Star-Crossed (3 page)
“I’ve never been so glad to see a doctor.”
Romeo laughed despite his general bitterness with life. “You and me both.
Sometimes I’m happy I don’t share a full gene pool with him.” Nova laughed with him. “Pity me.”
“Fuck both of yous,” Tino snapped and then turned to glare at the doctor, who was gaping at the three of them. “What the fuck are you looking at?” The doctor held up a hand passively—Tino’s muscular build made him intimidating to most men. The doctor’s gaze darted from Tino to Romeo. “Do we have a problem I don’t know about? I can come back.”
“Hell no.” Romeo stuck out his bandaged hand quickly, hoping to lure the doctor with the sight of blood. “Fix it so I can get outta here. Hospitals give me the creeps.”
“You’re in the wrong profession then.” The doctor cast another concerned look at Tino, who was running a hand through his hair and was twitchy like he always got right before he started something that usually ended badly. The doctor turned back to 16
Romeo, looking nervous. “You were involved in the same incident as Mr. Powers and Miss Dylan, correct?”
“Yeah.” Romeo unwrapped his hand quickly. He really was desperate to get out of the hospital. “I told those ambulance guys I didn’t need help, but the cops were barking at me and the hotel manager was sweating over getting sued. Like I need their damn money. Sorry, man, this is probably a big waste of your time.”
“Oh, I dunno.” The doctor looked at Romeo’s hand, which was still bleeding.
“You definitely need stitches.”
“Great.” Romeo rolled his eyes. “Just what I need, more stitches.” The doctor lifted his gaze and stared pointedly at the line of stitches above Romeo’s eyebrow. “Get them often?”
“I’ve had my fair share.”
“I saw Saturday’s fight.” The doctor turned to the sink and started washing his hands. “It was pretty exciting.”
“Not from where I’m sitting,” Romeo said darkly. “I think Saturday’s fight sucked.”
“Hey, maybe we oughta get a real doctor in here. A specialist,” Nova snapped, making it obvious he was angry over the fight conversation and was about to start something to defend Romeo. “You don’t want some crackpot intern doing a hack job.”
“That was the first fight Romeo lost—ever,” Tino added protectively as he narrowed dark, menacing eyes at the doctor. “His fists are worth more than your life.”
“Okay.” Romeo knew this was about to go downhill fast. “You two need to get lost. Why don’t you take off and let this guy do his job?”
“What?” Nova gave him a look of disbelief. “No way, man. We’re not just gonna leave you here and—”
“You guys are suffocating the hell outta me.” Romeo rolled his shoulders and avoided his brother’s eyes, leaving it unsaid that he was still pissed off that their family
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bullshit was messing with his career. “Lemme sit here and get my hand sewn up in peace. I’ll catch a cab back to the hotel.”
Nova hesitated for a long moment. Guilt showed on his handsome face once more before he nodded. “Okay, Rome. If you don’t wanna be around us—”
“I don’t,” Romeo assured them, not knowing why it was surprising. “I really don’t, Casanova.” He used Nova’s full name in the same voice their mother had when she was disappointed. “I need space.”
Tino and Nova both stood there looking hurt. For a moment they reminded Romeo of the two broken kids that’d lost their mother and had no one in the world to depend on except a nineteen-year-old brother who didn’t have a pot to piss in and barely knew how to take care of himself. Romeo almost caved and asked them to stay, even if they were bullying the doctor for shits and giggles. To say nothing of putting a career Romeo loved in jeopardy just to please a father and a grandfather who didn’t deserve their loyalty.
Almost, but not quite. The wounds cut a little too deep this time.
“I’ll see you.” Romeo turned away from them, spying the doctor washing his hands much slower than necessary.
He was sure their family drama would be the topic of conversation for months to come. Usually he loved being a UFC fighter. He’d worked hard to get where he was, and Romeo was vain enough to admit he liked the attention. He certainly appreciated those seven-figure paychecks, but every once in a while it truly sucked being famous.
Nova and Tino left.
No questions, no hug, they just sulked and disappeared in a way Romeo would have thought was impossible for his brothers. No matter how mad he got—and he was pissed off at them on a regular basis—they usually ignored the annoyance and smothered him anyway. Maybe it was because Nova and Tino were Italian through and through and therefore naturally open and affectionate. Maybe it was because it’d been the three of them against the world for a little too long for it not to leave a mark.
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Whatever the reason, this was the first time in memory that Romeo parted ways with his brothers so sullenly.
