27. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Roman
T here's no time for anyone to react as Eden collapses, her body crumpling toward the counter. The sickening thud of her head hitting the edge echoes through the café, freezing everyone in place. Zoey’s eyes dart up to mine, wide with fear.
Moving without a second thought, I shove past the brunette man who’s standing too close, who’d watched Eden fall with a disturbing lack of concern. I reach her side in an instant, kneeling beside her, my hands trembling as I grab a napkin to press against the wound on her forehead.
Zoey looks scared, her hands shaking as she clutches the rag in her hand. "I have no idea what happened. She was fine, then she started taking an order—"
"Give me a cold washcloth," The brunette man orders, trying to take control of the situation as he moves toward us with unsettling calmness.
He bends down, reaching for Eden as if he’s going to take over, but the very sight of him touching her makes my blood boil .
"Get your fucking hands away from her," I snap, my voice sharp, louder than I intended.
Zoey blinks in confusion, clearly rattled, as she hands the man a rag. His expression hardens, his annoyance with me barely masked.
"She's my girlfriend," He snaps back, the words slicing through me like a blade, igniting a fire in my chest.
I know what this boy represents. At college, Eden was involved with someone—a boy who hurt her, who nearly pushed her to the brink of suicide that day in that park. A boy who left permanent scars, both physical and emotional. And now, here he is, acting like he has any right to be near her.
"She's not your girlfriend," Zoey interjects, her voice firm, cutting through the haze of my rage. "Why don't you get the hell away and let us handle this—"
"Roman," A familiar, grating voice cuts in.
David stands behind the counter, hands casually tucked in his pockets, his expression unreadable, as if Eden’s collapse is nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Eric, step back and let them handle it. It's just a cut," David says, his tone dripping with indifference.
Eric obeys, stepping back like a well-trained dog, but not without throwing me a venomous glare.
Eden stirs, her eyelids fluttering as she mumbles in pain, her consciousness slowly returning.
"R-Roman, Eric—"
Before she can say more, I gently cover her mouth, trying to silence her before she says something that could make everything worse .
"You should’ve had some water before your shift, Eden," I lie smoothly, feeling David's cold gaze burning into me. "You're lucky I happened to be here."
Her focus shifts to Eric and her father, and the way she instinctively backs into me makes my heart ache with helplessness. Every fiber of my being screams to wrap her in my arms and eliminate the threat these men pose, but I know that any rash action could make things worse.
Her breathing grows rapid, her chest rising and falling with shallow, panicked breaths, her hands tremble in fear.
"Dad, why the hell is he here—"
"Eric is in town," David says, his voice dripping with false calm. "And from what I gather, you two left things on a rather sour note, Eden. I thought it would be best if you and Eric had some time to speak. I told him you were working today and that your shift would end soon. He was eager to see you. Though, I'm sure no one was expecting you to be this clumsy—"
The condescension in his tone makes my blood boil. The way Eden’s entire body tenses against me tells me everything I need to know—she’s terrified, and not just because of what happened in the past, but because of what these men are capable of doing now.
"I want nothing to do with him," Eden sobs, her voice breaking as some patrons begin to take notice of the unfolding scene. "I want nothing to do with you, Eric—"
"Well, Eden, you don't really have a choice now, do you?" David's voice cuts through her despair, his eyes narrowing as they land on me. "Does she, Father?" He adds, pushing my commitment to this whole fucking charade to the edge .
He wants to see if I’ll crack under the pressure.
"I think it's best she comes by the church tomorrow," I say, forcing a steely edge into my voice. "She needs to remember the weight of her commitments; how much discipline is required from her."
David's gaze sharpens, a cold satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Discipline, you say?"
"Indeed," I reply, letting a grim satisfaction settle in my tone. "And the church is the perfect place for her to confront her failures. She will be reminded of her place and her duties. It will serve her well."
Eric’s scoff is filled with disbelief.
"You're the new priest at Saint Michael’s?" He asks, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Correct," I hiss back, my hand gently running along Eden's back, hidden from everyone’s view except Zoey’s.
David’s gaze remains fixed on me, his voice laced with a cold authority. "Get yourself up and get home, Eden," He says. His words are meant more for me than for her. "I'm sure Aiden and Eric can catch up while you collect yourself," He adds, still addressing me as though I’m the one being commanded.
Eden nods, too terrified to speak.
"Here, Eden, let's get you cleaned up," Zoey intervenes, her glare cutting through David's icy demeanor.
As Zoey leads Eden away, I rise to my feet, feeling the weight of the blood on my hands, both literal and metaphorical.
"Roman, can I talk to you outside for a second?" David's voice is deceptively calm, but I know better. This isn’t a request—it’s an order .
"Why the hell were you here?" David demands, his voice sharp with accusation.
Standing by the side of the building, I cross my arms, taking a step toward him. The night air feels colder as the tension rises.
"I was getting a coffee. Not very many places to do that around here—"
"Bullshit," David snaps, closing the gap between us. His proximity is menacing, his eyes narrowing with disdain.
"You think I’m oblivious to what's been going on?" He challenges, his words thick with unspoken threats.
"You’ll have to be more specific, David," I reply, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.
"She’s seduced you, hasn’t she?" David’s question is laced with a false note of sympathy as if he pities my predicament.
"Seduced me?" I scoff, incredulous. "Do you have any idea what you're insinuating?"
