Page 130 of Untamed

Chapter 30

EMBER

I sit cross-leggedon the floor of my apartment, camera propped up on a stack of books, a coffee mug that’s gone cold beside me. The room is more than half-empty—boxes stacked in the corner, half-packed, ready to go. But my reading nook is still in place, the familiar stack of books in my hand as comforting as a weighted blanket, twinkling under the glow of the white light. Fairy lights will forever hold magic for me.

Rodion hangs up the phone with his brothers. I told him once he was competent, and he’s shown me that in spades in the past few days. When his enemies out here couldn’t prove anything he’d done, following an investigation on the sudden disappearance of Shawn Steele, I watched my husband…my husband…handle every detail. He methodically extinguished every fire with a precision that was unnerving as it was impressive. No panic, temper, or hesitation. Every step he took was deliberate, every detail accounted for as though he’d mapped it all out before the events unfolded.

I’d knew he had a dangerous mind but watching him handle every facet of a high-stakes situation, I saw how terrifyingly capable he can be.

Thatthrillsme.

The little red recording light blinks at me, and for a second… I hesitate. It’s been so long since I faced this screen, this world, that I’ve almost forgotten who I am in the book space. But then I remember Zoya, her eyes alight when she talks about all things romance… and I face the screen.

I decided it would be fun to come back in a live feed. Why not?

I lean in, my heart beating faster, grinning like I’ve kept the biggest secret in the world. “I’mbaaaack.And oh, how I’ve missed you all!”

The words echo in the room, playful and familiar, and it feels so damn right. I sigh contentedly.

“I know. I disappeared for a little while. You probably thought I got kidnapped by one of those morally gray mafia boyfriends we’re all swooning over.” I pause dramatically, ignoring the way Rodion chokes on the beer he’s drinking. I’ll have to edit his choking sounds out. I pause, tucking my hair behind my ear. “And I’ll tell you… you’d be not that far off.”

The chat lights up. I can hear notifications pinging, but I ignore them for now. I lean back, folding my arms.

“So… what have I missed? Besides every single mafia romance released in the pastmonth?”

A shadow moves at the edge of the frame, just out of focus. I pretend to be surprised like we didn’t plan this whole thing.

I fight a smirk. “Iwasgoing to do this whole video alone, but it seems someone decided to lurk.”

Rodion leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his bare chest. He watches me with that dark, unreadable expression that always makes my heart race. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the look of him shirtless, sweatpants hung low on his hips, a black mask covering the lower half of his face.

Zing.

I turn the camera slowly toward him. “See? On brand, girls.”

He cocks his head, eyes narrowing on me. “What is that supposed to mean, little queen?”

At the “little queen,” the comment section goes wild.

I grin. “Exactly what you think it means, sir,” I tease, shifting my focus to him. “Look at you. Youarethe mafia trope come to life.”

He steps forward, tugging the mask down just enough to smirk at me. “Careful, little queen. You’re skirting the edge. Keep saying things like that, and I might have to play the part.”

I toss the back of my hand to my brow. “No. No. Please don’t.”

The chatexplodesas he prowls closer to me and fists my hair.

Yum.

Didn’t know I had a voyeuristic streak, but here we are.

Maybe I’ll need another theme for my account…

“Can you take your mask off?” I say in a low voice, biting my lip.

He drags it off, facing only me, so they can’t see his face on-screen. He drops it on the stack of books beside me. I grin andface the camera. “I would say I created a monster, girls, but believe me when I tell you… he was firmly established in that role before we first met.”

Rodion leans down and brushes his lips to mine. “Camera off now, little queen.”

---