me to die.”
Lawrence leapt at the statement, his eyes pleading for understanding. “But it’s not right, what transpired. Everything went wrong. And then Paris arrived bringing further pain and tragedy. That’s a forever kind of curse he issued against you, Romeo. Coming from one also wronged, his curse has the power to hold throughout the centuries and keep you from finding peace. I had to do something to complete my role. Give you another chance to right these wrongs.”
Romeo shook his head. He’d heard it before. This time didn’t make any difference. “ I should have let Paris kill me. At least I wouldn’t be here with you looking out across forever.”
Lawrence kept a rein on his impatience. White lines around his mouth and eyes spoke of the pressure to stay quiet, a struggle plain and clear. There had been outbursts before as a result of these discussions. The man driven to frustration and anger over Romeo’s denial of “his gift.”
Lawrence held himself responsible for the tragedy. He counseled Juliet to take the potion and pretend the death Romeo took as truth.
In the end, what other choice did he have except to consume the poison? To die with Juliet?
But she hadn’t been dead! Not until she shoved the blade of the dagger under her ribs.
The secrets, lies, and misunderstandings that shadowed their short courtship and marriage followed them into the grave and continued with Romeo’s withdrawal from Verona.
He would live a lie for all eternity. Just not as Romeo Montague. That boy died.
“There will be another time, Romeo. You have to wait and watch. Stay vigilant. You’ll know when it’s time. You’ ll know what to do.”
“Words are little comfort when even you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I have foreseen it. It will come to pass. God will show me the how in time. Fate suffered a blow that night, knocking your path down a new fork. That road will eventually lead back to the beginning. It always does.”
...
Rom didn’t wait for Lawrence to discover God’s intent. He’d packed the few items he’d salvaged from his former life and struck out. Alone. Heading north into the mountains. Into the unknown. Into a life as a mercenary.
If death be denied him, then death be his calling.
But perhaps he should have waited. Lawrence did discover the answer and couldn’t find Rom to tell him. And so Lawrence had left him a message. A message that would endure, however many centuries it took to find Rom in Chicago.
Rom only need find the rest of the message now. To go back to the beginning.
But first, he needed to visit Juliet. If he could still find her.
Chapter Eight
It seemed all her bridges had burned in a matter of twenty-four hours. Each time Jule tried to fall back to safety, another one went up in flame.
She collapsed onto her bed, trying to keep the tears at bay. Her eyes burned with the effort, but not a single tear escaped.
She channeled her frustration and surveyed her belongings in the room, considering the effort it would take to find a new place and move.
She couldn’t live under her father’s roof anymore. Not after tonight.
“Jule, why the long face?”
She jerked up into a sitting position to find Pio lounging in the doorway to her bedroom.
Jule flew off the bed to meet Pio standing up, her heart pounding with surprise.
He appeared as he always did after business hours, jacketless, but with his tie still firmly knotted at the throat of a crisp dress shirt.
He also wore his trademark patient smile.
“What are you doing here?” More importantly, “How did you get in?”
“Darling, I have a key to the house. Your father gave it to me years ago. I’ve used it dozens of times.” He straightened from his casual slouch and gave her body a quick inspection. “Are you all right? You don’t seem yourself.”
“I’ve had some disappointments today, you know, unexpected news.”
“I see.” Pio moved into the room without an invitation and
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