Page 108 of Stolen Seconds

“I am.”

Curiosity shown in his gaze, but he caught on fast. Luca wasn’t with me which meant he was unaware of my whereabouts.

“Is there a reason you’re on my property at three in the morning?” he asked, his features strung tight, eyes darker than the sky above us.

“There is. Can we go inside and talk?”

If he wanted me gone, he wouldn’t have let me through in the first place. It was wishful thinking, but I had a suspicion he still cared for me enough to hear what I had to say. Or I was completely off and any second he’d aim his gun at me for the second time.

He pursed his lips after a moment and stepped aside, leaving room for me to walk through the threshold.

The house was faintly lit as I followed him down to his office, and he only spoke again when we stepped inside. “Aurora doesn’t know you’re here.”

“I know.” There was no way he’d have woken her up because of me.

A sort of calmness had set over me and maybe it was the exhaustion finally reaching its peak or the acceptance of defeat, but I was done.

“I’m going home, Roman.” I clasped my hands in front of me, feeling a slight tremble in them. “To Russia.”

He leaned against the desk at the center of the room. “Then why come here first?”

I held his gaze, searching for an ounce of warmth in his eyes but they were void, glossed over with disappointment.

He knew if I managed to escape Luca, I could’ve used the opportunity to leave Italy.

“When I was younger, I had this skewed image of family. While hidden behind the walls of our manor from society, I only yearned for my parents’ attention.”

Roman stayed silent as I continued sharing with him what I hadn’t even shared with Aurora.

“In the beginning I understood their reasoning. I knew my father had enemies, and I was isolated for my own protection.” I laughed at how ironic it was. “And then some time passed, and that understanding turned into resentment.”

My chest felt sore from the heartache that never dissipated from all the grief it held.

“He may have protected me from the outside world, but he couldn’t protect me from the damage that was happening here.” I tapped the side of my head, my lips trembling.

“Irina...” A hint of emotion strung along my name as his brows furrowed.

“I don’t hate them for it.” I gave him a watery smile. “I might not agree with my father’s actions, but I still love him.” I turned my head and stared at the clock on the wall. “Maybe that makes me naïve.”

“It doesn’t,” Roman said, bringing my attention back to him. The cold exterior he had shown me the past few weeks had begun to thaw.

“I don’t need your pity.” Even though it was Roman who I was speaking to, I hated when men thought of me as weak. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“I know.”

An understanding passed between us as we stared at each other from across the room and it gave me the courage to say what I needed to.

“When I learned of Nicolai, I felt hope for the first time in years.” The mention of my brother’s name had Roman stiffening. “I was hellbent on finding him even if it meant serving my father’s agenda.” Dimples. Freckles. Glasses. “But then I met him and realized I loved him too much to sacrifice his happiness for my own.” The sting of tears burned the back of my throat “So, I’m letting him go.”

I didn’t know when or if I’d see Nicolai again once I left Italy, but this was the closure I needed and I knew Roman was capable of protecting him when the Bratva retaliated. And they would.

“I don’t know what’ll happen next, but I’m sorry for-”

“Roman.” Aurora’s trembling voice cut through the air, bringing our attention to her. She stood near the door with her hand atop her stomach, green eyes wide against her pale face. “My water just broke.”

The second the words slipped from her lips, a loud explosion reverberated in the air.

Chapter 29

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