"I know how the Devil operates, Roman. He creeps in when you least expect it. I fear he has ensnared you in his game. How much discipline is my daughter truly receiving—"
"You saw the cross, David," I retort, anger flaring as I recall the marble crucifix I had used with Eden. "You know I’m dedicated to teaching her genuine submission—"
"And none of what you’ve done has been driven by lust?" He presses, probing for an admission of guilt.
"Is that why you brought her ex back?" I counter, my voice sharp with frustration. "You think I’m compromised—"
"I didn’t say that, Roman," He chides, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "I brought Eric here to remind Eden of her past. The life she led before college. Eric was a devout follower of faith with my daughter—"
A devout follower? That made raping her okay?
"You’re already contributing greatly to our cause. Perhaps it’s time I hand over the task of guiding Eden to someone who knows her better than you," David says, his tone condescending. "It was naive of me to expect you to manage her alone—"
"I can handle the time commitment. It’s not an issue."
"You don’t have to," David interrupts, his voice cold. "Eric is back for now. Maybe he can help my daughter find her way amid the darkness she’s fallen into," David sneers, his disdain for Eden evident.
The urge to confront him violently is almost overwhelming.
"David," A voice cuts in, drawing me back from the brink.
Eric approaches, his head held high, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"Eric, I'm almost done—"
"I get what you’re saying, David," I lie, forcing myself to stay calm. "But I’ve got it under control."
David’s nod is far from reassuring, his skepticism evident.
"I hope you’re right, Roman," David warns, his voice low and measured.
Brushing past me, David gives Eric’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, his smile disturbingly warm.
"You coming by for dinner?" David asks, his tone casual.
"Of course. Perhaps Father Briar would like to join us?" Eric’s voice drips with malice as he raises an eyebrow.
"Roman?" David’s voice snaps me from my thoughts.
"Of course," I reply with a forced grin. " Sounds great."
David seems satisfied with the response, nodding as he prepares to leave. "I’ll see you both at my place around six?"
Both Eric and I nod in agreement.
Satisfied, David strides away, lingering by Eden’s car, no doubt preparing to lecture her once Zoey escorts her outside.
As soon as David is out of sight, I retreat behind the building, hidden from view. My eyes lock onto Eric, who’s observing Eden from a distance, an eerie resolve set into his expression.
"She’s beautiful, isn’t she?" Eric muses, his eyes following Eden’s car as it drives away.
My grip tightens around my phone, my anger barely contained.
"Why are you here?" I demand, my voice cold.
Eric finally turns his gaze toward me, a smirk playing on his lips. "I heard through the grapevine that Eden found her way back home. I stopped by the Faulkner's place and learned she’s been reconnecting with her faith. I thought it odd—Eden always hated church. Are you offering something other than guidance, Father Briar?”
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You think I wouldn’t look into where my girlfriend was and who she was spending her time with?" His gaze is cold, calculating.
"She’s not your goddamn girlfriend."
"Careful, Father," Eric warns, his tone carrying a venomous edge. "Words like that are why it was so easy for David to believe you’re driven by lust. As I see it, I’m back now. Eden will learn to forgive the past, so where do you fit into all of this?”
"Are you threatening me?" I growl, stepping closer, my anger barely contained. "Don’t let my day job fool you; I would be glad to kick your ass.”
"Look at how feral she’s made you," Eric sneers, his gaze contemptuous. "This is why we had to break her.
Eric smirks, his eyes cold. "Eden's always been a temptation, a siren luring men into sin. Her presence alone is like a beacon for every dark impulse lurking inside them. We did what we did because she was a force of corruption—an embodiment of everything that leads men astray."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "She needed to be punished for being a living temptation. If she was left unchecked, she'd only drag more souls into darkness."
I grab his shirt without a second thought.
Throwing him to the ground, I stomp on his chest before he can rise, slamming my foot over his hand and pressing my hand over his mouth to stifle his screams. Relishing the muffled noise against my hand, I wrap my hands around his throat, poised to crack his skull against the pavement, to watch his life drain from his eyes.
"I-I knew it," He chokes out, struggling for breath. "I knew you were fucking her. Tell me, how will David react when he learns you assaulted me?" Eric’s grin is maddening. "You think he’ll believe your word or mine?"
I release him, my mind consumed by Eden’s suffering.
He hurt her.
Everything turns red.
He has desecrated what’s mine .
"I dare you to try and take her from me.” I hiss, my patience gone.
I drive my foot into his jaw, the lights flicker out for him. My phone buzzes in my pocket as satisfaction floods through me at the sight of him beneath me.
When I answer the call, I’m met with a trembling voice. "Roman—"
"How quickly can you pack a bag?" I demand, my thoughts darkening as I contemplate smashing Eric’s head in further.
"Why—"
Zoey rounds the corner, her eyes locking onto the scene with a cold resolve.
"You asked me to choose, Eden. I’ve made my decision. Pack a bag for yourself and your brother. Tonight is the last night either of you will be in that house," I whisper, gripping Eric’s head as he groans in pain.
Shuddering on the phone, Eden takes a deep breath.
"Okay. I'm trusting you, Roman."
After hanging up, Zoey gives me a puzzled look.
"They can stay with my mother and me until we sort this out," Zoey whispers, glancing at Eric with a mix of anger and concern. "But you better tell me right now what the hell is going on."
"Take your break, and I will," I reply, my tone clipped.
This is bound to be a very unpleasant conversation.