Romeo was naturally suspicious and scary. I honestly didn’t blame him. Who wouldn’t be when you spent years and years in a world where you couldn’t turn your back on anyone for fear of there being a knife stabbed straight between your shoulder blades? He wasn’t used to relying on anyone. He wasn’t used to having anyone stand up for him. He always had to fight his own battles.
I got it.
Being suspicious kept him from being hurt.
Being scary stopped the people he cared about from being hurt—because there were none.
Being alone meant not having to worry about this shit. It meant not having anything or anyone that could be used against you.
It’s why he’d changed his name so that Ham couldn’t find him.
It’s why he’d sent Phee away.
It’s why he struggled with the club lifestyle and wasn’t making an effort to fit in because the more people he cared about, the more ways he could be manipulated into doing the dirty work that he despised. It was hard for him to see the benefit of having people behind you, there to support you and fight for you if you need them.
I hoped he realized it soon because he couldn’t keep fighting on his own.
This sheriff—he’s made it obvious he isn’t just out to teach Romeo a lesson.
He was out for blood.
And it was going to take more than just one man to stop him.
“Meyah…” I jumped out of the chair, my eyes wide as I stared at my Uncle who was standing just in the doorway to the delivery wing. My heart stopped, a lump formed in my throat. Then he smiled, and I snapped, bursting into tears and running forward. His arms came around me, squeezing me tightly, and it was exactly what I needed right then. “Time to meet your new cousin.” He laughed.
I nodded eagerly, but before we turned and went in search of Hadley and the new baby, Leo’s face grew stern. “You, too, Romeo,” Uncle Leo ordered.
Romeo stood slowly and came forward, his brows knitting together, his eyes looking around. He hated the attention. “I got shit to—”
“You’re part of this damn family now,” Uncle Leo cut in, his voice low but hard. I could tell you, Romeo on a bad day had nothing on my Uncle Leo when it came to his family. “So get your fucking ass in here and meet my son.”