“Your brother’s name is Casanova?”
Feeling dazed, his heart hurting over the wedge that’d been driven between him and his brothers, Romeo turned back to the doctor. “Yeah.” The doctor gave a nervous half laugh, making it obvious Romeo was every bit as intimidating as his mafioso brothers. Perhaps more so because Romeo had over seven inches and fifty pounds on both of them.
“That’s—unique.”
“My mother had a thing for romantic heroes.” Romeo felt that pang in his chest become more pronounced. “She believed in them for some reason.”
“Huh.” The doctor pulled on his gloves. “Betcha got teased for that in school.” Romeo offered his left hand for the doctor when he sat on a stool in front of him.
He flexed his fingers, showing off the massive span of his broad, opened palm, and asked drily, “Do I look like I got teased in school?”
“No.” The doctor stared down at Romeo’s hand in awe. “I’m willing to bet you did just fine in high school.”
“Are you gonna sew up my hand or what?”
The doctor reached out, delicately touching the long cut that ran up the side of his palm. “I’m going to clean it first. I want to make sure all the glass is out.”
“Bring it on,” Romeo said, his voice heavy with disinterest. If anything, he welcomed the distraction. “Do your worst.”
* * * *
“We waited for you.”
Romeo rolled his eyes as he stepped into the waiting room with ten fresh stitches in his hand. He spotted his brothers sitting side by side in white plastic chairs. “Of course you did.”
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They jumped up and walked over to Romeo, looking concerned. Nova got to him first and tilted his head to eye Romeo’s bandaged hand. “Took you a long time.”
“Pigs cornered me before the doc was even finished sewing me up, and took my statement, and you know that takes
forever
.”
“I still don’t understand why you’d deliberately throw yourself in the middle of this shit,” Nova muttered under his breath because the police were still crawling all over the hospital. “I’d rather cut out my own eyeball than deal with a buncha pigs, and you had to know this was gonna happen.”
Actually Romeo hadn’t considered spending forty-five minutes dealing with two of Las Vegas’s finest when he’d pulled Clay Powers’s girl away from her crazy ex-husband. If he
had
, he might have changed his mind because no one hated cops worse than Romeo.
“Yeah, that was a fun wrap-up to a shitty week,” Romeo agreed. “Anyway, I need to get outta this place.”
Tino shuddered. “Me too. You’re the
only
one I’d sit in that hospital waiting room for, Rome, ’cause I hate ’em. Even without pigs crawling all over the place, I hate ’em.” He contemplated Tino for one long moment, knowing he despised hospitals for the same reason Romeo did. They’d spent four years sitting in uncomfortable plastic chairs and eating bland hospital food while their mother battled cancer.
Romeo grabbed Tino’s powerful bicep through the thin material of his T-shirt. He pulled his brother close and then draped an arm over his shoulder. “Thanks for waiting.”
Nova breathed a sigh of relief and pushed aside Tino as he gave Romeo an enthusiastic hug. “You knew we would. We’d never leave you alone in this place. Hell, no.”
“Let’s bounce.” Romeo pulled Tino close once more because he was the baby and something about the hospital conversation had Romeo wanting to coddle him a little.
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He was still pissed at both of them, but he’d be angry later. “We’ll chill at the hotel tonight; then we can get the fuck outta Vegas. I’m over it.”
“I like Vegas,” Nova argued, walking on Romeo’s other side as they headed out of the hospital. “What the hell is there not to like about Vegas?” Big surprise, anyone who had a brain like Nova loved Vegas. The asshole could bounce from table to table and make a fortune, but it was more than that. It was the challenge. A way to keep his brain busy for a few days and usually Tino and Romeo just liked to watch him do it, but not for this trip. All three of them had been tense the whole week.
“This time?” Romeo laughed. “I can give you a whole friggin’ list of reasons not to like it.”
Nova sighed as they walked past the automatic doors. “We’re sorry about the fight. It had to be done, but I know you don’t wanna hear it.” Romeo didn’t want to talk about it. He wanted to stand there and breathe in the dry Las Vegas air and flush away the smell of the hospital. In fact, he did just that, just stopped on the sidewalk entrance and worked on breathing in and out. He silently prayed to his mother, to the mother Mary, to
any
maternal being somewhere in the universe that could help the three of them out of the holy shit of trouble that seemed to follow them no matter how hard Romeo fought for something better.
