AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You might not be a terrible choice. He could still do better.”
“Thanks. I’ll put your stamp of approval on my ass.”
Romeo turned, breaking whatever this was between Jordan and me. He put his hand on my bare chest. I quickly captured it, not wanting him to pull away. “That’s enough for now, okay?” he asked softly. “I’d like to eat, and we have things to discuss.”
“Mafia things?”
“My connection to them, but I have no part in that life.” Vulnerability swam in his eyes. His thoughts didn’t need to be voiced, not when I could see his anxiety building again.
Leaning forward, I dropped my forehead to his. An inch or so separated us in height. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered. “It’s going to take more than him to push me away.”
“There’s a lot I have to tell you.”
“I don’t care what it is. I want this.” Reaching out, I grasped Tristan’s hand that still gripped my arm, pulling him to us so he could share this. “What do you say, Tris? You still in?”
“Yes, but he won’t be here all the time, right?” Fuck, I completely forgot about Tristan needing a place to live.
I lifted my head and focused on Jordan again. “Romeo has invited Tristan to move in since he lives with his piece of shit homophobic grandmother. You got an issue with that?”
“Do I have a problem with his grandmother? Yes, I do. With him living here? Yes. Anyone here poses a potential risk to Romeo, and he’s under my protection.”
“Great, put your cock away. Now’s not the time to measure up. Are you going to pull anything with Tris, or would he be better off with me?” I had to know wherever Tristan landed, he was safe.
“I don’t harm innocents,” Jordan stated primly.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Really? In all the time you’ve made being a criminal a profession, there weren’t any innocent casualties?”
“I didn’t say that, but it wasn’t intentional.”
“Uh huh.” Dropping my head back down, I spoke to Tristan and Romeo. “I won’t tell you where to live, Tris. I just want you happy and safe. If you think that’s here, I’ll support it. If you think it’s with me, fantastic. It’s your decision.”
He blinked those beautiful eyes at me. “You’re not telling me where to live?”
“Why would I? It’s your life. That doesn’t mean I don’t care, only I want you to be happy.”
“I usually get told to move in with my boyfriends.”
“We’re not boyfriends yet,” Romeo said.
“Hush,” I told him with a wink. “Tris, even if we were fully committed to one another, you are always welcome to do as you please. The men who trapped you in relationships, who walked all over you, they weren’t right for you. I want to lift you up, not push you down. The decisions will be yours.”
He looked at Romeo, whose hair had fallen around his face like a curtain, blocking me from some of his features. “Is the invitation still open?” Tristan asked.
Romeo smiled shyly. “If you still want to live here, you’re more than welcome, relationship or not.”
“I’d like to stay with you, if that’s okay,” he said. “It’s a change of pace. There are people outside and places I can walk to.”
“It’s settled then.” I wrapped an arm around Tristan. “Did you hear that, Jordy? Romeo’s going to have a roommate and possibly two boyfriends.”
“Call me that again,” he seethed. “I dare you.”
“I’m going to take that as a polite invitation, not a threat. You mentioned you’re hungry, angel?”
Romeo nodded and broke from our circle to go into the kitchen. Tristan and I grabbed utensils, drinks, and plates to put on the table. It was a round, four-person weathered, dark wooden table to the right of the kitchen. Romeo was one person. He didn’t need a big table.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when Jordan sat with us. One of his guards had stayed inside while another went out and stood watch in front of the building. I was sure there were others we couldn’t see.
“That must make for a hell of a welcome for delivery drivers,” I said, nodding toward the front windows. “The drivers probably throw the boxes and run.”
