Page 19 of From Rome, With Hate

I let out a reticent laugh. “We both know the idea of family loyalty went to shit before I turned him in.”

“You know what, Rome? You might be right.”

I stop cold. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Unlike finding you, this one didn’t take much digging. Surprised your father didn’t realize this years ago, but he always was a busy man. Besides, he never thought you would pull some shit like this.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Might want to check that message,” he taunts. “Then you’ll see.”

Right on cue, my phone pings with a message. I lower my phone from my ear, putting the man on speaker, before tapping on the little envelope at the top.

The floor beneath my feet shifts, and my vision turns bright red.

I’m staring back at a picture of Julianna and me the night of Asher and Charleigh’s wedding. We’re in the back alley. I’m towering over her, inches from her face, with her back pressed against the brick. It’s the moment she told me to go to Hell, and I told her if I was going, I’d be dragging her with me.

I grind my teeth until the pressure expands, building behind my eyes. I’m about to jump out of my fucking skin.

“He’s dead,” I seethe; lip curling. “Just let this go.”

“Don’t you understand? Your father found out you’d broken your oath. I mean, we knew you turned your back on your own family, but this… this level of betrayal doesn’t just die with him. You won’t be the only one who suffers.”

“I’ll fucking kill you if you even so much as breathe in her direction, you fucking piece of shit.”

“Little too late for that.”

“Fuck you!” I shout, vibrating with fury. I pace my office, not knowing what the fuck to do.

“You have no clue who the fuck you’re dealing with.”

I stop pacing and pound my fist on the desk. “I knowexactlywho I’m dealing with.”

“No.” He clicks his tongue again in disapproval. “I don’t think you do.”

“Why bring her into this? Isn’t it me you’re after?”

“We want you to suffer the way you made us suffer. Your father might not have had the courage to pull the trigger himself,but that’s what he has me for. Now you know that whatever befalls your Capuleti princess will ultimately be your fault. The choices you made to betray the Montgomery family will be your undoing. It’s time for all the skeletons to spill out of your closet, don’t you think?”

I barely have a chance to respond before the line abruptly ends.

My entire body is numb. I squeeze my eyes shut and clamp my hands around my head, pressing until it hurts, until I feelsomething. I need to wake the fuck up. A flurry of memories assault me, stealing my breath.

Glittery blue eyeshadow brushed across soft lids, peering at me through the cracks in the bookshelves.

The feeling of the balcony railing beneath my touch that night as I left.

Seeing her body spread out across the pool table, rivers of blood dripping to the floor.

“Marcus!” I shout. My eyes pop open, and my throat is searing with pain.

I spin around and find Marcus standing in the doorway.

“We need to leave. Now,” I order. “Get the car ready.”

He doesn’t even hesitate before leaving, sensing my urgency. He moves as fast as possible, limping his way down the hall, while I pick up my phone and type out a text as fast as my fingers allow.

Me: Time to cash in on my debt, Lark.