“Nothing will happen. I have what you want, and I’ll keep her quiet.”
I wanted to punch his arrogant face making an assumption I could be subdued, but he reached out and subtly hooked my pinkie finger with his.
As I watched Roman’s family exiting through the door, Antoni shook his head in jest and mumbled, “You’re so fucked.” Whether he was talking about Roman or me, who knew?
Theodora
“Give the notebook back.” I reached out trying to pull it away again after his father and brother left.
Roman held it out of reach. “No.”
“Why?”
“Why did you come here?” He moved around me and started flipping through the pages skimming my mother’s personal thoughts. I reached out again to stop him, but he shielded me with his body. He strode around his father’s expansive dark wood desk as I followed like a nagging Chihuahua on his heels.
“Because I figured it out, and your father has a lot to answer for.”
“How exactly did you think this would work?” He sunk down in his dad’s oversized leather seat as he continued to scan my mother’s journal.
I whacked my palm over the pages and leaned in. “You know I’m not lying. I could see it in your expression earlier. You didn’t have any clue about this.”
“And you did?” His head rose staring into my eyes.
“No.”
“What is it you hope to gain?”
“What did you hope to gain from finding it?” I countered since he was obviously searching for evidence.
“Freedom,” he responded flatly. “A new life.”
“He tried to kill her,” I rushed out. The words felt unnatural, but I was convinced it was true. “That night. My nightmares. He tried to kill her because she wouldn’t get rid of the baby. If I hadn’t passed through the kitchen and seen her, she could’ve been…”
“No. I don’t believe it,” he denied with a solemn expression. His reaction was in no way insulted or defensive which I found odd. Maybe he really was a sociopath. “He wouldn’t go that far.”
“He’s your dad. I know you will always side with him. I know it’s hard to go against him.”
His nostrils flared. “I hate my father.” The words slipped out softly, with a detest-laced edge causing me to pause with a side of surprise. Roman never shared anything with me about his relationship with his dad. “He’s narcissistic, a control freak, a liar and a fucking philanderer to name a few things. He’s an asshole. But he would never try to murder someone.”
He said it with conviction; however, I couldn’t take his stand. “Then who? Someone tried.”
“It could’ve been anyone.”
“My mother lost the baby that night. Your dad told her to get rid of it, but she wouldn’t. If anyone had a motive to hurt her, it was him or someone he trusts.”
He hissed. “What the fuck do you want from me? You almost died that night, but I took you to the hospital. Your mother was clearly out of sorts but convinced me she was all right. All I could do was pray we’d make it to the hospital in time. Rhonda too was focused on you and getting you to the ER. I knew none of what was going on under our noses. I only knew I stayed up all night scared out of my mind I was going to lose you.” His voice was strained as true agony reflected in his eyes. “I would never hurt you nor Rhonda. Don’t you know it by now?”
“But you lied to me.”
“I had no choice. I lied to protect you. I didn’t know about this.” He tapped the page of my mom’s journal.
“That’s not everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I paid a visit to my mother today. She was lucid and well and told me that she thinks her car accident last year wasn’t a fluke either,” I stated with dread hoping Roman wouldn’t think I’d lost my mind. “She also swears someone forced pills down her throat the morning she…” Almost died.
He cursed and the click of a door handle sounded as Taylor popped her head in before passing through, shutting the door behind her. If she thought this whole ordeal with me being at Roman’s place was odd, she didn’t show it. “Are you two enjoying your own little party?” She leaned against the door with a champagne glass in hand.
Roman closed the journal strolling over to my backpack dropping it inside my bag. He eyed her skeptically. “What is it you want?” My eyes raised in surprise.
Taylor approached smiling slyly at me before she took a sip from her glass and winked. “You’re lucky you get to miss all the excitement.” She propped a hip on the desk beside me. “Is it so wrong that I’m the only one who should suffer through another long-winded story from our future Lieutenant Governor?”
“The price you pay for being a politician’s daughter,” he responded with boredom clearly annoyed. “Shouldn’t you get back out there to be by your father’s side?”
Taylor set down her glass. “Your mother was looking for you. She said she’s not feeling well.”
Roman shot up, and I could see concern on his face. “What’s wrong?”
“I think she’s just exhausted. Go to her, and don’t worry.” She laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll keep your little princess entertained.” Her words were pleasant, but there was always something that didn’t settle right in my mind whenever Taylor spoke to me.
He rubbed his temple and hesitated before he peered at me clearly conflicted about leaving me here. “Don’t leave this room.”
“Why? Are you afraid I’m going to bring embarrassment to your family and ruin this precious dinner party?”
“No. Don’t argue with me, Theodora.” He reached out and caressed my throat an intimate touch as though we were the only two people in the room. As though his future fiancée wasn’t standing here witnessing this.
I tried to pull away still distraught and cautious over past events. I felt like a floundering fly trapped in a web of deceit. His grip tightened before he leaned in. “Hate me right now. I don’t give a fuck, but heed my words. You need me, and you know it,” he growled lowly before capturing my lips in a savage kiss, bruising my mouth, marking me. If it were any other time, if I didn’t have questions swirling in my mind, I would indulge in his brutal ecstasy, but I forced my hands against his chest pushing at him as I twisted my head staring down at the floor exhaling sharply. His fingers trailed away from my skin as he released my throat. “I’ll be back.”
He strode out of the room, while I stood like a mute trying to regulate my heart.
“Wow. I’ve never seen him react that way with anyone…but you.”
Her words reminded me I wasn’t alone, and I said the first thing to come to mind, “I’m sorry. It was wrong.” Reactionary words because I didn’t know what else to say. Whatever Roman and Taylor were, I felt like I’d done something inappropriate. Besides, I didn’t even know where he and I stood.
“Why apologize? He’s always had a thing for you. Besides, you already know our relationship is all for show.” She slipped off the desk and stood in front of me. “Right?” She lifted her lips in a knowing smile. “You know my little secret, too, don’t you?”