Page 57 of Romeo

A humorless smile touched my mouth. “Here I am.”

“She’s eighteen, Romeo.”

“I know.”

“She’s in high school.”

“I know.”

“She’s got brothers who’ll kill you if you hurt her.”

“That too.”

I leaned forward, bracing my forearms on my thighs. “None of that changes what happened when I saw her. It doesn’t mean I get to rush her. Doesn’t mean I get to decide for her. But it doesn’t change what she is to me, either.”

Sugar was quiet for another moment. Then she asked, “What do you need from me?”

I blinked and straightened. “You believe me?”

“I’ve seen enough La Croix insanity in my life to know better than to dismiss it.”

That pulled a smile from me.

“But,” she continued before I could get too comfortable, “that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you hurt her.”

“I won’t.”

“If you do, I’ll make sure every woman in the La Croix family knows what you did.”

My smile vanished. “That’s… excessive.”

“It’s effective.”

Unfortunately, she was right.

“So what do you need?” she asked again.

“Watch out for her. Be there if she needs something.” I hesitated before adding the part most likely to cause trouble, “And if Georgie starts asking too many questions...”

“I’ll run interference.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You better treat her right, Romeo. You better be the man she deserves.”

“I will.”

“She’s special.”

“I know.”

“No.” Sugar’s voice softened. “I don’t mean because of your curse. Fiona’s been through hell and somehow came out of it still kind. Still willing to trust people. Don’t take that from her.”

The words settled heavily on my chest. I knew Fiona had been adopted at fifteen; I didn’t know much about her past though.

“I won’t.”

“You better not.”