Chapter Sixty-Nine
The next morning, Blair woke up feeling like she’d been hit by a truck. Which, technically, it may not have been a truck, but the SUV that had hit them was the next best thing. Her ribs ached, her head was pounding.
She stretched out an arm to Roman’s side of the bed, only to find it cold and empty. Looking at the clock on Roman’s side so she didn’t have to turn over to see hers. It was early 6am; she had only slept a few hours. No wonder her eyes felt like sandpaper.
Blair got up to hunt Roman down. She found him in his office, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, surrounded by papers. A coffee cup was within easy reach. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.
“Please tell me you didn’t stay up all night,” she said, settling carefully into the chair across from his desk.
“I couldn’t sleep. Too much to think about.” Roman looked up at her, and she could see the exhaustion on his face, but also something else—relief that she was awake and moving around. “How are you feeling?”
“Like hell. But functional.” Blair accepted his coffee. He handed her gratefully, their fingers brushing as he passed her the mug. The simple touch sent warmth through her that had nothing to do with the coffee. “What have you been working on?”
“The plan. If we’re really going to do this thing with your uncle, we need to be smart about it.” Roman stood and moved around the desk, settling on the edge, so he was closer to her. “Peters has been running surveillance on your aunt and uncle’s house and office. He’s definitely panicking. Made six calls to the bank yesterday, and he was seen pacing the parking area at the office.”
“Good. Panicked people are sloppy people.”
“Exactly. But we still need to be careful. This isn’t some corporate negotiation where the worst thing that happens is you lose money.” Roman reached out and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek. “If we screw this up, I lose you. And that’s not happening.”
The way he said it… like losing her would destroy him. It made Blair’s chest tight with something that wasn’t fear. This had to be more than just convenience and lust. Because she knew she loved him. Loved him in a way she had never felt for Dan.
“So what’s the plan?” she asked, leaning slightly into his touch.
Roman turned his laptop so she could see the screen better, but he stayed close enough that she could smell him. “We make him think you’re dead.”
“What?”
“Think about it. The car crash last night was pretty bad, not terrible, but people die from head injuries all the time. What if you didn’t make it? What if you died from your injuries at the hospital? Swelling on the brain."
Blair stared at him. “You want to fake my death?”
“Only temporarily. And only to Peter and family.” Roman’s hand found hers, intertwining their fingers. “If he thinks you’re dead, he’ll relax. He’ll think his problem is solved.”
Blair looked down at their joined hands, his larger, rougher from years of work, but gentle when they touched her. “But how do we—”
“We control the information flow. Peters has contacts at the hospital who can help us fake medical records. We put out word that you died from complications from your head injury.”
Blair was quiet for a moment, thinking it through. Roman’s thumb was tracing small circles on the back of her hand, and she wasn’t sure if he was doing it to comfort her or himself.
“What about my sisters? They’ll have to know I’m alive, right? I mean, they saw me last night. I wasn’t that hurt. If anything, you got hurt more.”
“Of course. But we tell them to act devastated. Really sell it.” Roman pulled up another file with his free hand, unwilling to let go of her. “The funeral would be in three days. That gives Peter time to get comfortable, maybe even start trying to hide his traces. He has to wonder if your sisters know anything as well.”
“And then? Hey, we are not putting my sisters in danger, are we?”
“Then you come back from the dead at your own funeral and confront him in front of everyone. Do you really think I would let anything happen to your sisters? Plus, he will need time to come up with a plan if he wanted anything to them. It would need to look like an accident, not murder. The spotlight would be on him then.”
Blair had to admit, it was a good plan. Dramatic as hell, but good. “There’s just one problem.”
“What?” Roman’s voice was soft, concerned.
“What if he doesn’t confess? What if he just denies everything?”
Roman brought their joined hands to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. The gesture was so tender it made her breath catch. “That’s where the second part of the plan comes in. While he thinks you’re dead, we’re going to tear his life apart. Bank records, business transactions, everything. By the time you confront him, we’ll have enough evidence to bury him.”
“And Kellner?”
“Already taken care of. Peters’ FBI contact picked him up this morning trying to board a flight to Mexico.” Roman’s expression was satisfied, but his grip on her hand tightened protectively. “He’s not going anywhere, and he is ready to sing like a bird.”
Blair felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. “So, when do we start?”
“Today. Peters is already spreading word at the hospital that your condition took a turn for the worse during the night.” Roman closed the laptop and turned to face her fully. “By this afternoon, the official story will be that Blair Warner died from complications related to her head injury.”
Blair looked at him—really looked at him. Dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, clothes rumpled from being worn too long. He’d been planning this all night, working out every detail to keep her safe.
“Roman?”
“Yeah?” His voice was rough with exhaustion and something deeper.
“Thank you. For everything. I know this isn’t what you signed up for when you asked me to marry you.”
Roman was quiet for a long moment. Then he cupped her face in both hands, his thumbs brushing across her cheekbones.
“Blair, what I signed up for was you. All of you. The good, the bad, and the apparently homicidal relatives.” His eyes were intense, searching her face. “I don’t give up on things I want. And I want you. Forever. No matter what we have to go through to get there.”
The words hit her like a punch to the chest, but in the best way. Blair leaned forward until their foreheads touched, breathing in the space between them.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “God, Roman, I lo…. you mean so much to me more than I thought possible.” She just wasn’t ready to tell him yet how she felt. Soon, no matter what soon.
“Good,” he murmured back, his lips barely brushing hers. “It should scare you. Because I’m never letting you go.”
Blair’s phone rang, shattering the moment. She glanced at the screen and felt her blood go cold.
“It’s Uncle Peter,” she said.
Roman’s expression immediately sharpened, but his hands stayed gentle on her face. “Don’t answer it.”
“But what if—”
“Blair.” His voice was firm but tender. “You’re supposed to be dead, remember? Let it go to voicemail.”
They sat in tense silence as her phone continued to ring. Roman’s thumbs continued their soothing circles on her cheeks. “it’s going to be ok.”
“He’s going to leave a message,” Blair said.
“Probably checking to see if you survived the crash.” Roman’s jaw was tight. “Which means he already knows about it.”
Blair’s phone chimed with a voicemail notification. She looked at Roman, who nodded.
She put the phone on speaker and played the message.
“Blair, honey, it’s Uncle Peter. I heard about your accident on the news. I’m so worried about you. Please call me back as soon as you get this. I’m coming to the hospital right now to check on you.”
The fake concern in her uncle’s voice made Blair feel sick. Roman’s hands tightened on her face protectively.
“Well,” Blair said finally, “I guess we know he’s keeping tabs on me.”
“Too closely,” Roman said grimly. He pulled her forward until she was standing between his legs, his arms wrapping around her waist. “Which confirms he’s behind this.”
Blair leaned into him, resting her forehead against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat—steady, strong, reassuring. “Then let’s give him what he wants. Let’s make sure Uncle Peter gets the news that Blair Warner is dead.”
Roman’s arms tightened around her. “This is going to work, Blair. And when it’s over, we’re going to have the rest of our lives to figure out normal things. Like where to go on our honeymoon.”
Blair pulled back to look at him, managing a small smile despite everything. “Somewhere far away from here?”
“Anywhere you want,” Roman said, leaning down to kiss her softly. “As long as we’re together.”