Chapter 26 Which could mean nothing.
CHAPTER 26
Which could mean nothing.
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
Heat floods my veins, fast and suffocating. My heart is pounding. My skin is too tight and feels like it might tear.
“I didn’t do anything!” Scarlett murmurs as I walk to her.
My heart slams against my ribs, brutal and relentless. I am drowning in the aftermath of my rage, and beneath it is fear.
“Roman,” She whispers, heavy, and I look at her.
I reach for her and catch sight of my hands, covered in blood.
My chest caves in immediately, and my lungs ache from trying to breathe. I step back, my jaws painfully clenched.
Rick had knocked the fucker holding Eve unconscious. Both men are on the ground. My anger is slowly overwhelming me. This is not how tonight should have gone, but somehow, everything has gone sideways.
“What happened?” Rick demands, fist clenched.
“We wanted to get something. I saw a fancy Coach bag, and wanted it. There was no price tag, so we asked, but they behaved like they were brainless, saying we can’t afford it, and how expensive it is. What the hell? It was stupid and annoying, so we left, but when we wanted to enter the car, they ran towards us, saying we wanted to steal the car. What the fuck? We tried explaining, but they didn’t listen. Then, he handcuffed Scarlett for nothing!” Eve snarls, panting as she recounts everything.
I turn my icy gaze to the two women. They tried to run, but Rue and Russell held them in place.
“Do you know who I am?” I seethe, jaws painfully clenched.
“Yes … yes … please … we thought they stole the car … we didn’t know it belonged to you … please forgive us.” One of them cries, falling to the ground before me.
“Forgive you? Forgive you? Are you asking him for forgiveness, not the women you stereotyped and harassed? There will be no fucking forgiveness. I will show you what happens to idiots who do stupid things.” Rick sneers, but he doesn’t touch them.
“We didn’t know she was yours! Please … please.”
“You don’t have to know who someone is to be respectful.” I scoff, irritated.
“Leave them,” I tell the bodyguards, and they step back immediately.
“This is not over. I promise you, it is not fucking over.” Eve avows as Rick leads her away. The woman pales in fear, and she relishes that.
“Where is the key to the handcuff? Unlock me.” Scarlett snaps at them.
They fidget and bring out the key from the unconscious guard’s pocket. I collect the key, but don’t unlock Scarlett. Her gaze narrows at me, but she is wise enough not to push me.
“Leave.” I bark at the women, and they flee, running as fast as they can.
“You’re just going to let them leave? After what they did?” Scarlett glares at me, cheeks flushed in anger.
“What will you have me do? I’m not vicious.” I flash her a grin as I clean the guard’s blood from my hands. I can’t remember the last time I got in a physical altercation, the last time I drew blood, but for her, I did. Which could mean nothing.
I turn to Rick and the others, “Go, we’ll catch up.”
They are reluctant, but they leave. Rick gets in my car, while Russell gets in the other. I am left alone in a parking lot with the woman I am going to marry.
“Are you going to unlock it?” She asks softly moments later.
“No, I am going to punish you,” I admit calmly, and throw my head backwards, exhaling loudly.
Scarlett turns me inside out. She fucks with my head in the worst ways possible. It is bad enough that we kissed when we shouldn’t have, but this? This crosses the line, over and over.
I look at her. She is silent, looking at me, chewing on her bottom lip. She knows she is beautiful, but she isn’t arrogant with it. Her beauty is calm, like the sea, but just as devious. It is important to never fall into her, or else I’ll drown.
“You don’t wear your ring.” I rasp, slowly closing the distance between us.
“It’s really expensive, and huge, Roman. I didn’t want to lose it.” She looks at me, her chin tilted up.
Her eyes, her beautiful eyes, gaze up at me, and build a knot in my throat. I want to take a step towards her again, but stop myself. I clench my jaw hard and dig my fingers into my palm. My chest burns from the weight of whatever this is.
She is intoxicating, and I want to dance in her fire. She is so soft, yet melancholic and wild.
“Do you want another ring?” I ask, throat burning from the restraint. I want to bury my nose in her hair.
“Another ring?” She blinks, “No. That is fine. I’ll try to wear it.”
“I’ll get you a simpler ring. Let’s do it now.” I pull the key from my pocket and unlock the cuffs.
I am intentional with every step and action, desperately trying not to let our hands graze, but it does, and I suck in air at the damning sensation. I am a fool. I am a big fool. I should end this now and pay her off, but I won’t.
I open the car door and help her in, then I go around and get behind the wheel.
“What is your favourite colour?” I ask as I drive to the store.
She glances at me in disbelief, then laughs, filling the space with her infectious laughter. “I think beige, or maybe light purple. I love green, though. What’s yours?”
I think for a moment. I don’t have a favourite colour, but now, I do. “I think I like green, too.”
“Yeah?” She smiles warmly.
I nod, ignoring the knot in my throat, “Yeah. I like the way you painted your room. Maybe sometime, you can paint mine, maybe light green.”
“Oh, I’ll be so honoured!” She giggles, a ray of sunshine.
I pull into the jewellery hub, a different one. I watch as she peruses the rings, trying to find the perfect fit. She does find one that she really loves. A simple and elegant diamond ring. Her face lights up like a Christmas tree when she chooses it. I don’t care about the money. I get her whatever she wants, and more.
It doesn’t matter.
It means nothing.