Chapter 109 BONUS CHAPTER II

Chapter 109 BONUS CHAPTER II
Aiden

As promised, I went to his room after the shower to TALK.

I knocked on the door and waited patiently like she asked me to, but there was no response on the second and third knock.

"Roman?" I called, pushing the door open and stepping inside already hearing his voice in my head, 'why the fuck are you in my room?'

Where the hell did that sweet kid who used to follow me around and enjoyed playing with me go? All that's left now is this teenager who curses at every second and acts like my presence pisses him off.

My gaze swept the empty room, the plain white walls that had no posters or any signs of anything a boy his age should be obsessed with.

Then my eyes landed on the bed where a black notebook lay right in the middle of it.

I walked over, reaching for it, then stopped.

I shouldn't.

Then again, if he didn't want anyone touching it, he wouldn't have left it out in the open.

With that justification, I picked it up and opened it, expecting some long ass dear diary angry rant about how much he hated his father, instead a sketch of Leah stared back at me.

He had captured everything, the curve of her smile, the way her hair fell, every detail drawn with care.

"Fuck. She is beautiful."

I traced it lightly with my thumb before flipping the page to see another one and another. Every single page was a sketch of her.

"I didn't know he still drew," I chuckled.

And I'm definitely not annoyed he didn't bother drawing me.

My gaze shifted, and that was when I noticed a corner of something purple peeking out from under his pillow.

I lifted it and found another notebook.

Now, this looked like something he didn't want anyone seeing.

Despite knowing that, I still pulled it free, a pack of cigratte sliding into view beside it.

I ignored it and opened the notebook, my brows furrowing as I was met with drawings of faceless naked women.

I closed it slowly and slid it back under his pillow, trying not to think too much of his rather odd hobby when his phone vibrated on the bedside table.

I knew I shouldn't, but my eyes were already on the screen.

CALEB: Yo! Did you see the video of Miss West that was posted on the school forum?

CALEB: Damn! She was hooking up with the principal. I heard his wife is crazy.

My jaw clenched tight as anger began building in my chest.

"The fuck are you going through my shit for?" Roman roared behind me, ripping the notebook from my hand.

I turned immediately and slammed him into the wall.

The impact shook the room, his notebook slipping from his hand and hitting the floor.

"The fuck, man," he choked out, grabbing at my wrist as I pressed my forearm harder against his throat.

"Did yoy fucking lie to me?" I roared.

His eyes widened, hands clawing at my arm as his breathing hitched.

"The fuck are you talking about?"

"The video," I gritted. "You told me you deleted it."

"And I fucking did!" he rasped, struggling harder. "Let go of me.... Goddamit, get your fucking hands off me!"

"Don't fucking lie to me, Roman. The video is online."

Surprise flickered in his eyes briefly, replaced by anger, and he stopped struggling.

"So what?" He said hoarsely. "You're going to try killing me again?"

My grip faltered as the word AGAIN echoed.

My chest tightened, as I stared at the face that looked too much like hers, now twisted with accusations.

"What... did you just say?" My voice shook.

"What the hell is happening here?!" Leah cut through as she rushed in, grabbing my arm and yanking me back from him.

"I told you to talk, not fight!" She scolded, positioning herself between us. "Can you two, for once not make me worry about leaving you alone together?"

Roman broke eye contact first, coughing as Leah turned to him, her hands on his neck checking for marks.

"Whar did you say to your father that made him this angry?"

He opened his mouth, ready to lie cause he obviously wouldn't want her to know what he did, but I wasn't going to let him this time.

"He uploaded a video of his homeroom teacher he got from my club."

His head snapped up, his eyes locking onto mine, furious and betrayed.

Leah's hand stilled on his arm.

"Mom," he started quickly, "that's not it—"

"Did you have a video of your homeroom teacher on your phone?" She asked quietly, cutting him off without looking at him.

"Yes, but—"

"Why?" She whispered, lifting her head slowly.

He hesitated and then said, "she was always in my business. I just wanted to mess with her, that's all. I didn't post it."

"You think that makes it better?" I said, stepping forward. "You think blackmailing her or whatever twisted thing you had in mind is better?"

"Oh, fuck you!" He snapped. "You don't get to stand there and act like some moral compass when you have done worse, way worse!"

"Roman Zander Kingston!"

You know she is really pissed when she calls his full name.

He froze and then slowly turned to her.

"Don't you dare talk to your father like that."

His jaw clenched, and his shoulders stiffened. But instead of backing down he screamed, frustration boiling over, "for fuck's sake, I didn't ask for a goddamn father!"

A heavy sufficating silence followed as the words hung in the air.

And I saw the exact second he regretted it. How his lips parted like he wanted to take it back, but it was too late.

"Mom..." he said, softer now, reaching for her, then stopping halfway. "I didn't mean to raise my voice at you."

"Is that how you really feel about your father?" Her voice cracked just enough to betray her.

Roman swallowed, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath then grabbed his car keys and and walked out.

Leah just stood there, her shoulders trembling like she was trying to hold herself together and failing.

I pulled her into me without a word and the moment her forehead touched my chest, she broke.

"Why would he say that to you?" She cried, clutching my shirt.

"I'm used to it," I said in an attempt to console her, but it made her cry louder.

Later that night, she lay at the edge of the bed her back to me while my fingers moved absently through her hair.

"Where do you think he is right now?" She asked.

Those were her first words since leaving Roman's room.

"Wherever he is," I said, "he'll surely come back home."

She turned, shifting closer and pressing into me. "I feel like I made things worse between you two," she whispered.

I pressed a kiss to her hair. "You didn't. He's just being a bratty teenager." A small pause then, "I hear they're all like that."

"Where you like that at his age?" She asked .

"I don't think Sarah and John would have given me a chance to," I chuckled. "That family was fucked up."

She looked up at me, her eyes soft and aching for me. "You have a family now," she said, her fingers brushing my cheek. "One that loves you so much. Roman might act like that, but he loves you. I know he does."

"Yeah." I murmured, kissing her.

I know he does.