My body jerks in response to hearing Roman’s voice.
I slowly lift my head and meet his icy gaze. “Are you done?” he repeats calmly. Weird, I thought he’d be pissed at me. I narrow my eyes suspiciously—or is this how calm he is when he’s ready to end someone?
How long has he been stalking me in the dark?
“Why did you w-wait this long?” I stutter, shivering and rubbing my bare arms.
Roman crouches before me, studying my features as usual but perhaps with a bit more curiosity this time. “Because you needed to wear yourself out. You’re more sensible when you’re exhausted, or maybe I just like to watch you exert yourself, Squirt.”Really? Sarcasm?
I can’t even muster the energy to glare at him.
“I don’t want you guys in my house. I’m fucking l-leaving, even if I have to walk to the next t-town.”
He blows out an annoyed breath. “I’m getting tired of this. I’m not letting you go anywhere. You had your chance and you blew it. Besides, the guys are already making the place cozy for us. You know, since you suck at cleaning.”
“What?” I say with a little more emotion before a wave of exhaustion has me trembling once more.
“Tonight it’ll be just me. But tomorrow we’ll all be outposted there.” He stands and offers me his hand.
I swat him away and struggle to my feet. The direction I start walking in feels right.
Roman grabs my hand. “Wrong way.”
I tear my hand out of his hold. “I don’t care,” I snap.
He doesn’t bother trying to stop me again; instead, he just follows behind me a few beats. My shivering worsens, and it pisses me off that he’s just casually taking in the night while I suffer.
I look back at him. His eyes are half-lidded, stuck in that place of so tired that his eyes are rimmed with red, yet burdened with many thoughts that keep him awake. I can’t help but take him in. His hands are shoved in his pockets, patiently waiting for me to just give up rather than taking me back by force.
I stop and face him.
His eyes flick up to my face, and he stops a foot away, expressionless yet as beautiful as midnight rain.
“Done?” he asks again.
My body is aching from head to toe. This has gone on for so long now that I feel like a complete idiot. It’s clear that he won’t stop no matter what I do. All I’m doing is dragging out the inevitable.
I give him a defeated nod.
He bends to my level and looks at my face. “Feeling okay?”
Damn my pride. I nod again, even though I’m ready to crawl into a hole and die.
Roman studies my trembling hands and glances back up at me. “It’s good to know that you’re a shit liar.” He muses before turning so his back is facing me. He takes a knee and looks over his shoulder. “Get on.”
My cheeks warm at the offer, but before I forget what a dick this guy is, I double down. “No thanks.” My chattering teeth and crossed arms don’t help my cause.
He rolls his eyes and takes his vest off, tossing it at me. I snatch it and give him a stubborn firm of my lips. “It won’t help much, but it’s better than nothing.”
His bare torso is covered in scars, much like the rest of him. It hits a chord in my chest. This man is so fucked up that he’s barely even holding himself together. What is he caught up in?
I let my eyes trace the grooves of his abs until they catch on the handgun on his left hip and that military-grade knife on his other.
Roman smirks. “Want to know how I killed that guy?”
My grip on his vest tightens. He steps up to me, takes the vest from my hands, and sets it over my shoulders, intentionally pulling it tightly against my throat.
“I stuck him once. That’s all it takes if you’re quick and know where.” He brushes the pad of his finger down my throat and grins, locking eyes with me.
