“Sometimes,” I begin, the words pouring out before I can stop them, “I worry that you’re a monster.”
Roman exhales, long and controlled. Then, very carefully, he cups my face and looks me straight in the eye.“You are right.”
At first, I’m not sure I heard him correctly. “I’m what?”
“You’re right. I am a monster.”
I don’t know how to respond. I hold his gaze, which even in that moment I can’t help but recognize as impossibly handsome.
“I am a monster,” he says. “But I’myourmonster. I have killed. But now, I only kill for you. To protect you, and to protect Sasha.”
I should recoil.
I don’t.
Instead, I reach up and cradle his face between my hands, thumbs brushing the stubble at his jaw. Tears spill down my cheeks.
He’s a killer. He’s a monster. But he’s mine.
One week. That’s how much time I’d asked for to make myself ready to tell him. But as I stand there, his face in my hands, I realizethisis the moment.
“There’s one more person you’re going to have to protect,” I whisper.
He cocks his head to the side in curiosity. I take his hand from my face and place it on my belly. His eyes widen.
“I’m pregnant. And we’re going to need you, Roman.”
CHAPTER 43
AMALIE
“Come. Let us talk. Away from all of this.”
Roman doesn’t let me stay in the basement for much longer. He wraps an arm around me and together we head up the stairs. As we pass the interrogation room, I steal a glance inside. Andrei already has the man’s body bagged and is in the middle of spraying down the floor.
The reason for all the stainless steel suddenly becomes horribly clear.
Roman reaches out and closes the door, the sound of spraying water abruptly ending. He guides me with just enough force to keep me moving, understanding this is the last place I should be right now.
We enter the kitchen, where he pours me a glass of water and places it in my hands. I take small sips as he leads me to his office, the water heaven in my dry mouth. Once in the office, he turns on the fire and leads me to the couch. Flames throw light across his face, catching his eyes, the contrast of the danger and the humanity highlighted.
He crouches in front of me, taking my hands into his. “You’re shaking,” he says softly.
“I just watched you kill a man,” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“And then I told you I was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s after we narrowly avoided death at an art gala.”
“Yes.”
“So… not exactly the most normal evening.”
A tiny whisper of a smile. “It is not. But it is real.”
