Page 115 of Shadows of Obsession

Roxy is always strong, but even by her standards, this day was too much.

"I promise," she whispers back, and I watch their car drive away.

"How are you holding up, love?"

Roman's voice makes me turn my gaze to him. I hadn't noticed I'd remained frozen, staring at the road down which Roxy and Maksim left.

"I don't know. I don't understand how she doesn't hate me. Anyone who went through what I put her through today woulddetest me, Roman." I feel every word I speak. "I don't deserve a friend like her."

I look him over, and although he assured me the explosion didn't cause more than a few scratches, I can see today has been long for him too. Between everything that happened with Lev, who's still being held at that barn, Roxy being kidnapped, and an explosion and gunfight, this day has been a nightmare.

"Tell me you don't have to go back to Lev," I plead because, honestly, I think he's going to collapse.

It's not normal for one person to carry so much on their shoulders.

"Not tonight. Anton and Denis have some frustrations to take out on him," he says and grins.

Denis, although not in the best shape after the beatings from Roman and Niko, insisted on taking his revenge for Lev's betrayal. It still seems unbelievable to me how much they trust each other and how he let himself be beaten just to avoid raising Lev's suspicions, who was probably monitoring the warehouse cameras. If Roman had reservations about his cousin before, I feel things have changed radically in the last few days.

"What's the plan then?" I ask.

"Damien needs a doctor and some sleep. I'll call Kai to check us out, and tomorrow, after we've rested, we have some debts to settle. What do you say, love?"

He takes me in his arms. His clothes are dirty with soil and he has some scratches on his hands and face, but when his body's warmth envelops mine, I'm home. I could stay like this and need nothing else. For me, love is his safety and protection. The security of not walking alone in the dark. His promise that he'll always take care of my heart.

"Sounds good, my love," I answer and kiss his neck softly, right where he has a scratch that's bleeding a little.

Because every drop of blood on him was shed for me. And I have forever to kiss every mark left on his body, just as he will always kiss my scars.

Mine.

Chapter 36

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Roman

Damien took Devin to his basement, where he hooked him up to several life-support machines to ensure he doesn't leave the realm of the living too soon. After what Roxy did to him, the man was already unconscious.

I can't help but laugh knowing the Irish mafia leader lost his manhood in seconds. I cross myself and say a little prayer for the lucky person who'll share a bed with that woman.

When I go down to the basement, I see Damien has already started having fun. Devin has pieces of skin missing from his abdomen and hands.

"Finally, you're here. I don't know how long he'll last, and I don't want to waste adrenaline on him anymore," he tells me, and I can feel his irritation.

Damien's always been like this. He gets carried away in the moment and loses perspective.

"It's not fun torturing a corpse, Damien," I throw out since Devin's eyes can barely open.

I watch him instinctively flinch, as if he had somewhere to run.

"What were you planning to do with Luna, Devin?" I ask while putting on gloves.

Silence hangs after my question, telling me everything I need to know. He'd never have let her walk away with Aidan. I glance at my clean shirt - more stops to make tonight.

The steel bar feels cold and heavy in my palm as I test its weight, swinging it gently back and forth. His eyes widen just before I bring it down against his leg. The crack of metal meeting bone echoes through the room, followed by a raw, guttural sound that bounces off the walls.

Good. So he still has some life in him.

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