29. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Eden
" I didn't want to believe any of it," Zoey whispers, all of us huddled on the couch of the spacious apartment. My apartment.
Fully furnished, it was as if Roman had been planning for Aiden and me to come here for months.
"Then Roman showed me the file, and the names tethered to all of it..." Zoey trails off, sobbing in her hands. "My own father wanted to put me in that fucking auction, selling me off with the rest of those children that are God knows where," Zoey cries.
Aiden has remained quiet as he’s taken all of this information in for the first time.
"The police-"
"They know," I answer before he can start. "Maybe not all of them, but the ones that are in power do. Our dad has been doing this for years, Aiden. Roman would have already gone to the FBI, but he was afraid they’d find out and move the kids. We still don’t know where they’re being held. ”
Aiden shakes his head. “Roman shouldn’t have gotten involved. I know something more is going on between you two, but getting caught up in something like this could get you killed, Eden.”
Running her hands through her curly hair, Zoey sniffles, the weight of what my brother thinks will happen to us, reminding her that we’re all in very real danger.
“I won’t leave Roman to deal with this alone, Aiden. He’s tormented by the evil things going on in that church, and I don’t know how far he’s willing to go to put an end to all of it. I’m worried about him.”
I’d called Roman seven times since we’d gotten to the apartment.
Each time, it went straight to voicemail.
Where the hell could he be?
Zoey's phone lights up, her teary eyes gravite toward the bright screen.
"It's from the correctional facility," She sniffles, all of us exchanging a look.
Tapping the answer button, she puts the call on speaker.
"You are receiving a call from an inmate in Idlewood County Jail. Press one to accept."
Tapping her screen, the person on the other line sounds frantic
"Zo-"
"Dad?".
"Zo, I messed up bad. I need you to come here so I can figure this all out," He gasps.
"Dad, I know everything. I know about the kids-"
"Zo, this isn't about that. I did something that is going to get me a lot of time. I need you to call your stepmom, and I need both of you to come in-"
"Fuck that stupid whore, and fuck you. I know what your plans were for me, Dad. I know who you really are-"
"Zoey damnit, just get your ass over here so I can get this figured out-"
"She and I will come," Aiden hisses. "And you can bet your sorry ass it's to say goodbye, not that you deserve it. "
Grabbing Zoey's phone, Aiden takes charge.
"Goodbye, Seth."
"Wait, Aiden, your sister-"
Hanging up, Aiden tosses the phone on the couch.
"Zoey, I'm so sorry," I whisper, rolling my thumb over her knuckles as I hold her hand.
"I'm sure whatever he’s done, it’ll be a well-deserved punishment," She says coldly.
Grabbing her phone and jacket, she swipes her keys from the table.
"Go. I'll leave you both to it. I'm still trying to get Roman to pick up the phone."
Still hesitant, Aiden trails behind Zoey.
"Call me if you need me. I'll be back soon."
Laying on the couch, I stare at my phone’s screen, my nerves frayed with each passing minute. It’s been four hours since I arrived at the apartment, an hour since Zoey and Aiden left, and still, the silence is oppressive.
Suddenly, the door rattles from frantic knocks. I jump, clutching my phone as if it might offer some solace.
“Eden,” Roman’s voice cuts through the stillness, a breathless whisper of relief. “Can you let me in?”
A surge of hope propels me to the door. I swing it open, my breath catching at the sight before me.
Roman stands there, a figure out of a nightmare, cloaked in a bloodstained hoodie. The dark hood shrouds most of his face, but the crimson splatter paints a grim picture of what lies beneath. His hands and face are streaked with dried blood, and he moves quickly inside, locking the door behind him.
“Roman—”
“He’s gone,” Roman snaps, pulling down his hood to reveal a face marred by the aftermath of violence.
My heart races, a mix of dread and relief. “W-who is gone, Roman? Are you hurt?” I reach out, hands trembling as I try to touch his face.
He grabs my wrists, his grip firm and unyielding. “Eric is gone,” He murmurs, his eyes intense. “He can never hurt you again.”
My gaze fixes on the blood that stains his clothes, the realization slowly dawning “Did you—did you hurt him, Roman?”
He doesn’t answer immediately, but the intensity in his eyes and the grim satisfaction on his face speak volumes.
“Are you okay?” I press, desperation lacing my voice.
