Page 57 of Tainted Ties

I was the cause.

A slow smile spread across my face. “It’sskitteringbecause my hatred for you runssodeep, it enrages me.”

He inched closer to my face, his cheek sliding along mine. The light touch of his lips against my earlobe caused my eyes to flutter unwillingly.

The exact moment my gaze fell to the floor, where blood was pooled by my feet and a man lay with a bullet wound between his eyes, Roman whispered, “And what is it you think I feel?”

And then darkness.

Chapter20

Roman

Aurora passing out was something I hadn’t expected, yet here we were.

She felt solid in my arms when I lifted her, one arm underneath her legs and the other around her shoulders, before exiting my conference room.

I called for Nico and a second later, he came, his gaze falling between Aurora and me.

“Tell the guys to clean this shit up and then get out of my house.”

He nodded but didn’t make any move to leave, his eyes fixated on Aurora. When he glanced at me, I lifted a brow, daring him to say something.

He knew better than to interfere.Yet, I had a soft spot for him that I’d never admit, hence why I didn’t strangle him for his behavior.

Pushing past him, I made my way up the stairs to my bedroom, where I could keep a close eye on the siren in my arms.

Putting Aurora under the covers of my bed was an uncomfortable feeling and I hated that it wasn’t because she didn’t belong, but because what should’ve been wrong feltsoright.

I entered my bathroom, grabbing the first aid kit and a damp towel. There was a cut on Aurora’s throat and if I hadn’t already put a bullet through the fucker who was responsible, I would’ve tortured him to death.

No one was allowed to inflict pain on her but me.

When I settled onto the bed beside her, I moved swiftly, wiping dried blood off her face.

My body vibrated with restless energy. I couldn’tstandto see her this way.

I clenched the towel tighter, my knuckles turning white.For fuck’s sake, what was I doing tending to her wound?

Aurora stirred before jolting upright, scooting higher up on the bed away from me.

I put my hands up in surrender, if only to amuse her. “Relax, I’m taking care of your cut.”

Her green eyes widened a fraction before narrowing. “Since when doyoucare for anyone?”

“Since now,” I bellowed through clenched teeth. “Shut up and lay back.”

She stared at me for a moment, and I could see her reluctance as she struggled to understand whatIhadn’t begun to understand.

Whatever willpower she held onto dissipated before her head settled onto the pillow. Her button nose scrunched up as she watched me, her gaze never leaving my face as I cleaned and bandaged her neck.

“All done.” I gathered the supplies before standing.

I turned on my heel to leave but stopped when her soft hand clasped my calloused one, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you.”

With pinched lips, I faced her and nodded. It was all I could afford to do. I had already made poor choices when it came to Aurora and the last thing I needed was to appear weak in front of the others.

When her hand didn’t leave mine, my pulse skidded.

---