Page 72 of Toxic Things I Love About You

I sucked in a breath.

“No matter. I have a doctor that will ensure you aren’t tomorrow. Tonight?”

I never got to hear what he said because a loud explosion or maybe two shook the ground. Glass shattered, and my uncle was thrown off me.

I tried to push myself up and roll over, but that wasn’t working. I got my head moved and saw nothing but smoke.

“Vinny?”

A moment later, I was lifted and pulled into a warm chest. A shot fired. My ears rang with all the noise and chaos. My lungs burned with every breath.

“Vinny. Put me down.”

I breathed in, realizing the scent was not Vinny’s. It calmed me like a dream. Maybe I was dead?

“Say his fucking name one more time and I will wash your mouth out with my cock right here and now.”

“Roman?”

* * *

“Emilee? We’re home.”

Roman put me down. I melted into the soft comforter that I recognized. I was able to move now and wrapped my arms around him.

“Do not let me go.”

He chuckled and gently kissed my forehead.

“I want to stay and hold you, but I had a doctor meet us here to check you out. She needs to see you.”

I shook my head. “No. Nope. You can’t leave me. Please don’t. I promise I’m fine.”

Roman seemed to breathe me in before speaking.

“Emilee. You're not fine. You were half naked with him on top of you. You were barely able to move when I picked you up. You were so fucking close to the explosions. You might not be fine.”

I wiggled my toes and fingers. I lifted my head and noticed I was wrapped in his jacket. I lifted my legs to prove I could and then held him tighter.

“Everything moves just fine. He didn’t touch me. What is the problem?”

Roman grabbed my arms and fought me to pull them away from him.

“You are not fucking fine. I saw the fucking handprints on your ass. I saw him on top of you as I shot him over and over. Parks set off several small explosions all around the area and you were in the middle of it.”

I fought Roman to release my arms so I could hug him. Hold him. Reassure him.

“Roman, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for putting you through this. I thought I could solve all the mysteries. I thought I could save my company and then you wouldn’t want to leave me. I thought—”

He shut me up with a kiss. Not the rough kiss that usually preceded the best sex of my life, but the kiss of a man who’d nearly lost everything.

The feelings I’d tried to bottle up and box away seemed to break free and torch that damn box all at the same time. There was no going back. No locking anything back up. I kissed him back with every emotion I couldn’t even define.

TWENTY-FIVE

roman

“Why in thehell did I let Emilee talk me into this?”

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