Roman nods, his expression hardening. “I’ve taken care of him. I made sure he paid for what he did to you. You’re safe now. ”
"He can't hurt me again?"
“Nothing will hurt you, Eden Faulkner, so long as my heart is beating.”
His words are a vow, a promise that envelops me as I wrap my arms around his neck, surrendering completely to his presence.
“Are you scared of me?” He asks, his breath warm against my ear. I shake my head, the fear of the night melting away in his embrace.
“This whole night, the scariest thing was you not answering your phone,” I whisper, feeling his hands trace a path down my side. He lifts me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist, drawing me closer.
“I can’t think clearly when it comes to you, Eden,” He breathes into my ear.
“Then don’t think at all,” I murmur, my lips brushing against his ear. “Show me how much you love me,” I whisper, feeling his grip tighten. As I trail my tongue from his cheek to his lips, the metallic taste of Eric’s blood lingers, an unsettling reminder of the night’s violence. “Fuck me like you love me, Roman.”
With a low growl, he tightens his hold and moves us without a word, carrying us to a part of the apartment I haven’t yet explored. He opens the door to the master bedroom, but instead of stopping, he guides us into the adjoining bathroom.
He turns on the shower, letting the water heat before facing me again. His hands are swift, and I feel the heat of the water mix with the heat of his touch.
“I—”
“Shh,” He interrupts, his voice a gentle command as he begins to pull my shirt over my head, his movements deliberate and unhurried. As he undresses himself, the blood staining his skin is a stark contrast to the raw need in his eyes. I try to ignore the prominent strain between his legs, focusing instead on the intimacy of the moment.
The steam from the shower starts to fill the room, the air thick with heat and anticipation. Roman’s gaze is intense, his focus solely on me as he prepares to wash away the remnants of the night’s violence, turning our shared space into a sanctuary of raw emotion.
"Roman-"
Shoving us into the shower, the warm water cascades down our bodies, his lips ferociously attacking mine, nipping and biting at my bottom lip every chance he gets. Running his hand down my front, he cups my center, letting his fingers slide into my wetness. Keeping me pressed against the wall, I gasp and moan every time his fingers move in and out of me, watching as the blood mixes with the water and trails down his skin. My breasts bounce as he pounds into me, his free hand wrapping around my neck for purchase.
"So fucking wet for me, pretty girl," He praises, pulling his fingers out of me, taking his time licking my slickness from their tips.
Turning me around, he presses my front to the tile wall, coiling his hand in my hair, spreading my legs as he runs his tip along my folds.
"Tell me how bad you want to feel my cock, Eden.”
"So bad, Roman," I whisper, the water running down my body adding to the tendrils of anticipation creeping up my spine. "So fucking bad- "
I let out a gasp as he slides inside me. Keeping his hand wrapped around the back of my neck, he pounds into me mercilessly, passionately.
"Fuck, I love this," He groans, thrusting harder. "I love seeing you take me in like a good fucking girl," He whispers, using his hand to hold my hip in place.
Latching his teeth to the side of my neck, he releases his hold on my waist, driving harder and harder into me. He wraps his hand around the shower knob until his knuckles are white.
I glance down at my legs, looking at the light trail of blood slipping out of me and down my inner thigh.
My period.
Great.
Thrusting more aggressively, his lips brush the side of my ear.
"I love the way your blood looks on my cock," He whispers, slowing down his pace. "I want to be the only one to make you bleed, Eden."
He tugs my hair forcefully, the pain that stings my scalp sending me closer to release. His arm wraps around me as I moan, his cock twitching inside of me.
"You ready, baby?" He questions, holding me still. "How bad do you want it?" He taunts, keeping me at a tipping point.
"Please," I whimper.
Not needing much else, I feel his release implode inside of me, both of us letting out a vicious moan. Pulling himself from me, he moves in front of me, settling on his knees, my eyes wide with confusion as I struggle to support my weight on my shaking legs.
"What- "
Dragging his tongue up my lower thigh, he licks the blood that slipped out of me, letting it settle on his tongue, his hand gripping my thigh. Moving his tongue up my thigh and to my hip bone, he keeps moving up, sliding his tongue over my clit before working up my lower stomach. Moving up my body, his tongue takes its time going over my breasts before moving up my neck, finally settling on my lips.
Tasting a mix of blood and water, he kisses me as hard as he can, holding me until the water has washed away all of our sins.
Proverbs 25:25: “Like cold water to a thirsty soul."