love.
That sentence settles like a weight on my shoulders. Dallen isn’t just a girlfriend. She’s leverage. She’s vulnerable. And I hand that card to our enemies the moment I let myself fall. The moment they know she’s everything to me.
“I will,” I say.
“Yeah,” Lucien agrees.
My phone buzzes, and I pick it up, warmth flowing through my veins like a balm at the name that pops up.
I’m going to be held up at work. I’ve texted my parents to tell them to meet us at the restaurant at eight instead of seven. I’m sorry, but I’ll meet you there. X
Just seeing her name eases something in me I didn’t realize was tight. I message back.
Do you want me to come pick you up? I’d prefer to see you before going to dinner.
So I could kiss the shit out of her before meeting her parents. Remind myself that she’s mine, that she chose me.
No, it’s fine. I’ll be there by eight. Order me a red. I need a large glass after today. X.
Consider it done.
“Everything okay?” Lucien asks.
“Yeah, Dallen is going to be working back an hour, but it’s all good. One hour less I have to be with her parents.”
Anthony cringes. “I don’t envy you, but good luck. Something tells me you’ll need it.”
Something tells me I will as well. Because charming enemies is easier than convincing a cop that his daughter is safe with a Moretti, and for once, I care how this ends.