Is it childish? Yes.
Do I give a fuck?No.
He turns on me, his eyes sparkling with something sinister. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that.”
I bolt into the house, pushing Roman, who looks like he just woke up, aside.
“What’s going on?” He questions, lifting a thick, unimpressed brow at me when he doesn’t even budge.
“Stop him!” I shout, pointing towards the deck as Kairo launches himself past the threshold. I run around Roman, using him as a human shield before he steps into his friend’s path and stops the blonde in his tracks.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Roman asks through clenched teeth.
He sounds pissed.
Kairo peeks over the brick wall separating us before pointing at me. “This isn’t over.”
I lift my middle finger, smiling when the blonde tries to push Roman out of the way, but doesn’t succeed.
“Stop,” Roman commands, his voice booming with authority. “That’s enough.” He looks between us, his jaw grinding. “Don’t make me separate you.”
“Please do,” I implore.
Those harsh eyes cut to me, and I’m transported back to the last day I saw them—the stairwell incident. The lack of remorse I witnessed on his stony features and how it was my breaking point. That was the day that changed my life for the better, and it was all because I couldn’t stomach what I had seen. The lack of compassion and empathy.
Some things never change.
“We need to go over the new security plans and start our investigation,” Roman says in that no-nonsense way of his.
I lift my chin dismissively. “Then get to it. Charlie gave you her direct information last night. She’ll handle any concerns you may have.” I turn on my heel before Roman stops me.
“Not so fast,” he commands. “We aren’t going through a fucking middleman while we live together. That’s not happening.”
I roll my eyes before begrudgingly turning back to him. “Living togetheris a little strong. I prefer the term employed.”
That strong jaw works as if I’m the most insufferablehuman alive, and I have to admit, it feels pretty good to work Roman up this way. “We’re living together. Now, we can either sit down and discuss this like adults or create our own file. The choice is yours.”
Oh, I don’t like the implication behind that. I don’t like the idea of any of them peaking into my past, but if anyone is going to find out, I would rather it come from me than a few prodding searches on the internet.
I sigh, feeling a little defeated. “Fine. Shouldn’t Maddox be here too, then?”
The two men exchange a look before Kairo shrugs innocently and leaves Roman and me near the back door.
Being left alone with the leader is a lot like being set on fire. Roman is all blunt honesty and silent authority—a commanding presence that orders attention rather than asking politely. He’s also far bigger than I last saw him, and well over six feet. Pair it with the dark black and white tattoo of an animal skull inked into the front of his throat with curling, sharp horns that curve upwards near his jaw, and the striking pale blue eyes that are so light they almost blend into the whites, and you’ve got a beast rather than a man.
That gaze fixates on me, and I shift subtly as my skin burns. “I’m going to ask you something, Rosalie, and I need you to be truthful with me.”
I tilt my head. “Sure?”
Roman rubs a hand across his mouth, those thick fingers painted with more ink, beckoning my sight. I’m so lost in observing him that I blink when he begins to speak. “Did anything…happenlast night?”
My head rears slightly before the memory of Maddox sitting in my room as if he belonged there comes crashing back to me. “Um, no?”
I don’t know why I’m lying for him. I shouldn’t be. I hate these three more than anyone else, but that doesn’t seem to stop me.
Roman nods. “Good. Do me a favor. Lock your doors atnight.”
Oh…
