Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Maddie

The doctor comes and examines Roman. He doesn’t have a concussion. I have no idea how to feel in this moment.

I’ve been like a pendulum, going back and forth. In some moments, I want to shelter in Roman’s arms and then in others…I think I might have stepped into the lair of the beast.

A much more sophisticated predator than Vigo ever could be.

I sit silently, still on the couch as the doctor finishes. “And the lady?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Injuries?” the doctor asks in a gentle voice, his bedside manner like that of an office visit and not like he was blindfolded for a house call.

“She fell on her shoulder,” Roman answers for me. “Left.”

I am surprised he even remembers that happening. It was so crazy in that moment when Vigo dropped me. And honestly, the time in my living room when Vigo tried to carry me off feels like days ago, not just an hour before.

The doctor checks my arm, moving it this way and that, pokes the flesh, which is only mildly sore and declares me fine.

I’m not fine.

Remembering how Roman fought off Vigo helps me calm down, but I’m seriously debating asking the doctor for help getting out of here. Then Roman stands, placing himself between me and the doctor. He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a stack of bills, the slide of paper filling my ears as he counts out money and presses it into the palm of the doctor’s hand.

I stand too, trying to see what numerical value is on them. Roman has excellent lighting but I still can’t make them out, even squinting.

Are they fifty-dollar bills? One hundred? I don’t know why this is important other than it adds to the feeling that I am way out of my depth. My weekly grocery allowance is less than a hundred dollars.

“Thank you,” he murmurs just before Jack starts ushering the doctor back to the elevator.

I draw in a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I need to know some more details. Roman’s last name might be a good place to start. Why Vincent shot him would also be helpful. But I’m completely at his mercy now and I don’t know how much I can push.

Roman follows, whispering to Jack as they go. I can’t make out the words and I rub a hand down my face, realizing that I’m bone-tired.

I’m never up past ten and it has to be three in the morning.

I sit back on the couch, contemplating the safety, or lack thereof, of falling asleep right here when Roman speaks, “Maddie.”

His voice cuts through me and I sit back up. “I’m awake.”

“You’re fine, I just…” He comes to sit next to me, his arm coming around the back of the couch, his fingers brushing my hair as they pass. “You went very quiet.”

“Just tired,” I say, my chin dropping, as my internal debate rages.

I nip at my lip, trying to figure out how to proceed. Questions are swirling in my head. Swallowing down my reservations, I finally ask the biggest one. “What were you doing outside my house in the middle of the night?”

Roman stills. Technically, he hadn’t been moving before, but his muscles get stiff, his breath slowing. “My cousin and I were out at one of the casinos. We just happened to stop in front of your house so that Luke could…”

I shake my head. Is he trying to tell me that Luke urinated on my wall? The casinos are only a few blocks away in either direction. It would not be the first time drunken partiers made a ruckus outside my house. Still… “The casinos? You don’t smell like smoke.”

Roman clears his throat. “VIP room.”

His fingers gently brush my shoulder and I stiffen away. His voice only gets softer. “I know it was a bad idea to stop. Too many drinks and…”

It all sounds very reasonable but I can’t quite dispel my fears. I came here because I couldn’t stay at my house. I can’t face Vigo or Vincent alone. But… “So you just happened to be wearing a bulletproof vest and I happened to be out on a double date with guys who have the kind of beef with you that they’d try to shoot you?”

Silence meets my words. It stretches out between us, the tension growing with it. Am I on to something? Am I treading into dangerous territory? My arms wrap around my torso as I wait. Finally, he speaks… “Not completely.”

“What does…”

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. My head jerks up, fear skittering down my spine. Who’s here?

“Hey,” Roman’s voice is soft. Gentle. “It’s all right. It’s my brothers.”

More men I don’t know. I begin to tremble, I’m so in over my head. Maybe I should have just faced Vincent. I know who he is. I know what he planned. It was awful but it was right there in front of me.

Before I can articulate any of this, I’m scooped up by Roman. A small cry falls from my lips a moment before he settles me on his lap.

Roman’s hands are gentle, as he slides down my arms. “Hush.” His fingertips dance up my spine “No one here is going to hurt you.”

I shake my head, the first tears of the evening pricking at my eyes. “This is crazy,” I whisper.

“I know.” His lips brush my temple, and I find my hand settling on his biceps as I press deeper into his lap. I’m frightened of him, so why does touching him soothe my fear?

“Roman,” another man rumbles. I have no idea if it’s Leo or Mason and I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want to know.

“I’m fine. Maddie’s good. Doctor just left.”

“I know. We met him and Jack on the way out.” This time, I recognize Mason’s voice from the phone call earlier and I hear the way it drops low. Something is wrong.

I find my grip on Roman’s arm tightening and he squeezes me, his hands splayed out on my back.

“Mason, Leo, this is Maddie.” I turn to give them the briefest nod even as I bite my lip. Are there still tears on my cheeks? Most likely.

“Hello, Maddie,” one of them answers. Likely Leo. It doesn’t sound like the man I talked to on the phone.

“Hello.” Why I feel the need to be polite, I don’t know. My grandmother drilled it into me, I guess.

“Maddie’s exhausted and frightened,” Roman rumbles, the sound of his voice vibrating through my chest, before he clears his throat.

“I’m fine,” I lie. I can’t run, that’s not an option for me. But I’m almost too tired to fake anything. Raw emotion is about to start pouring out of me.

“Why don’t you go lie down.” Roman’s voice is honey and whisky, rich and deep with a touch of sweetness. “I’ll only be a few minutes and then I can help you brush your teeth and change.”

Is it a bad idea to leave them to talk? What will they plan for me? But it’s a welcome thought to be in a room alone. I need to collect myself… “All right.”

He stands, lifting me in his arms. Slowly, he lowers my feet to the floor, his arm wrapping about my waist.

I let him lead me down a dark hall and then I hear a door open as he ushers me into a room.

“Lights.”

The room lights up and I can make out the bed in the center of the far wall. The room is large, the carpet thick under my feet. The bed looks heavenly, but I swear, I could curl up on the floor and sleep, I’m so tired.

Note to self, as attached to my house as I am, get tired enough and you can adjust to a new place.

He leads me to the bed and helps me sit. “Feel free to lay down, sweetheart. I will be right back.”

And then he’s gone. I do as he says. I lay back, my head settling on the pillow, and I close my eyes. Is that stupid? Maybe. But if these men want to hurt me, there isn’t much I’m doing to stop it regardless.

I won’t see it coming.

“Oh Maddie,” I whisper to the room. “What have you done?”