31. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Roman
S wiping through the photos with quick, deliberate movements, I notice a couple approaching the photo booth, casting curious glances at Me and Eden as she staggers out. I interlace my fingers with hers, guiding her away from the booth. Her rosy cheeks, glowing with a mix of excitement and embarrassment, captivate me.
“I should piss you off more often,” She says with a playful smile, our hands finally parting as we begin to mingle with the crowd.
“I kind of enjoyed seeing you so jealous,” I grin, watching her eyes widen in surprise. “But you should know by now, my focus is solely on one woman.”
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Aiden’s voice cuts through the moment.
Zoey approaches, her arms overflowing with fair treats and oversized lemonades, clearly having used Aiden as her personal shopping assistant all day .
“I told you they’d come,” Zoey exclaims, rushing to hug Eden.
Zoey’s gaze lingers on Eden, her expression shifting to concern. “Why are you so warm?” She asks, her voice tinged with worry. “Your skin is burning up.”
“I’m fine, Zo,” Eden reassures her, brushing off the obvious signs of the booth’s activities.
I tuck the photos deep into my pocket, the memory of the moment etched vividly in my mind.
I love you too, Roman. So do one thing for me. Don’t leave.
The way she looked at me when she said it was haunting. All her life, people had come and gone, leaving without a word. When I told Eden I loved her, it wasn’t mere words; it was the essence of my being.
“I could really go for one of those,” Eden says with a wide grin, eyeing the large lemonade.
I pull out a five and hand it to her, nudging toward the stand. “Go. You earned it,” I joke, watching her cheeks flush with pleasure.
Zoey grabs her hand, leading her to the stand, leaving me and Aiden to converse alone.
“How long do you plan on playing the loving boyfriend act behind closed doors before you shatter my sister’s heart?” Aiden asks, his gaze steady as he watches the girls.
“It’s not an act. Once the kids are safe, I’m done with my priesthood,” I say, meeting his gaze. “I’ll take your sister far away from here. And if you and Zoey choose to come with us, you’re welcome to.”
Aiden raises his brows, confusion evident. “You dedicated so much to becoming a priest. Why give it up for my sister?”
“I love your sister, Aiden,” I admit, his confusion deepening. “A life without her is a life I can’t bear. If I’m to see Heaven’s gates, I intend for her to be there with me. I once viewed our relationship as sinful, but now I see she’s the reason I believe in an afterlife.”
“You were skeptical?”
“I can don the clerical robes and preach to the masses, but the world’s cruelty often makes it hard to believe in a loving God,” I confess.
“I suppose that’s why he gave us free will,” Aiden muses. “The ability to sin—and to love.”
“If loving Eden is a gift from Him, then I will cherish it.”
“Are you not afraid of the repercussions of being so entangled with the church’s secrets once they discover you’re the mole?” Aiden asks.
Terrified. I’m fucking terrified.
“They won’t know until it’s too late,” I sigh. “My priority today is ensuring your sister experiences a moment of joy.”
Aiden’s scoff catches my attention. “I used to think you were incapable of smiling, Father. Seems I was mistaken.”
I touch the corner of my mouth, feeling the curve of my lips.
Eden Faulkner. Look at the life you’ve breathed into me.
Eden
“This is definitely going to make me piss myself,” I joke, marveling at the oversized lemonade .
Between Roman’s recent advances and this 32oz drink, I might as well be inviting a UTI to join the party.
“Isn’t that part of the thrill?” Zoey laughs. “Walking around these fairs, always having to sprint across the grounds to find a bathroom?”
That, or riding my priest in the photo booth. I guess our ideas of thrill differ.
“You know, when he’s with you, it’s like he has a soul,” Zoey smiles.
“What do you mean?” I ask, curious.
“When he’s with you, Eden, he looks at you like you’re the reason the Earth turns. It’s as if your time together has changed his perspective on life.”
As I reflect on Roman’s earlier words about leaving his priesthood, a thought lingers. Did I give him a reason to see life differently, to see it as more than a battle?
“Though I have to admit, he’s quite the looker,” Zoey whispers. “Can’t say I’m not curious about how he is in bed.”
“Let’s just say I need a day to recover after he’s finished with me—”
“Hey there,” A gravelly voice interrupts, causing both Zoey and me to turn toward a group of middle-aged men lingering near the cider station.
Ignoring them, we keep moving.
