Chapter 75 Everyone I've ever loved is gone.
CHAPTER 75
Everyone I’ve ever loved is gone.
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
Scarlett spends the next day sleeping in. I don’t even try to share the bed. I leave after checking on her. I walk out of the mansion and head towards the Stable. My heart is pounding hard, reeling from everything that has happened between us. I need to blow off some steam, and I do.
“Can I get a horse?” I ask the stablehand, who nods and helps me strap on.
Then, I ride over the grounds and keep riding. The wind is in my hair, and the evening chill starts to set in. I only return when I start to ache. The ride didn’t work. I am still thinking about her. I can still taste her, still feel her as she squirmed and rocked on me. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I am supposed to be in control, me. She betrayed me, and she should be sympathetic, fucking remorseful, but she isn’t, and somehow, I’m still wrapped around her finger?
Fuck, no.
Everything has to change. She has to pay for what she’s done. My presence in Italy for the next week will prevent me from the chaos of sorting through her betrayal, but soon, I’ll be back in New York, wading through the loss she caused.
The sun is rising on the horizon, and I am sweating buckets, but still helpless against my wandering thoughts.
I halt, close my eyes, throw my head backwards and remember. Fuck. I remember the way she felt in my hands, how proud of her desires she was, how writhed and rode me, how she trembled, how soft she was to touch. I know she would never let me touch her again.
Last night was a fluke.
“Hello, there.” Adeline’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I blink, glance to the side, and see her standing there, smiling widely, looking proud of herself.
“Good morning, Adeline. Your husband isn’t here.” I say, holding on to the reins.
“Oh, I know. He’s there with your wife.” She gestures, and my heart skips a beat.
I turn and see her. Scarlett. She’s with Luca, smiling at something he’s saying. A slow headache starts behind my eyes.
“Do you think they’re going to elope? Leave us stranded?” Adeline whispers, eyes glinting mischievously.
She’s messing with me. I know she’s just messing with me, but fuck, she got me. Scarlett wouldn’t be stupid enough to run away, because unlike Luca, I won’t chase. Instead, I’ll tie her to me and render her immobile.
“It’s too early for your antics, Adeline. Shouldn’t you still be in bed, considering you smoked enough to knock out a horse? I frown at her.
“Scarlett smoked more.” She informs me.
I bite my tongue and wait for her to say more, but she doesn’t. She’s still playing me like a flute.
“Don’t you think it’s odd that she’s so fluent in everything? She knows her way around weed. She’s a breath of fresh air.” She gushes, cheeks pinkening.
“Why don’t you go fangirl somewhere else?” I sigh loudly.
“Lu and I are still fighting, and she’s with him, so let’s make them jealous.” She suggests, wiggling her eyebrows.
I think of her offer and glance back. Scarlett is on the horse, with Luca teaching her what to do. It would be so nice to get back at her for last night, but I’m done playing games. It’s time to remind Scarlett who’s boss.
I turn back to Adeline and tease, “Lu, huh? Seems like someone is warming up to her husband.”
She glares at me, but doesn’t reply wittily as expected.
I carefully dismount the horse, “If you’d excuse me, I need to go to my wife.”
I hand her the reins and walk towards Scarlett. She’s wearing short jeans and one of my faded shirts. She probably doesn’t know it’s mine. She might as well have walked around with my name on her forehead.
“Excuse me, Luca, but I need my wife,” I inform him with a smile, and reach for her.
She stiffens as I hold her by the hips, and starts to thrash when I throw her over my shoulder.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? I am not even your wife yet!” She demands, slamming her hand on my back.
“Taking you away,” I answer calmly and walk towards the rose garden.
She doesn’t stop swearing and hitting my back, but I don’t flinch.
The sweet smell of flowers fills the air as I place her carefully on the bench.
“Sit,” I warn.
“I am not a dog, you fucking bastard!” She screams at me, but sits.
I am distracted by the hint of an accent in her word, the way she enunciated the last word, the way she dragged it out. She has an accent. How have I never noticed her accent? What more is she hiding from me? Am I going to marry a woman I do not know?
“You have an accent.” I fold my arms, looking at her.
“An accent? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shrugs, looking everywhere but me.
“Do not take me for a fool, Scarlett. You are holding on so tightly to your past and secrets. You do not get to keep secrets from me anymore, not after what you did, not after what you stole from me, and cost me, so tell me what I need to know.” I snap, exasperated.
“Why?” She barks at me, eyes narrowed.
“What?” I frown, looking at her.
“Why do you want to know about me? Why do you want my secrets? Have I not given you enough, Roman? You have more than anyone has ever had. I have given you everything, and yet, you still want more. Give me a good reason to tell you anything.” She hisses, waving her hands in the air as if I’m nothing but an irrelevance.
“Why do I want your secrets?” I frown, taken offguard by her incredulous question.
“You lied to me, you s –”
“Yes, yes, I know. I stole from you. I sold you out. I know. You never let me forget it. You hang it over my head like a smelly sock. I know! You only want to know my secrets to get revenge, but don’t worry, you cannot hurt me! I have noone left to hurt. Everyone I’ve ever loved is gone. My parents died a year ago, and I’m all alone. You want me to apologise? I’m sorry.” She rambles, her words cracking as she speaks, hurt spilling out of her.
I am stunned, but not backing down. She needs to give me something, anything.
“How did they die?”