Page 9 of Poisoned Roses

“It’s Tia, actually.”

I’m not certain why I want him to know that. When I’m in my apartment, Tatiana Pavlov remains on the stage. Here, in my private sanctuary, I am just Tia.

“It’s easier to say.”

His voice is lighter, almost amused, and I turn to stare into his eyes and note a softening to them.

“It is.” I smile and whisper, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For well, doing this. You must think I’m crazy.”

“I think nothing at all.”

If anything, that causes a smile to drift across my lips and I like how unapologetic he is. Take him or leave him. He doesn’t care either way, and I nod my thanks.

“Anyway, it means a lot to me because, well, nobody else cares.”

This is the moment he will leave because listening to a stranger’s sob story isn’t for a man like him, but he surprises me by saying coolly, “If nobody cares, there is nothing to fear.”

“I don’t understand.”

It’s a strange thing to say, and he cocks his head on one side. “Sometimes we do things because we care that should otherwise be left unattended. If you have nobody, you owe the world nothing. Solitude can be a blessing, Tia. Don’t assume that just because you are alone, you are poorer for it.”

“That’s sad.”

“Possibly, but it’s fact. When you care about something, it means you are easier to manipulate.”

“Is that why you have your, um, well, attitude?”

“Whatever my attitude is, Tia, is no concern of yours.”

He accompanies his words with a brief smile and then stands, glancing around as if making certain there is nobody here.

“I will leave you to rest. Carry on as usual. I’ll be in touch.”

Now he is leaving the panic sets in again and I jump to my feet and follow him to the door, twisting the diamond ring from my finger and saying hesitantly, “Um, well, you should take this.”

He turns slowly and notes the ring in my hand and raises his eyes. “It will look better on you.”

It brings a smile to my face, and I shrug. “Look around you, Titus. Where I live a ring like this is worth killing for. I am merely looking out for myself because contrary to what may be in my future, I still don’t want to die just yet.”

“Your future, Tia.” He reaches out and retrieves the ring from my grasp and before I register what he’s doing, he pushes it firmly back in place and says in a dark, husky whisper, “Is with me and nobody would dare touch what is mine.”

His heavy gaze slides across my skin like molten lava and my breath hitches as a moment of realization strikes me. I’m not sure why fate decided to hitch me to the devil, because that is exactly what he has revealed to me now. Titus Romanov is a manwho doesn’t give a fuck. He said it himself, but there is one thing he obviously values above everything.

His possessions.

As he slipped the ring back on my finger, the gleam in his eye left me in no doubt at all that I am his newest acquisition and I am unsure how I feel about that.

CHAPTER 5

TITUS

Ileave Tia behind because why wouldn’t I? She was scared, immeasurably so, but her fear for the unknown angers me. Never fear anything. Face up to it and deal with it, which is exactly what I plan to do before we can move forward.

I sit back in my car and take out my phone; the engine starting as the driver prepares to take me to my apartment in a more affluent neighborhood.

---