“Isn’t that the girl from that asshole’s phone?” One of the men says, raising immediate alarm bells in my mind.
Keep walking, Eden. Just keep walking.
But one of the men grabs my arm, yanking it painfully as my drink shatters on the ground .
His gaze lingers over my scars before settling on my face. “Couldn’t see all those scars in the photo, but damn, you do have a pretty face—”
“Get your fucking hands off her!” Zoey yells, shoving the man away and wrapping her arms around me.
“Zoey, let’s just go—”
But the other two men move in, blocking our path and encircling us like vultures.
“Yeah, that’s definitely her. Same pretty eyes and pink lips,” The man in front of me hisses, stepping closer. “Where’s your boyfriend now? You look a lot more appealing when he isn’t slamming my head into a wall,” He sneers, a fresh scar on his forehead.
“Boyfriend?” I ask, horrified. “Did Roman hurt you?”
“He did a lot more than hurt me. He humiliated me and my friends,” He snaps, nodding toward his companions.
The men behind us grab us, their fingers tightening around our waists as we struggle, causing a commotion that draws attention from bystanders who begin to record the scene.
“I think it’s only fair we return the favor—”
Before I can react, Roman and Aiden burst into the scene. Roman’s dark hair and Aiden’s curly locks are visible as they drag the men away, beating them mercilessly. The crowd watches, many recording, as Roman pummels one of the men into unconsciousness and then turns to the next.
When Roman goes after the second man, Aiden steps in, trying to keep up with the fight. Roman, now focused on the man holding me, draws a switchblade. The man presses the knife against my lower back, his hand tightening around my throat .
“How does it feel to be so vulnerable, hm, Roman?” The man taunts, using the name I provided.
Roman hands Zoey off to Aiden and raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Fair security finally arrives, with Aiden briefing them as Roman tries to reason with the man.
“Grab that fucking gun, and I’ll make sure she never walks again,” The man threatens, gripping my throat tighter.
Roman’s gaze is intense, clearly searching for a solution as the onlookers, including churchgoers, watch the standoff.
“Your issue is with me, not her. Surely you’re man enough to put that knife to my back—”
“Why would I do that?” The man sneers, digging the knife deeper into my skin. “Her pain sounds so nice. Almost as nice as the look on your face.”
The crowd watches, some recording, as Roman attempts to draw the man’s attention away from me.
“Because it’s me you’re trying to get attention from, and it’s worked—”
“I warned you. I warned you what would happen if I saw her—”
“Well, here I am,” Roman exclaims, peeling off his flannel, ready to fight. “So why don’t you man the fuck up and—”
Reaching behind me, I grab the knife, dragging it down my back until he has let go. I hiss in pain as I stomp on the man’s foot, causing him to curse and loosen his grip.
Roman seizes the chance, pulling me away from the man despite the shouts from security. He drives his fist into the man’s face repeatedly. Grabbing the knife from the ground, he thrashes at the man with the blade, continuing to threaten him even after security has intervened.
A medic presses a cloth to my back, applying pressure as they move me away from the chaos. Roman is eventually restrained by security but continues to struggle, trying to grab one of their guns.
Zoey and Aiden help me, with Aiden working to calm the security guards.
“Get the fuck off me,” Roman snaps, breaking free from the security guards’ hold, their attention divided between him and the three unconscious men.
“I’ve got it,” Roman insists, taking over the medic’s role, pressing the cloth to my back with a firmness that surprises me.
“Sir, I should really—”
“I said I got it,” Roman interrupts, focusing solely on me.
He cups my face gently, his gaze full of concern. “Are you okay?”
“Can we go home?” I ask, my voice trembling.
“Absolutely,” He replies, his jaw clenched with determination.
As I scan the crowd, I spot someone in a black hoodie lingering at the edge, their head down and a cross pendant hanging from their neck. They quickly tuck their phone away and turn, disappearing into the crowd.
Ignoring the onlookers, Roman keeps his hand on my lower back and guides us, along with Aiden and Zoey, back to the cars. As we drive away, Roman checks on me repeatedly, his worry palpable.
“That night I came to reservoir and you saw my face all banged up, I had a run-in with the guys who had you. He saw a picture of you on my phone—”
I grab his hand, stopping his spiraling thoughts. “Let’s just go back to your place. I’m sure you can find a way to make it up to me.”
Roman says nothing more as he puts the car in drive, the figure in the hoodie lingering in my mind.