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“Take Jolie and flee,” he urged. “Leave here, start a life. Be happy.”
I wanted to be able to say I could but I knew I’d never leave Verona. It was my home. I had too much to lose by leaving.
“I can’t.”
Enzo nodded, putting his head down, as if he already knew the answer. “I cannot keep you safe, my boy.”
He’d already risked so much by coming here, and by helping Jolie escape from her tyrannous father. I couldn’t ask him to do more than that.
“There is one way you can stay close, but not entirely on Verona’s doorstep. Wait for the trouble to blow over as it always does.”
“What’s that?” I asked him.
“Take your boat and anchor just outside the border, you’ll be in international waters and they cannot arrest you.”
Could I really stay out on the water indefinitely? I’d lose my ever loving mind if I did. I must have looked hesitant because Enzo continued. “It’s not forever, Roman. But we’re in the middle of a very important war and it’s just toppled over. The city line is fading with all of the bullshit over the last couple of decades. Paul’s death will not go unpunished. Tyler is on the precipice of starting something with you, and all I see is more death and destruction.”
That was the way things went. We weren’t expected to have long life expectancies.
“I think we should try it,” I heard her angelic voice say from behind me. I turned around to see her standing in the doorway, her hair pulled back in a very sexy messy bun. “I can stay on a boat for a few months if need be. We can have the boys ferry us supplies every week or whatever we need.”
“Listen to her, Roman, and don’t delay. You know Amir will have warrants out for you already. It’s only a matter of time before he targets your boat and cuts off your exit.”
Enzo stood up and left. Jolie came to sit down where he had once been. The idea of being on my boat with Jolie was inviting but the idea of running my city from the water, didn’t sit well. I’d never run before in my life, I didn’t want to start now.
“He said it wasn’t going to be forever,” she continued. “If something happens to you, my father will swoop in and do something horrible to me. I just know it. He was relying on Paul’s money.”
“Your father is in debt?”
“Almost, he sunk everything he had in a new development that seems to have stalled.”
That was interesting indeed.
“So where is your boat?” she asked.
“At the marina. If we do this, we need supplies before we go.”
“Ask Bennett to get them for you. I don’t have anyone I can trust in the city.”
Her words hit hard. She’d lost everything because of me and she still chose to be with me. I knew in an instant I would do the same for her. I got up and pulled her up to her feet, pulling her into my arms, I kissed her softly. Resting my head against hers, I sighed.
“You would do that? You would deny your name for me?”
Her smile was sweet, warm. It did something to my insides knowing it was for me.
“For you, I would do anything.”
I moved my lips to hers, a soft gentle kiss was all that was needed here. She was mine. I’d known the woman for just a few weeks, and I knew right here and now, I would do anything I could to keep her safe and in my bed every night.
“Okay.”
“I’ll make a list of things we need,” she said, moving to the table by the living area where I kept a notepad. I pulled my phone out and dialed Bennett to tell him the plan.
“Yo,” I said. “Are you alone?”
“No, I’m just with the sheriff answering questions. Can I call you back?”
“Got it,” I replied and hung up quickly. I dialed the only other person who could help me.
