Page 42 of From Rome, With Hate

“You’re just now catching onto me stalking you?” He laughs. “Come on, Lark. You’ve known I’ve stalked you for years.”

I drop the turkey and place my hands flat on the counter, hanging my head between my shoulders to force out a calming breath. Of course, I’ve always known Rome has kept an eye on me. It’s in the Montgomery DNA. It’s why he continues to pop up out of nowhere. It’s how he was able to track me down at the club.

It’s also part of the reason why I’ve never been able to escape him.

Once I’ve calmed my racing pulse, I stare him directly in the eye. “I’m aware.”

I snap my mouth shut, ready to wolf down this sandwich. Not only because I’m starving, but I’m hoping it’ll keep me from opening my mouth to talk to Rome. I take a bite, eyeing him over my sandwich. He watches me in silence as I chew.

Swallowing, I trail my tongue across my lips before taking another bite. Narrowing his eyes, Rome rests his hands on the edge of the counter. The air in the room turns tense.

I stare at him for longer than I have in years, taking note of the subtle changes. I’ve been too angry with him to bothernoticing how much older he seems now or how much he’s actually filled out. The sleeves of his shirt are strained as his muscles flex. His dark hair rests just above his brow, shadowing his deep blue eyes.

Rome Montgomery has always been unintentionally intense, even before I fell in love with him. But right now, with the way he’s staring me down, this is unmistakably intended, and I learned the only way to survive is to dish it right back.

Rome watches me until I’ve taken the last bite. I chew it with a smile before washing my hands and heading toward the back door as though I don’t have a care in the world.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

I pause with my hand on the large French door. “For a walk.”

“A walk?”

“You know?”—I spin around—“The thing humans do where they put one foot in front of the other at a leisurely pace?”

The muscles in his tightened jaw click. “Yeah.” He frowns, looking down at his feet as he crosses the room, ignoring my sarcasm. “Nope. Not happening.”

“Are you seriously telling me I can’t go for a walk?”

“It isn’t safe.”

“It isn’t safe?” I laugh in disbelief. “Your land is surrounded by a security fencing, and I’m willing to bet you all the money in my bank account that you have a million cameras and guardsmen posted.”

“Cameras, yes.” He crosses his arms defiantly. “Guardsmen, no. I’m not my father.”

My stomach sinks. Although I wasn’t the one who brought him up, Rome doesn’t like talking about his father. I don’t blame him. Talking about Dominico Montgomery sends a chill down my spine, too.

I roll my eyes and cross my arms beneath my chest to mimic Rome. My breasts push up above the scalloped trim of my top.

Rome’s heated gaze drops to them as he steps closer. I’m unprepared for the way he’s looking at me. I have no self-control. My gaze drops to his mouth, another type of hunger taking over.

The air in this house is stifling. I need fresh air and distance.

Fuck, I need to get out of here.

“I’m going on a walk, Rome.”

“Not by yourself.”

“I’ll have Marcus go with me then.”

He steps closer, and I step back, landing against the door, rattling it against the frame.

“Marcus isn’t here,” he says lowly. “He’s a little preoccupied in the city gathering all the items off that ridiculously long list you sent.”

“Every item I sent is important. My list was reasonable.”

“By whose standards? A normal person’s… or Julianna Montgomery’s?”