I’m coming for you.
It’s ominous and creepy and a very brazen invasion of our privacy. My hands shake as I hold it. I worried about a lot of different things when I thought about what it would mean to date Roman, but this wasn’t one of them. It should have been, but I was too wrapped up in the other stuff, and now the danger he’s tried to warn me about stares me right in the face.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you or to Ty, Maddie, okay? Nothing. I worked all day trying to find this guy and I’m close.”
When he reaches for me and rests his palm on my cheek, I notice the blood on his wrist and my mouth gets dry.Worked all day.
He tracks my eyes to his wrist and snatches it back. Raking his fingers through his hair, his desperate eyes met mine. “I’m sorry. I thought I cleaned up better. Do you want to know about it?”
“No, I don’t think I do.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together. I don’t pretend to know the details, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that ‘worked all day’ is code for ‘beat the living hell out of someone to get information’.
But somehow, his offer to explain makes me feel at least a tiny bit better.
“What happens now?” I swallow, a heaviness settling into my chest.
“We’re just going to tighten things up until everything is handled. More security around the house, Ty’s school…And Ernie will be with you anytime you need to leave the house.”
“Roman,” I sigh. “Don’t you think that’s a little overkill? It’s weird to have someone following me around all the time, and Ernie doesn’t exactly blend in.”
“Good. I want them to know that I have eyes on you, so maybe they won’t be as quick to try anything.” He clenches his jaw, he’s so angry that his body shakes. “Someone was in this house, Maddie. They managed to get past my security, close enough to my son and to you, and left this picture somewhere that he knew we’d find it. It’s a direct threat, and I’ve lost too fucking much to be worried about you being uncomfortable that someone is following you all day.”
His words suck all the air out of my lungs. He’s right. This isn’t my area of expertise, and I didn’t even consider how triggering this might be for Roman with all he’s gone through in the last few months.
I reach for his hand, regretting any fuss I put about the whole thing. “I understand. And I’ll do whatever you think is necessary. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He shakes his head. “I know you’re not used to this kind of thing, and I know it’s hard to get used to. Hopefully, we’ll get the guy soon and things can go back to normal, but for now, I need you to trust me. I swear I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”
“And what about you?” I ask as he wraps me in his arms. “Who’s going to keep you safe?”
Roman grins, leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Why don’t we make a deal?” I suggest, circling my arms around his neck. “I’ll let you take care of things when we’re outand about, but when we’re inside of these walls, I get to take care of you.”
His brow creases, trapping me against the counter with his hips. “Just inside these walls? You’re really going to limit the places that we can have sex that way?”
Roman is trying to make light of the situation, but I can’t help but worry. He carries so much guilt that I can’t imagine it’s not eating at him. He took my comment at face value and turned it into something sexual, but I want to take care of him oneverylevel. I want to be there for him and listen to him and support him. And I want him towantme to. When he drags his lips across my neck, I know I’m not going to get anywhere tonight.
“I have to go out of town this weekend.”
“What? To where?” He pulls back, turning his attention.
“St. Louis. To see my family.” The timing couldn’t be worse. And I can see the mix of emotion on his face—worried about me traveling and annoyed that I interrupted his advance for this.
“Since when? I don’t remember you mentioning it.”
“Well, since a few weeks ago, but I only just remembered after talking to my dad today. He’s getting some stupid award and they’re having a big party.”
“I’ll come with you,” he says without question.
“Roman, you can’t.” I sigh. “I need to do this myself and I’ll only be gone a few days.”
“I don’t like the idea of being away from you. Especially with everything going on.”
“I’ll be gone forty-eight hours. I just feel like I need to talk to my parents before I show up and have to explain a boyfriend I haven’t mentioned to them.”
He snickers, his tongue grazing my ear. “I like it when you call me your boyfriend.”
“Me too.” I smile, melting into his touch. “I’ll call you every day and I promise, I won’t say a word if you want to send Ernie.”
