Those eyes looking up at me. That beautiful fucking face…
“Stop,” I say.
She keeps going, taking me deeper. I grab her head and pull myself out of her mouth. “I said stop.”
I step away from her and curiously, my eyes start to burn. I have to turn my back to her as I zip myself up. “Get your clothes on, get your things, and leave.”
She doesn’t say anything at first. Maybe she thought the sex would change things… or my admission… I don’t know. Finally, I hear her say my name. “Roman…”
“It’s not enough.” My voice cracks a little. Fuck. This is not how this happens. This woman will not break me. “You have to go, Ember.”
Nothing. No sound, no words. Just the feeling of her eyes on my back.
“Please.” The word comes out soft, but firm.
I hear her move at that. She doesn’t say anything as she gets her clothes back on. Nor does she speak when she walks out the door.
Once she’s gone, I go back to my abandoned drink and I tell myself that it’s better this way. It has to happen like this.
25
EMBER
It’s not enough. That’s probably the most hurtful thing he’s ever said… and Roman can weave a web of words that should have broken me in half. I find it interesting that in the end, it’s just those three words that do the job.
I guess he’s right in that I don’t truly understand the Bratva lifestyle. For all this, I should have told Rastelli everything… No, on second thought, at least I got to hear him tell me that he loves me. At least I got to feel his touch one last time.
I walk up to the second floor to get my unpacked bag. Not sure how I’m getting out of here. Probably will have to call an Uber. He didn’t call any of his men back…
I pass by Sasha’s bedroom and hear movement on the other side of the closed door. Isn’t she supposed to be in school?
I shouldn’t bother her. I mean, we were really just getting to know one another. I probably don’t owe her a thing in terms of a goodbye. However, I was just starting to like her and I think she was starting to like me too.
In another universe, I might’ve made her a great stepmother. I should say goodbye before I leave. It’s the decent thing to do.
I walk up to her door and knock. “Hey, Sasha? Are you in there?”
It takes a few seconds, but the doorknob turns and she opens it. She pokes her head out tentatively. “Hey,” she says, a worried look on her face.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
She sighs, then leans out the door toward the stairs. “He’s not downstairs, is he? Or any of his people?”
I shake my head. “Your father is busy in his study right now.”
She gives me a silent ‘oh’ as she nods. “Must be having a bad day today. That’s great. I sure picked a rotten day to skip class. He’ll kill me when he finds me up here.”
I shrug a little. “It’s still early. I’m sure you can get a ride.” It occurs to me that Ares was the one who was supposed to take her. Shit. Did I mess that up, too? “Oh… oh, that was your uncle’s job, wasn’t it?”
She shrugs and says, “He had to run, so he told one of the other guys to do it. And I told him that I didn’t have class today.” I’m speechless and it must show on my face because she adds, “They don’t know anything about me. My Dad barely knows when I have classes lately.”
“I’ll bet he wouldn’t let it slide, though. You should probably just go to school, Sasha. You don’t want to get anybody in trouble, right?”
“I guess,” she says. “I’d rather just stay home until whatever this is blows over, though. I mean, as opposed to having somebodyfollowing me around all day. Trust me. It’s way more disruptive than you’d think.”
I guess she’s got a point. “Well, just stay out of trouble. Your dad has enough on his plate.”
She smiles, then gives me an inquisitive tilt of her head. “That’s a funny way to say that. You going somewhere?”
