Page 114 of From Rome, With Hate

“You were right.” I press my hand to her head, then kiss her on the forehead. “I am a rich snob.”

“Knew it.” She gives me a full-on smile this time, and I’ve never felt more at peace.

“Still,” I continue, “doesn’t exactly explain why we’re here and not in the city.”

“Marcus thought it was best to stay away while you recovered, considering the news headlines.” Her grin fades, and she winces. “Former New York City mayor arrested and charged with attempted murder.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “I need to thank Marcus for saving my life.Again.”

“I thanked him about a million times. He’s probably tired of hearing it.” Julianna stretches to kiss me on the lips and presses her hand on my stomach a little too close to my wound, but I hide the pain.

“There’s a whole life I still want with you. Actual marriage. Kids. Holidays. All of it.” Julianna nudges my nose with hers before looking in my eye and whispering, “I thought you were dead.”

“You used to wish I would die, remember?” I tease. “I thought that’s what you wanted?”

“Yeah, but that was before.” Her mouth feathers against mine, and my dick wakes up from its deep three-day slumber.

“Before what?”

“When you were my enemy.” She slides her palm up to my neck, wrapping her hand around the lark. “And you know what they say about enemies.”

“What do they say?” I fight the urge to toss her back onto the bed and remind her just how much I love her.

“Keep your friends close”—she presses her thumb to my pulse, just below my jaw—“and your enemies closer.”

“Oh, yeah?”

She gasps when I roll her back onto the mattress. I immediately regret it, groaning and hissing in pain when I try to hold myself up above her.

“Fuck,” I grit out, hanging my head and looking down at my wound. I fall back onto my right elbow and roll until I’m back on the mattress, staring at the ceiling.

“Rome,” Julianna scolds. “You need to take it easy.”

“I don’t know how to take it easy,” I mutter. Opening my eyes, I stare up at my wife. “Especially when it comes to you.”

“Don’t worry.” She gifts me with a quick peck before she’s straddling me. Her pussy presses against me, stroking my hardened cock. “We always find a way.”

“You’re right.” I slip my hand between us until my fingers are stroking her clit. “We do.”

THIRTY-FOUR

JULIANNA

Four Months Later

I still haven’t gotten over it, and I’m not certain I ever will. Honestly, I should have known all along. I try not to let the guilt eat away at me for never suspecting my father would stoop as low as to kill Rome Montgomery, but every now and then, it ebbs its way into my chest, under flesh and bone.

Thankfully, my father took a guilty plea, saving us from a brutal trial. He claimed he did it for me, to save me and Holt further embarrassment.

At least, that’s what his letter said.

I still haven’t brought myself to write back. Maybe one day, I will.

For now, though, I plan on living my life. The life I always dreamed of having.

My heels click down the long hallway. Skin hot and sticky, I slip out of my black, feathered coat and drape it over my arm. The pulsating music vibrates through the floor and walls.

I’m nearly at Rome’s office when Marcus’s mouth stretches into a face-splitting grin at the sight of me. “Mrs. Montgomery.”