Chapter 108 All bark and no bite
CHAPTER 108
All bark and no bite.
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
Rage pounds hard through me. Camera flashes, and pressure builds behind my eyes. The urge to ruin everything rushes through me, but I push it down. I focus on the feel of Scarlett’s hand in mine, her warmth, and touch.
“Come on, baby, let’s go home.” She urges, pulling me away from the carnage I unleashed.
I take one last look at Dante and walk away. I help her into the car, and climb in after her. We are driven away quickly, and yet, my heart doesn’t stop pounding. The pressure behind my eyes builds, and blood rushes to my ears. I have sacrificed so much to be where I am. Dante is a reminder of all the bad decisions I made. A long time ago, I trusted him. I let him in, and he broke me in ways no one could. Amara’s betrayal didn’t hurt as much as his did. He knew how important my parents were to me, and yet, he made me watch as they died.
I don’t know how he knows about my mother, but I’m changing the entire staff around her. Someone supposed to watch her is obviously selling me out, and I don’t take betrayal lightly. I am very interested in burning the world.
“I have not spoken to him in months now. I have not spoken to him since the … the day you found out. I don’t know what he’s talking about, and truly, it is quite obvious he is trying to stir up trouble. Don’t let him get into your head, Rome.” Scarlett whispers, voice trembling.
I scoff and lean away from her, “A little too late for that, don’t you think?”
“You have to believe me, Rome.” She begs, panic lacing through her words.
I don’t speak. I believe her, of course. I know she hasn’t been getting any textsfrom Dante, because I have. It is going to be a whole conversation, and I’m not interested in having it in the car.
The tension thickens as we drive through the gates. Our phones have been blowing up. The aftermath of my lost control is creeping in on us, but I can face that later, not now, not when a conversation is long overdue.
“Come on,” I help her out of the car.
She clings to me carefully. I barely register the cuts and blood on my hands. She’s worried; it is obvious in the way her face twists. It is almost amusing, but all the humor have drained out of me because the table is about to be flipped. I can’t help but wonder how she’ll react when she hears that I have been spying on her for months now.
We step into our home, and I make a beeline for the winebar. I grab a bottle of Vodka and pour myself a glass.
“Thank you, Eve.” She says, and walks to me.
“Sit and let me clean you up.” She orders, gesturing at a stool by the counter.
I sit down, remove my jacket, and lean against the counter. My pounding heart has stopped, and my anger is fading away, but the anxiety remains. Soon, news articles will break out, detailing our arguments and fight. I hope the details about my parents don’t make it to the paper,s and if it does, well, that media organisation will rue the day it was founded.
“This might sting,” she whispers, and I nod.
I clench my jaw as she disinfects every cut. I had lost my mind and beat the shit out of him. Even now, I want to go back and give him the beating he deserves. It is a long way coming, and he doesn’t deserve any good.
“Do you think he’ll sue?” She asks as she cleans my cuts again.
She’s distracting me from the pain.
I scoff, “Dante is all bark and no bite. He is an idiot, but not stupid enough to sue. I will come out unscathed, but he won’t. His companies are on rocky grounds, and he won’t shake the boat.”
She frowns, “How do you know his companies are having problems?”
“I make it important to know how my enemies are faring,” I state coldly.
Her cheeks burn, and she whispers, “I … he was lying.”
“I know, Scarlett. I know you haven’t been conversing with him, but I have.” My chest caves in as the confession pours from me.
“What?” She frowns, throwing the tissues in the bin.
“I taped your phone a while ago, after … after we fought. I knew he was going to reach back to you. It’s one of the reasons to never allow yourself be blackmailed because they’ll always come back, they’ll always try to get more from you, push you to the edge, and take as much as you allow them. I am very familiar with Dante’s methods, also, because it is what I would have done in his situation. So, I made preparations to receive him when he returned. He has been sending some messages, provocative and manipulative, hellbent on creating a form of connection.” My chest caves in slowly when her mouth falls open in shock.
“It was a form of self-preservation, and I’m sorry, Scarlett. He took advantage of your naivety and intruded on your personal life, only for me to do the same.” Regret coats my words, and ice slides down my lungs
She blinks in surprise and puts some space between us.
I clench my jaw hard. I don’t want us to go back to how we used to be, but I am powerless against this. I do whatever she wants.
She sighs and walks to me. She wraps her hand around my neck, and I rest against her, heart aching, body wound tight.
“I didn’t expect it, but at least you know that I wasn’t messing around with Dante. I never would have. I hurt you before, and I never will again.” She threads her fingers through my hair softly, and I melt against her like butter.
Maybe there is a way to have it all.