Page 31 of Tainted Ties

Calls. As in plural. That meant, he’d heard every single conversation between Enzo and me. He knew that we had been trying to find a solution for me to escape.

Cold sweat ran down my back. I didn’t know what was more terrifying, Roman’s calmness or being caught.

“You do understand that I’m not keen on people knowing my business, yes?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping he wasn’t suggesting the worst thing imaginable.

“Therefore, you’ll have to forgive me for what I do to your friend.” He asked for forgiveness, but his tone didn’t convey a hint of sincerity.

The urge to cry and plea on my knees for Irina’s life was palpable. My mind raced with trepidation as my breathing shallowed. “Please,” I whispered. “Don’thurt her.”

He tilted his head to one side, assessing me.

“Please.”

“How far are you willing to go for her safety?”

“I’ll do anything.” My pride could take a backseat because when my best friend’s life was on the line, I wasn’t foolish enough to cross him.

He hummed his approval, causing an internal rage to simmer inside of me. “Looks like you’ll satisfy me after all.”

Chapter11

Roman

It had been weeks since Aurora offered herself up on a silver platter to spare her friend’s life and while I had no intention of following through with my idle threat, I wanted her at my mercy.

I’d seen very little of her since then though, due to the intensity of my work. It wasn’t surprising, considering I ran a criminal enterprise of money laundering and drug trafficking, among other things.

The only times I saw Aurora were during meals and they were horrendous, filled with silence and vibrating anger.

It didn’t matter if I saw her, anyway. Knowing she was under the same roof as me was agitating. I felt hereverywhere.

She was a siren, beckoning me with her presence, making me want to claim her lips again—her body and mind.

That kiss had messed with my head. The way her lips molded against mine, the way she felt against me, smooth and responsive. That moment replayed in my head repeatedly.

“Have you consummated the marriage?” Uncle Stefano asked, eyeing me precariously.

His tone of voice indicated that I was less than capable. “It’s hard to do that when my wife hates me as much as I do her.”

He rubbed his jaw in thought. “You’re telling me you haven’tcharmedyour way in yet?”

Too many questions made my body break out in hives and that included from family as well. It was prying and irritating. “I’m tellingyou to trust me.”

My uncle raised me after my parents passed away when I was a teenager. He took care of me and taught me everything I needed to know. And when his only son—my underboss—was killed, I owed it to him to seek out revenge.

“I’ve been trusting you for the past decade. There are other ways to speed up the process,” he suggested. “Othertactics.”

“I will not be forcing myself on her,Zio,” I replied. “Besides, I’ll have her begging for mercy sooner rather than later.” Big emerald eyes clouded my vision. “I’ve already established a middle ground with her.” That started with my tongue down her throat.

“Don’t play with your food, Roman. Swallow it or spit it out,” he scolded. “I’ll head out, but I expect progress reports.”

I nodded my head in acknowledgment, suddenly needing to release the tension that weighed down on me.

When my uncle left, I texted Luca, letting him know I was on my way.

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