He was so distracted by his inner thoughts that he only barely heard the soft twang of a Southern accent echo over the courtyard in front of the hospital. There were people all over the place dealing with the aftermath of the incident at the hotel.
“And I’m Clay Powers’s lawyer. Here’s my card.”
“Right, Jules Conner—”
“Oh no, don’t write that on the statement. I go by Jules for short.”
“It’s printed on your card.”
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“The judges I work with at home know my legal name, and seeing as how I live with the sheriff, all the important people know to put my real name on legal statements.
It’s J-U-L-I-E-T.”
Romeo turned around in surprise, looking to the tall, blonde woman leaning against the side of the building and talking to a police officer with a clipboard. She wore jeans and a white shirt that dipped low in the front, showing the curve of firm breasts.
Romeo studied her silently, taking in the cut look to her bare upper arms. She was a little too fit, a little too tall, and she probably intimidated most men because of it.
Especially considering she was drop-dead gorgeous. Her hair, tied high in a ponytail was that unique shade of golden blonde impossible to capture from a bottle.
He’d seen this woman before, but for the life of him he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t paid more attention to her, because Melody Dylan might not be his type, but this one certainly was. Romeo was six-six and weighed two hundred and sixty-one pounds at his last weigh-in. Most women tended to wilt under him, but he could tell this one was different, and he found that decidedly enthralling.
“I think that’s the Deputy’s wife.”
“What?” Romeo whispered, not taking his eyes off the woman who was still giving her statement to the police officer.
“That chick you’re gawking at, she’s the Deputy’s wife.” Nova spoke low enough so only Romeo and Tino could hear. “I’ve seen her talking to him after fights, and I know she’s been on old fight footage. She used to compete in the circuit. They probably met there.”
Romeo remembered now where he’d seen her. At breakfast this morning she’d been sitting at Clay’s table next to Wyatt “The Deputy” Conner, a former light heavyweight UFC fighter who’d quit fighting to pursue police work full-time as a sheriff for his hometown. It was a bizarre career move that had made him even more famous than his fighting, especially considering his friendship with Clay Powers still left him heavily involved in the sport.
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“She must’ve married the prick when they were young,” Nova offered. “If memory serves, her name’s been Conner forever.”
“Your memory always serves.” Romeo couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s like having a walking database at your side.”
“God, I hate that asshole Conner.” Tino sounded disgusted. “Can you believe that cocky hick is getting a fine piece of ass like that? What the fuck is wrong with the world? That guy is a total schmuck.”
Romeo couldn’t argue with that. He hated Conner more than Tino did. He was mouthy and arrogant and annoying as all hell. When Romeo finally worked up the strength to watch the after-fight footage last night, he’d ended up closing his laptop after a few minutes because Conner’s condescending breakdown of Saturday’s fight had him wanting to throw his computer through the hotel window. If he hadn’t already had a low opinion of police officers, Wyatt Conner would have done him in.
Romeo should have turned tail and left, but he couldn’t seem to move. He’d just prayed for a solution, and that smooth, sexy Southern drawl had echoed across the courtyard with a confidence that forced him to pay attention. A man who believed in omens might pursue the coincidence—and unfortunately for Juliet Conner, Romeo most definitely believed in omens.
Romeo pushed at Nova’s back, shoving him none too gently in the direction of the parking lot. “Why don’t you two take off?”
“You’re gonna try and nail Conner’s girl?” Tino asked incredulously. “The Deputy? Mr. Lawman himself?”
“Bye,” Romeo said rather than explain. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but there was an actual Juliet standing there looking gorgeous, and he couldn’t see just walking away without saying anything. “I’ll meet you at the hotel.”
“Rome, come on.” Nova grabbed his wrist when Romeo made a move to go after her. “You don’t wanna talk to this chick. She’s trouble.” Romeo turned around and gaped. “You’re telling
me
about trouble?”
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“It’s a bad idea to piss off a guy like Conner. Old-school cops like to snoop, and we don’t need anyone in our business. You can get any woman you want. Cut this one loose.”
Romeo knew Nova had a point. Beautiful, compelling, forbidden, Romeo felt like he was walking away from destiny, but he nodded anyway. “You’re right.” Nova breathed a sigh of relief. “I
am
right.” Romeo turned to leave, deciding to go back to breathing in and out and flushing the stink of hospital and the bitterness of failure out of his body. He was having a really hard time with this loss, and it was almost a sure bet a mob bullet would have been easier to deal with.
