Page 18 of Tainted Ties

As we stood outside the club, panic filled me, clawing its way up my neck.

He eyed me with cool indifference making my hate for him intensify. “I sent your brother home. I assured him you’d be safe. Stop acting like a child.”

Before I could respond, a black Audi pulled up by the curb.

Roman gripped my arm once more and pushed me into the backseat of the car.

* * *

The alcohol buzzing in my system made me feel like I was floating, lightweight and free. Dozing in and out of sleep, I couldn’t remember where I was.

Slowly coming to consciousness, my heart thrashed against my chest. I searched around frantically, blinking rapidly to get rid of my hazy vision before it cleared. I was in a car.Alone.

Anxiety gripped me in a vise, clawing at me viciously.

Then it hit me all at once—the meeting, the contract, andRoman. My head pounded furiously, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut.

When I opened them again, I peered out of the car window. It was hard to make out what was concealed in the darkness, but the silhouette of a large arched door came into view.

A chill went through me, raising the hairs on my body. I slumped back on the leather seat as realization dawned on me. Roman brought me to what I assumed was his house and left me in the car.

The silence was eerie as I contemplated my next move.

I pulled out my phone and cursed at the black screen.Great, I couldn’t even call Enzo.

This place must have been gated with security if he had trusted me to be all alone.

Anger bubbled inside of me into something feral. He could’ve at least woken me up. I didn’t expect to be carried inside bridal style—not that he was the type of man to do that. No, Roman was the type of man to take and do what he wanted regardless of the consequences.

As I thought about it longer, the urge to rebel against him grew.

I bet he hoped I would wake up and come searching for him like a frightened little girl. Well, there was no way I was going inside of his house. If he wanted me inside, he could come get me himself.

Time passed as I sat in the chilled car, my eyes growing heavy.

Leaning my head against the window, the last thing I heard before I fell into a heavy slumber was the click of a door.

Chapter6

Aurora

Icould’ve stayed in bed forever had it been my bed.

A wave of nausea passed over me as I jerked upright from the sudden movement.

I pressed my fingertips to my forehead; I didn’t remember falling asleep in a bed last night, which meant someone had come to get me from the car.Was it Roman, or did he have one of his bodyguards do it?Both scenarios repulsed me.

I gazed down at myself and exhaled shakily. I had on a black silk nightgown.

Warmth spread across my face at the thought of someone having seen me naked. Not just someone, but Roman.

I tried to slow my breathing down even though my heart picked up a dangerous pace.

When I heard the door of the room open, I covered myself quickly as an older woman came walking in. She resembled Chiara so heavily that I almost thought I was dreaming.

“Mrs. Mancini, you’re up,” she said in a motherly tone. Her hair was gray and in a low bun that made the hollows of her cheeks more prominent. The wrinkles around her mouth weren’t from old age, but from smiling constantly and her warm brown eyes were inviting. She wore a yellow dress with white flowers and sandals that showcased her painted toes. “Mrs. Mancini?”

Mrs.Mancini?I opened my mouth to correct her mistake. That I was not married, nor was that my last name, but nothing came out. Instead, I kept repeating a name in my head.Roman Mancini.

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