My Dark Romeo: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance(130)

Senior cleared his throat, unused to having his authority questioned in such a public manner. “There’s nothing more you can do. The annual shareholders meeting only comes once a year. Sit down.”

I pivoted to his lackeys, ignoring my father. “One million dollars to each of you if you step aside.”

They glanced at each other, trying to gauge whether I’d follow through on the promise.

“The offer reduces by a hundred K with each passing second. One—”

They scattered out the door.

From the podium, Senior still hadn’t gotten the hint that destroying Costa Industries meant jack shit compared to Dallas.

“Sit down, Romeo Costa Jr., or so help me, you will never step foot in this room again, let alone as CEO of Costa Industries.”

I bolted out the door and never looked back.





The Maybach stalled at the curb by the time I escaped the building. Cara must’ve alerted Jared.

I hustled into the back seat, producing my phone from my pocket.

“Where to, Boss?” Jared examined me from the rearview mirror, tipping his hat down.

Dallas once pestered me about relieving him of his uniform. Claimed he must have felt like a circus monkey in it.

Dallas.

Next time she made a suggestion, even if it was donating both my kidneys to science, I would fulfill it without delay.

If there was a next time.

“Home.” I managed not to shout. “As fast as you can.”

Jared offered me a curt nod and fished a bottled water from the mini fridge next to him, handing it over to me, as he always did.

I didn’t have any goddamn time for his routine.

Tucking it under my arm, I shot a text to Zach and Oliver.

Romeo Costa



@ZachSun How fast can you track Madison Licht’s location?





Ollie vB



County jail? FBI holding facility?





Or, if there is a god, a CIA black site?





I sipped the water, trying my hardest not to lose my composure as I waited for a real response.

I’d get there in time.

I had to.

Romeo Costa



He’s out on bail.





Ollie vB



Shit.





Zach Sun



If he has his phone on him, a minute.





Hold.





Romeo Costa



@ZachSun, you done? It’s been a fucking minu





A chill bolted through my skin, hiking up every hair on my body. As if I’d been electrocuted.

Must be static friction.

But I couldn’t finish typing out my sentence.

A roll of nausea crashed into my gut like a fist. A guttural growl escaped my lips. I raised the water bottle, intending to sip again, and noticed my hands shaking.

My hands never shook.

I inventoried my symptoms.

Trembling hands. Sluggish breaths. Hazy vision.

My entire body twisted inside out like snakes slithered within it.

Jared’s eyes met mine across the rearview mirror before scurrying back to the road ahead. I knew guilt when I saw it.

And I could taste betrayal from a thousand miles away.

I’d been poisoned.

Madison or Bruce?

I didn’t even have to think twice.

Madison, of course.

Bruce was conniving but too conventional to murder. The man was as edgy as a softball.

Madison must have paid my driver to kill me. Problem was, I had no idea what he’d laced into the water. No way of knowing how grim my situation was or what the antidote might be.

I doubted Jared knew, either.

One thing was certain—mentioning it to him now, while I was too weak to breathe properly, would be a mistake.

Returning my attention to my phone, I wrote one word.

Romeo Costa



Poisoned.





Within half a second, Zach’s name flashed on my screen.

I accepted the call, too ill to speak. Just as well, as Zach didn’t want my conversation. He needed my location through his GPS app.

“I can’t wait to get home,” I croaked out, so he could hear where I was headed. Judging by the scenery, I’d make it there in four minutes.

Texts darted down my screen.

Ollie vB



I sent an ambulance over to your house.





Heading there now.





Side note—I love how you insisted on putting a period after the word poison, even on your deathbed.





Your passion for good grammar is commendable.





Oh, and keep whatever you drank or ate with you, so we can run a check and see what’s in there.





I was grateful my friends, despite exhibiting the mental age of thirteen normally, were resourceful in crunch time.

Relief swept through me when I realized Madison would probably leave Shortbread alone. No point harming her without me alive to witness it.

Jared’s shoulders rattled with nerves. He tossed glances at me through the mirror, clutching the steering wheel in a death grip, leaving indents of sweat on the plush leather cover.