“Roman. I didn’t do it. I didn’t know the beer was drugged.” I try to explain, but his face remains impassive. “Please. Roman, you know me. I wouldn’t do this… Please.” Resorting to begging is a new low for me. It feels like a pile of stones in my gut.
“Chloe,” he says it again. Dully. No anger or emotion. His jaw flexes, and he disregards my trembling body. “You will meet with Callum as planned tonight. We’ll prep you five minutes before we go.”
“Roman? Roman, wait!”
He slams the metal door behind him and it makes an awful, hollow sound.
I stare down at where my hands are. It’s too dark to see a fucking thing, but I’m so disappointed in myself. Why is this happening? I grit my teeth and hang my head.
I cry until there are no tears left to shed. There’s no telling how much time has passed by the time I fall asleep against the pipe I’m tied to.
It’s long enough that I’m woken by pangs of hunger and ebbing cold that makes it difficult to move my limbs.
He didn’t believe me.
He didn’t even care to hear what I had to say.
It’s pitch-black, and yet I can see all the broken parts of my heart as if I’m holding them in my palms. I’m not sure I can be put back together again for a second time. Not after Callum. Not after Roman.
It’s John who retrieves me from the water heater room.
He’s wearing a fabric mask that covers the majority of his face with only his eyes and brows exposed. A small tuft of his blond hair peeks from just the edge of the mask over his forehead.
“Come on. You should freshen up before meeting him.” John helps me up, but I shrug him off and glare.
“I don’t need your help.” Even though my bones and muscles ache, I force myself to walk with my head held high.
He stands post outside the bathroom door while I shower. Steam rolls off my shoulders, and I breathe a little easier with the warmth creeping back into me.
Roman’s just angry that I lied about my name.He’s going to keep his promise. I know he won’t let anything bad happen to me tonight. Even if everything we had is over, he’s still going to uphold his end of our bargain.
I fist my hand against the tiles and allow myself to take a settling breath before rinsing out my hair.
John gives me a bulletproof vest and black casual clothing—a knit sweater and jeans. There are still tags on them, so someone must’ve gone to the store today and bought them for me.
“Will you guys be nearby?” I ask with a shallow breath.
John glances at me. All softness that existed there before has long since dissipated. “Yeah. This operation is going to be smooth.” His cold voice makes chills spread over my arms.
I nod. “And what happens to me when it’s done?”
He doesn’t answer me, just keeps his arms crossed and looks the other way.
They are treating me like a traitor. I feel so stupid for thinking we were ever closer than that.
When we head back upstairs, the squad is suited up and lingering by their crotch rockets. Their heads lift to acknowledge us as we pass. They are dressed in their motorcycle gear—helmets, gloves, jackets—and yet I know exactly which one isRoman. He’s taller than the rest. And he has a terrible habit of leaning on things. He’s also the only one who won’t look at me.
I straighten my shoulders and force my eyes to the vehicle ahead. It’s the Benz. I give John a curious look. Is he going to drive me there while the others follow behind?
He extends his hand. I notice he’s holding something, so I lift mine and flinch when he drops keys into my hands.
“Your car was destroyed in the fire. So take this one. Consider it our parting gift. If you don’t go to the laundromat, we’ll put an order in with the Dark Forces to have you exterminated.” John’s tone is monotone, and it digs that knife a little further into my heart.
I break and cave to my emotions, turning and looking directly at Roman. “That’s it? You’re sending me on my way to meet with the devil, and then that’s it? You won’t even talk to me before I go?” My jaw trembles, and I clutch my fists tightly at my sides.
Roman doesn’t move. He doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t even acknowledge that he heard me.
Fire burns deep in my chest.I refuse to let them see me cry again.
