Chapter 43 Won't Be Bored As Hell With Her
Roman
When we’re done eating, I lead her to the car. The driver is in front.
“Thank you for the food, Roman. I enjoyed it,” she tells me.
“Really?” Because I’m bored to death.
I keep it to myself. The thought of the wedding I agreed to rings in my ears.
"I think so too. It's always a pleasure to spend time with you."
When she smiles, I assume the night is over. I open the back door to help her into the car, but she turns to me with an uncertain expression.
"Aren't you going to kiss me to end the night?" she prompts.
The request takes me by surprise, but I don't show it. I give her my small smile, lean down, and lightly kiss her lips. The kiss is shallow at best. I feel nothing when her lips are pressed against mine. No warmth, no emotion. I haven’t felt anything for a woman in a year. Not since Elena.
When I pull away, Bianca looks at me as if I’ve hung the moon.
“Goodnight, Roman,” she breathes.
I nod and close the door as soon as she’s in the car. Only when the car is out of sight do I let out a quiet breath. This isn’t just about Bianca or our possible marriage.
Lately, I’ve been wanting more. I’m just not sure what that is. My duties as a don are being done well. Business is booming, and my family is finally in a good place. Everything is fine, and I’m bored as hell.
I’ve never been good at sitting still. And right now, my life feels like it’s at a standstill. I’m craving more action, more excitement. Something. I just don’t know what.
As my phone buzzes with a text as I walk to my car, I realize that it’s always a good idea to be careful what you wish for. Because Elena Legan’s name flashes across my screen, and her text is four simple words, straight to the point.
\[We need to talk.\]
I pause, thinking about what she might say. It takes a few seconds, but I answer. \[When?\]
\[Anytime, you're free tomorrow?\] She replied.
\[Okay.\] I guess I'll see her tomorrow.
Part of me doesn't want to spend time in her presence, worried that emotions I thought were buried will surface. Elena has always had a way of bringing out the worst in me, and sometimes the best.
But one thing is for sure: I won't be bored as hell with her.
Elena.
I take up our entire living room, pausing only to check my phone every few minutes. From her place on the couch, Kiara sighs. She’s holding a fast-asleep Cassie in her arms, her soft breathing calming me slightly.
“Elena, I guarantee your pace won’t make Roman get here any faster.”
“I’d rather he didn’t come at all,” I say.
She shoots me a disapproving look.
“You should tell him. Better late than never. And it’s already late.” Kiara was worried.
I groan, sitting down next to her. Cassie wiggles in my arms before falling back asleep. For a three-month-old, she’s a pretty good sleeper, and I’m glad she is.
We hired a nanny the first month after she was born because Kiara and I were running around trying to get everything ready for our move abroad. The nanny couldn’t stop talking about what a sweet baby she was. Sure, she’s not sleeping through the night yet, but she barely cries and eats without much fuss.
When I try to take her away from Kiara, she shakes her head, moving out of reach.
“Uh, I’m going to go get a bottle and a blanket to wrap her up in. We also need to leave now so that we are not here when Roman arrives,” she says.
We both decide it’s best if she takes Cassie for a walk while I talk to Roman. She doesn’t go out of her way to give the baby back once I’m done bringing Roman up to speed.
“Or do you need us here with you?”
I don’t answer right away. On some level, it might be nice for me to talk to him alone, but on some other level… “I mean, what if it would be nice to have a buffer between us?”
She looks at me intently. “If you want me to stay, I will.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I should talk to him alone.” I know he’ll be mad, and rightfully so, but he’s not going to kill me. Plus, if something goes wrong, I don’t want my baby here.
“Roman may be scary, but he’s not a monster,” Kiara nods.
I snort. “He is, actually. Maybe I should ask him to take off all his weapons before we come in.”
I’m only half-joking. Kiara has to see the worry on my face before she leans in close and places her hand on my thigh.
“You can do this, Elena. You’re the strongest person I know. Proof to Cassie that you can do anything you set your mind to. You’re almost at the end of your journey, love. Now all you have to do is tell her father the truth. Together, the two of you will decide how to talk to the rest of the family.”
My heart pounds at the words, another conversation I really don't want to have. Very carefully, Kiara gets to her feet and heads to the bedroom. Cassie looks so tiny in her arms; it makes my heart ache. She's so innocent, it hurts to look at her sometimes.
When Kiara returns a few minutes later, she has a coat over her clothes. I stand up and look at the tiny baby, swaddled in blankets. She's still sleeping so peacefully. I place my hand on her soft cheek, feeling my heart ache.
“Do you think I did the right thing, Ki? To hide my pregnancy and Cassie’s birth? What if it’s unforgivable?” I ask, nervous.
“Nothing is unforgivable,” Kiara says firmly. “It’ll take everyone a while to come to terms with it, but they’ll do it eventually. You’ll see.”
She leaves with Cassie, and I spend the next twenty minutes in silence, waiting for Roman to arrive. He arrives promptly at 6:00 p.m. A curious expression crosses his face as I open the door.