Chapter 32
Roman doesn’t hesitate for even a moment when I say yes to a dance.
He pulls me onto the small dance floor in front of the band, the smokey vocals of the lead singer sounding through the speakers as Roman leads.
He holds me close, spinning us to the beat of the music.
The floor seems empty, but I’m too focused on him to care whether we are up here alone.
He dances as if the music is part of his soul, leading in a way I have no choice but to follow.
I get lost in him; in the music and the way he holds me like I’m precious.
His hands are soft where they sit on me and yet firm, confident, keeping me moving with him.
He sweeps us over the dance floor, owning the space, the song.
A laugh trickles from me as he starts to sing along with the lyrics, those smile lines making my insides feel like jelly.
He suddenly dips me back, leaning over me with a grin, which I answer with one of my own.
“There she is,” He rasps, pulling me back up as he brings up one hand to sink a finger into a dimple on my cheek.
“I love you too,” I blurt.
His eyes widen. “What did you just say?”
“Is that okay?”
“Is that…” He trails off on a chuckle. “Say it again.”
“I love you too.”
His lips slam against mine, a kiss to claim in front of all the people watching. I don’t care, nor do I shy away from it, I let him own me. A loud whistle cuts through the room, and when we finally break away, I find Ashley clapping.
“That’s my bestie!” She hollers loudly.
Roman grins, “And she’s my wife.” He says it low, only for me, continuing to move us to the music slowly now, barely on beat but it doesn’t matter, this is our world and everyone else is just living in it with us.
The band flows into a new song, but we don’t stop, taking up the middle of the floor as we remain attached. No words need to be spoken, my confession keeping us here, a moment sealed in time. Eventually though, that bubble has to pop.
“The fuck you mean you have no Jack!?” I hear the loud voice over the music, aggression lining every word. Both of us look to the bar where a college-aged kid yells at one of my staff.
“Nope.” I pull away from Roman and head toward him, tapping him on the shoulder when I get close enough. “Who do you think you are?” I ask him.
His lip curls up. “Fuck off.”
“What the fuck did you just say to my wife?” Roman presses up against my back, his body practically vibrating.
“I said —” The kid squares up and I feel Roman tense, coiling up tight and ready to strike.
He doesn’t get another word out as the security hired for the night swoop in and grab the guy by the tops of his arms. He hollers as he’s dragged from the bar while I turn to my employee.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” She shakes her head, “I’m fine. Just trying to find a minute to restock.”
“I’ve got it,” I tell her. “What do we need?”
She reels off a list of a couple of spirits and mixers, so I head through to the stockroom, Roman on my heels.
I don’t bother trying to stop him. He wants to help, and we need it, so I pile everything into one box and hand it to him.
“Can you take that out?” I ask.
“Anything else?”
“I’ve got it. Be out in a sec.”
I watch him take the bottles out and then gather up all the empty packaging left behind from a messy and busy night. It will only take a minute to clean it up and take the trash out, and if it’s one less thing for my staff to do, then I don’t mind easing the burden.
When I’ve got it all folded down, I pile it into my arms and head toward the back exit, pushing open the door to lead me into the alley where the dumpsters are.
I’ve barely got the lid open when I feel a presence behind me.
I try to spin, but their hand goes to the back of my neck, pushing me up against the side of the dumpster.
“That’s a pretty ring,” A deep, male voice grinds out from behind me, his other hand gripping my wrist to yank my hand up to the light above the exit door of the bar.
I know who it is without seeing him or knowing his name.
“Get off me.” I demand.
“I gave this to his mother,” He muses. “Worth a lot of money. It’s the least I am owed.”
“You don’t want to do this, Jenson.”
“So, he’s told you about me?” The hand loosens a touch.
“He has.”
“What is it going to take, Niamh?” Roman’s father asks. “Do I need to hurt you too?”
“That didn’t work though, did it?” I laugh humorlessly, pushing away the fear that wants to force me to my knees. This man doesn’t get to see that weakness. “Where are you now, Jenson?”
The hand tightens again, and he slams me forward, my jaw colliding with the edge of the dumpster, the hard metal cutting.
Pain bursts through the lower half of my face, rattling through my teeth.
I can taste blood pooling on my tongue from where my teeth have cut into my cheek, and when I press my tongue to it, the flesh feels raw.
“I am a patient man.” He snaps. “Where is he?”
“Far away from you.” I grind out, spitting the blood onto the ground beside his boot.
“You know,” He muses, “I thought he was smarter. I almost gave it to him; he showed no weaknesses. No girlfriends, no friends, and then you showed up with that ring on your finger. How far will you go to protect him?”
Sorrow cuts through me. Roman didn’t allow anyone close in fear of retaliation from the man who is and was always supposed to protect him.
“You have a chance, you know?” I tell him, blinking away the burn in my eyes. “To leave and get away with all of this.”
“You think I did all of this just to give it up?” He scoffs, hand tightening. “I don’t think so. I married that fucking bitch, gave her the kids she wanted, and I got nothing. She lied! So I’m going to take what I deserve, Niamh.”
He’s killed before. I have no doubt he’ll do it again, hell, he ran at his own son with a car!
I don’t think he will hurt me, not yet at least. He’s going to try to use me first. Glancing around, I look for something, anything, that I can use to startle him so I can escape.
If I can get around to the main street, I’ll have witnesses, and he’ll have no choice but to hide like he always does.
My eyes land on the flashing red light just above the bar exit door, a steady blink for the camera that’s aimed right in this direction. Even better… it has audio.
We got him.
We fucking got him.
A laugh tumbles out of me; I’m not able to stop it, and it sounds a little manic, even to my own ears.
This is it for Roman, this is what he needed.
“What the fuck is so funny?” Jenson demands, pushing me harder into the dumpster, the cold metal biting into my skin.
“You killed her,” I state, my words stifled since my jaw can’t work the way it needs to. Confession time.
“Do you want to know how?” He says close to my ear, the glee in his tone sending a shiver down my spine.
“You messed with her car.”
“Clever girl. Sliced those brake lines in two.”
“Like you did to the truck I was driving,” I say, “You destroyed my truck too.”
“It was a pretty message, wasn’t it?” He replies, “I figured a reminder was in order for my son.”
“You killed your wife to get the ranch.”
“I did.”
“And yet you lost anyway, just like you lose now, Jenson.”
“I haven’t fucking lost!” He snaps.
“Do me a favor,” I push back on his hand, not getting far, but it’s enough that the pain eases, “Smile toward the door.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Your attacks were a reminder for your son,” I hiss, “And one thing you didn’t account for is how far he’ll go to keep his family safe. Smile, Jenson, you’re on camera.”
“What did you say?” His hand snatches away, and I almost fall without it keeping me up. I grip the edge of the dumpster and look at him before I point to the red flashing light.
“Say cheese.”
“You fucking bitch!” Jenson lifts his hand as if to strike me, but the back door slams open, freezing us both.
“Get the fuck away from my wife!” Roman snarls.