I firmly plant my boot with a step back and catch myself from falling backward, snapping my eyes to the side and spotting her on a small boat with Callum’s boss. Blood runs hot into my eye as I tilt my head in her direction.
“What…What the fuck?” Callum’s voice quivers as he watches me straighten and pop my neck. “What the fuck are you?” he shouts as he lifts his gun once more.
I bring my forearm down on his elbow so hard that it pops out of its socket.
A manic smile spreads over my lips as I catch his gun and bring it to the bottom of his jaw. “I’m bulletproof, bitch.”
40
BRIAR
Bang.
Roman shoots Callum beneath his jaw, and blood spurts from the top of his head. My heart pounds so hard that I don’t know if the underworld boss says anything. If he does, I don’t hear it.
Callum’s body falls into the dark water.
My body shakes from shock and the cold.
Gale freed himself with the knife Roman threw into that man’s neck and finishes cutting Taylor and Bensen free. The only two remaining Sub-Rosa guards stand at the edge of the boat, looking uncertain about how to proceed now that Callum is dead.
Roman’s eyes instantly search for and lock on once he finds me.
The boss laughs. “I guess we’d better get back before he jumps in to come after you.” I hesitantly look at him and nod. It’s weird; he doesn’t seem bothered at all by this. By his own men being slaughtered. He almost seems more…entertained.
Doesn’t he care?
Roman doesn’t let his intense gaze lift from us until the boat is touching theirs. I quickly climb up and take his hand. I stareup at his face with my heart in my throat. His forehead has a small gash where the bullet ricocheted off. His face is covered in blood, his own and Callum’s.
I choke on my tears. I’m so fucking relieved that he’s okay.
Roman’s eyes soften, and a weak grin moves over his lips as he sinks to his knees with me in his arms. I wrap my arms around him tightly, intending to never let go.
“I guess we don’t have to worry about your ex showing up at the grocery store,” Roman says cruelly with a raspy laugh that puts a terrible grin on my lips.
“You’re sick.” I laugh, bringing my face to his.
He flinches and pulls back. “Briar, I’m covered in blood. I don’t want?—”
I kiss the words from his lips. “I don’t care,” I whisper and gently press my hand to his cheek.
Roman’s brows knit and he leans in, kissing me softly. “I’m sorry for what I am, Briar. I’m sorry that I let you hurt when you needed me to believe in you.” Tears drip from his chin and stain my wrists.
My lower lip trembles with his heartfelt words.
“I don’t want to alter any of the scars I get when they’re for you.” He looks up at me, weariness and hope moving through him like a sickness.
A broken smile that makes me feel whole again.
“I wouldn’t dare rewrite our scars,” I murmur back.
We share another kiss, and for a moment there’s no one else around. It’s just us and the quiet lake as the snow falls slowly.
“Jesus fucking Christ, just say you love each other like normal people,” Taylor snaps, and it makes us both jolt.
They’re all watching us. Gale and Bensen have the Sub-Rosa men tied up, with the exception of the boss who stands at the edge of the boat, staring down at Callum’s floating body.
Roman chuckles and slowly stands, helping me up and keeping my body pressed close to his. It makes my cheeks warm knowing that he doesn’t want to let go of me either.
