Page 43 of From Rome, With Hate

The wind is knocked out of me. It feels like a brick was just hurled at my chest. No one has called me Julianna Montgomery since the weeks and months after we were married. Even then, the only person outside of Rome to ever call me it was Marcus, considering he’s the one who performed our marriage ceremony.

“That’s probably the last time you’ll be able to use that name, since you finally offered the divorce,” I offer, pretending he hasn’t just undone years of me hiding this part of my life.

“We’ll see,” he answers, not taking the bait. His mouth curls, knowing he isn’t playing my game.

I swallow thickly, fighting the urge to kiss the arrogant sneer right off his mouth. Or smack it off.

“Still isn’t safe for you to go on a walk, though” he adds.

Rome has never been one to control me. Obviously.

We’ve spent ten years being married on paper, but he’s never stopped me from living my life the way I want, the way we agreed, separately and free to do what and who we want.

While I suspect Rome’s insistence on not letting me go on a walk stems from protection, I refuse to be confined to the four walls of this house, especially when he’s tossing out my married name so easily.

I can’t handle it. I’m gasping for air, desperate for it.

“I’m going for a walk whether you want me to or not.”

“Lark,” he warns.

I raise my finger. “No. I can’t stay in this house with you all hours of the day. I need to breathe.”

His eyes search my face. For what, I don’t know, but I get the sense he’s reading me far easier than I’d like. Rome and I have never been able to resist each other for long once we’re together, and I’ve already been thinking thoughts that would cross the line we’ve drawn and somehow held for ten years.

“Fine. You can go on your silly little walk.” He reaches around me to open the door. “But I’m coming with you.” He grabs the pistol sitting on the small end table by the door and tucks it behind his back and under his belt.

“Okay.” I perk up, hoping my sudden shift in mood irritates him. “But no talking, and you maintain a distance of at least fifteen feet behind me at all times.”

“As you wish”—he holds the door open for me—“Mrs. Montgomery.”

FOURTEEN

ROME

Her outfit change fucked with my head.

Not only because it’s been ten years since I’ve seen her wear it—under completely different circumstances, I might add—but because those leggings make her ass look like a ripe fucking peach. A peach I could easily sink my teeth into.

Every time she steps on a branch or stumbles, her ass shakes, and my dick twitches. I’ve tried looking everywhere and anywhere else over the past ten minutes, but like a moth drawn to a flame, my gaze always swings back to her.

Other than the sight of her alone giving me the biggest case of blue balls I’ve ever had, I’ve abided by her conditions, sticking to the fifteen feet of distance behind her, as she requested. The sun is peeking through the trees to our left, but there are dark clouds rolling through in the distance. It looks like it’s going to rain before we have a chance to get back to the house, though Julianna doesn’t seem to care or notice. She’s been on a mission with this leisurely walk, as she’s calling it.

“Have you figured out who’s trying to kill us yet?”

I stuff my hands into my black slacks. “I thought you didn’t want to talk.”

“I don’t, but it’s too quiet.”

I snort. “Never thought there’d be a day where you preferred hearing my voice over the silence.”

She laughs. The sound does something to my insides, and I find myself grinning wholeheartedly.

“Seriously, though,” she says over her shoulder. “Have you found out anything?”

“Not yet,” I say, eyeing the trees. Julianna wanted to follow the trail my mother had carved through them, but I told her it was too risky. It’s easier for me to stay aware of our surroundings out in the open. I compromised and said we could stay along the tree line with the open field to our right.

“Oh,” Julianna mocks, turning to face me and walking backward. “Are you telling me, professional stalker, Rome Sebastian Montgomery, is losing his touch?”