Page 94 of From Rome, With Hate

I look back at Rome. His face has gone completely slack. His skin is pale and his eyes are spread wide with fear. He’s completely frozen.

“Hey.” I lift my hand and pull him to look at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He clears his throat, unable to look at me long before his eyes are back on his phone. I sit back on my heels when he finally picks it up.

It’s still ringing in his hand when he finally says, “The only people to ever call me from an unknown number has been Rhys and the guy trying to kill us.”

“Oh.” The blood drains from my face.

With his eyes pinned to mine, he places his free hand on my bare thigh and presses the green button with his other, putting the call on speaker.

A chill wraps around my spine when Rome says, “Hello?”

“Montgomery.”

Rome relaxes slightly, his fingers loosening their grip around my thigh. “Rhys.”

Although Rome appears to be relieved it’s Rhys over the man trying to murder us, I can’t say I feel the same. Nothing good ever comes from talking with the mafia. Not only did I know about Dominico Montgomery’s crimes from Rome, butI also heard about them from my father long before. Rhys is dangerous, no matter how charming he is.

“How has the lying low been going?” Rhys asks.

Rome’s attention is still on me as he considers his answer.

I give him a small supportive smile of reassurance.

Rome clears his throat. “Yeah, it’s been okay.”

“Just, okay?” Rhys answers, humor lacing his voice. “I figured shacking up with your old family enemy and estranged wife of ten years would have warranted a little more of a colorful description than that.”

Both mine and Rome’s eyes widen.

“How?” Rome lifts his hand from my thigh to his mouth, running his fingers across it before continuing. “How did you know about my marriage?”

“Come on, now, Montgomery.” Rhys laughs, his Irish accent growing thicker with every word. “You don’t give me enough credit. Like how I know she’s listening to our conversation right now.”

Rome pops up from his seat, and I frantically snap my head in either direction, searching the grounds.

“Don’t worry.” Rhys cackles, amused with himself. “I’m not there spying on you right now. Don’t forget I’m not the one trying to kill you both. As I told your brother, Julianna, I don’t hold with killing family.”

Rome’s hardened gaze shoots for mine. The air leaves my lungs in one swift breath.

“What?” I wet my lips, swallowing my nerves. “What do you mean?”

“Well.” He sighs heavily into the phone. “Turns out, Montgomery, when I told you I was finished with you, I wasn’t being completely truthful. Your business unfortunately became mine when I discovered the Capuleti princess was your wife.”

“I don’t understand,” I choke out.

“I thought Holt would have told you after our encounter about seven months ago.”

“No, he didn’t.” I don’t even know what Rhys is about to tell me but, either way, I plan on killing Holt for keeping this secret from me.

“He blamed me for your mother’s murder, but it turned out it was on my father’s orders, not mine. Nearly killed his then girlfriend to get him to stop pursuing me. That is until I found out she was pregnant. Like I said, I don’t hold with killing family.”

“I’m sorry.” I blink rapidly, pressing my fingers to my forehead. “I’m confused. How exactly are we related? And your dad was the one who ordered my mother’s murder?”

“Really, you should talk to Holt for all the details about your mother’s murder. I’ve moved on and made my peace with it. He has as well.” He sighs again. “But to answer your first question, we’re cousins. Your mother was my father’s sister.”

“Holy shit,” Rome blurts out.