His Juliet: An Age Gap Hurt Comfort Mafia Romance (Empire of Royals Book 2)

I stared at my phone, my finger hovering above Juliet’s name. I was back in my apartment after going to the port. We hadn’t found anything, but several hours of crouching behind shipping containers meant my back was fucking screaming at me, reminding me I wasn’t a young man anymore.

I flopped back on the couch, staring at her name on my screen as if it would conjure her. Only a few hours had passed since I’d been with Juliet, but I was already having withdrawals.

I kept thinking about her. The way she let out a little snort when she laughed. The soft curves of her body. The way she’d leaned in to comfort me that first night when I admitted what I’d never said out loud about needing my father’s forgiveness.

We had been so close to kissing before we were interrupted. Maybe that was the problem. I hadn’t had the chance to get her out of my system.

The moment I had the thought, I felt sick. Juliet was already in my system and I didn’t want to fuck her out of it. I wanted to keep her close and treasure and spoil her. The realization that I wanted more with her left me stunned. Had I ever had this feeling? My excitement was immediately crushed under an ice-cold wave of reality. Juliet wasn’t part of my world. She wouldn’t understand the darkness I lived in, and I wouldn’t drag her into it.

I threw my phone on the couch with a groan. I should let her live her life and move on with mine, but I didn’t know if I was strong enough for that.

Maybe we could be friends. That way, I could make sure she was taken care of while still keeping enough of a distance to ensure her safety.

Speaking of taking care of her, I had something else I needed to do. I hopped off the couch, ignoring how my knees creaked, and headed to Sienna’s apartment. I nodded at Dante, her guard posted in the hallway, and knocked on her door.

Seconds passed and my impatience grew. She finally opened the door with crossed arms and raised eyebrows.

“You know it’s past midnight. I could have been sleeping.”

I rolled my eyes. We were all night owls in this building. “You know you’ll be up for at least two more hours.”

She grumbled, but stepped aside to let me in.

“I need a favor.”

“Surprise, surprise,” Sienna said.

I followed her into the kitchen where a plate of cookies was waiting next to her boiling kettle. Sleeping my ass.

She caught me looking at them and rolled her eyes. “One cookie, okay? I swear my brother ate almost all of them earlier. I barely managed to sneak these away.”

Sofiya was an amazing baker, and we all fought like rabid creatures to get our hands on as many treats as we could.

I grabbed two chocolate chip cookies, and she scowled. “Not the behavior of a man who wants a favor.”

I grinned. Needling Sienna was fun. I may have been an only child, but she was like a sister to me.

She poured us cups of tea and then fixed me with a stare. “Okay, what is this favor you need in the middle of the night?”

“Can you see information about specific businesses managed by Empire Properties?”

She scrunched her nose. “That is literally the last thing I thought you’d say. You’re interested in the legitimate side of things now?”

“As if,” I scoffed. There was no world where I could imagine myself leaving the Family and going legitimate. Working outside the law was too much fun. “I just need information about one particular business.”

“Uh huh,” she said, setting her tea down and grabbing her laptop. “And what business is this?”

“Olive Branch Bookstore.”

I ate my cookies while she typed on her computer.

“Okay. Olive Branch Bookstore. Owned by Arturo Prati. They’ve owned the bookstore for several generations and have always had ties with the Family.”

I grunted. “Can you see if they had a rent increase recently?”

“You have got to clue me in on what’s going on here,” she said.

“The other night I had to hide in that bookstore to escape the Butcher. I saw a letter that they had a rental increase and I thought I’d look into it as a thank you.”

Sienna tapped her long nails against her keyboard. “Well, that’s considerate of you. You must have been bored hiding out there if you started going through their mail. Alright, I do see a ten percent increase in rent.”

“Is that a lot?”noveldrama

She shrugged. “Not like I’ve ever paid rent.”

Talk about living in different worlds. Juliet had to worry about money, and judging by the shitty apartment building she lived in, she didn’t have a lot of it. It was unfair. Why should I have unlimited funds when Juliet was stressed about bookstore rent?

I ran my hand through my hair. “Can we reverse it? Lower the rent? She can’t pay it.”

“She? Who is she?” Sienna’s eyes lit up, and I cursed myself for my slip. “Now we’re getting somewhere,” she said, rubbing her hands together.

I tried to play off my mistake. “She is just the bookstore manager. Arturo is retired.”

“How do you know he’s retired?”

Fucking hell. I was usually better at evading questions than this.

“The manager might have been there the other night.”

“Ahh, so you want to make sure the cute bookseller doesn’t have to pay more rent.”

I crossed my arms. “How do you know she’s cute?”

Sienna just laughed. “I didn’t. I can adjust their rent in the system and mail her an official letter letting her know.”

“Thanks,” I said with a glare.

“I think you mean, thanks, you’re the best, smartest, prettiest hacker in the world.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Maybe I’ll go to this bookstore. Check it out.”

I stood to leave. “Stay out of it, Sienna. Leave the bookstore alone.”

“Whatever you say.”

I returned to my apartment, my resolve firm.

Romeo

How was the rest of your evening?

Juliet

Well now I know you’re a night owl

Shit. It was one in the morning.

Juliet

But that’s ok. I am too. The rest of my evening was fine. Quiet. You?

Romeo

Pretty quiet here too.

I was sweating bullets. Why was this so fucking hard? I’d rather be in a shoot-out than compose a text to Juliet.

Romeo

I have a proposal for you

Juliet

What kind of proposal?

Romeo

I think we should be friends

The bubble popped up, telling me she was typing, and then vanished before appearing again. I held my breath, waiting for her response.

Juliet

Interesting proposal.

Romeo

Yes very interesting.

What is your answer?

Juliet

You did steal my pizza and hold me hostage that one time…but I guess you made up for it with takeout tonight.

So I accept.

Dizzy relief washed over me. I didn’t allow myself to think too hard about why this was so important to me… why she was so important.

Romeo

That’s very gracious of you.

Juliet

That’s me

But also…thank you. I don’t have many friends

A hard lump took residence in my throat. My world was all about secrets and subterfuge, and here Juliet was, honest and vulnerable.

Romeo

Well now you’re stuck with me