They walked along the sidewalk, heading toward the parking lot to find the rental car. Nova gripped Romeo’s shoulder, squeezing it affectionately, making it obvious he understood his inner turmoil. It didn’t help that they had to pass Juliet, who’d finished up her conversation with the police officer and was walking to the front entrance of the hospital. She had her gaze on her phone but looked up as they walked past.
“Oh!” Juliet gasped when she saw them. “Wellings, wait!” Romeo turned to her. A pulse of excitement shot down his spine and found its way to his dick when she rushed up to him. With hair sparkling like spun gold in the sunlight, and eyes such a stunning shade of blue they seemed to glow, she was captivating up close, and Romeo’s breath caught as he studied her. She was taller than he’d realized, probably close to five-eleven, and Romeo liked that for once he didn’t feel like a giant while standing next to a woman.
“I wanted to say thank you.” Juliet reached out and touched his arm, her small fingernails brushing against his bicep. “What you did for Melody? That was just—” She swallowed hard, her eyes growing watery as she looked up at him. “I dunno why you risked your life like that, but I want you to know how much we appreciate it.
I
appreciate it, because Melody’s the sweetest little thing in the world, and Clay loves her so much. I dunno what would’ve happened if you hadn’t stepped in.” 24
“Are they okay?” Romeo’s voice sounded rough even to his own ears. “I know the ambulance drivers said Powers would probably be okay, but he did get shot, and Melody was bleeding all over the place and—”
“Oh yeah, they’re fine,” Juliet assured him quickly. “They’re keeping Clay overnight, but he’ll be fine. Melody needed a buncha stitches, and her shoulder’s kinda messed up, but—”
“Shit, I did that.” Romeo winced. “I guess it was the adrenaline. I didn’t know my own strength.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Better a bum shoulder than the alternative.” Juliet held out her hand. “I’m Jules Conner.”
“Like Wyatt Conner?” Romeo couldn’t help but ask as he shook her hand and felt that electric pulse once more. “
The Deputy.
”
“Yeah.” Jules rolled her eyes. “He’s my brother, but don’t hold that against me.”
Bingo.
Romeo grinned in triumph. Of course she was his sister. He should’ve known with how tall she was. Wyatt Conner was nearly his height, and Romeo was sure if he had a full-blooded sister, she’d have easily been as tall as Juliet.
“I’m Romeo Wellings,” he offered, though it seemed redundant. He just used the moment to hold on to her hand for a few more milliseconds. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are y’all in town another night?” Jules asked, looking from Romeo to his brothers beside him.
Nova and Tino spoke in unison. “No.”
“Yes,” Romeo said at the same time. His brothers turned to him, dark eyes wide and concerned, but he ignored them. “They’re leaving tonight,” he lied and stomped on Nova’s foot for good measure when he made a choked sound of denial. “
Now
, actually.
But I’m free all night.”
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“Lemme buy you dinner,” Jules said so earnestly Romeo would have been inclined to agree even if this woman didn’t have him feeling fidgety and sixteen. “It’s the least I can do.” Her smile grew broader, more endearing and genuine. “Say yes.”
“Yes,” Romeo said without hesitation. “What time?” Jules glanced at her phone and then looked up with a guilty wince. “I’ll be a while.
I’m Clay’s lawyer. I got to finish a few more things with the police, and I wanna make sure Clay’s settled. Melody’s likely staying the night with him at the hospital, so I’ll have to grab them some things from the hotel. Is eight too late?”
“Eight’s perfect.” Romeo resisted the urge to take in all of her with a long, sweeping look, because it was obvious Jules was in that strange lawyer mode that was common for her breed. She was friendly and professional and obviously intent to wrap up everything for Clay, including a proper thank-you to the big fool who’d saved Melody’s life. Trying to play the game, he became cordial. “You wanna give me your phone number, and we’ll touch base once you’re done with everything here?”
“Oh yes, good idea.” Jules reached into her purse to pull out a business card and an expensive gold pen. She laughed to herself, shaking her head as she wrote on the back of the card. “If you would’ve told me yesterday I’d be buying Romeo Wellings dinner, I’d have called you crazy. Things change faster than I can keep up with sometimes.”
Romeo had to agree. The very last thing he expected to be doing on his remaining night in Las Vegas was having dinner with Wyatt Conner’s sister. He’d spent a good deal of time hating the bastard. The irony wasn’t lost on him, and his smile was wide as he took Jules’s card when she offered it. He stared at her cell number on the back.