Chapter 16 - Roman

I leave Gwen with Anya as I head out with my brothers and my men. The look on her face, the sweet but worried sick look, lingers on my mind, but I try to push it away. I can’t afford to let my thoughts linger on it; I have more pressing matters at hand. Our cars take off, adrenaline pumping through my veins as we gear up for the retrieval mission.

The plan is simple. We’re going to ambush the Vultures at one of their hideouts and take back what’s ours—Gwen’s best friend. As we approach the location, I can feel the tension in the air thickening like a storm cloud. My brothers, Victor and Dmitri, flank me, their expressions steely and focused. They understand the stakes as well as I do. I can’t allow anything to happen to Gwen’s friend. Not after everything she’s been through.

The building looms ahead. It’s an abandoned factory, an unassuming front masking the chaos that brews inside. We know that Riley is being held on the second floor in a storage closet, with roughly nineteen men scattered about the floor to keep guard.

My heart races, but I remind myself that this is for Gwen, for her loyalty and unwavering strength.

“Are you ready?” Victor turns and asks the rest of us. There are seven of us in total—we’re outnumbered, yet still advantageous, and armed with pistols and the element of surprise. We all nod, and Victor counts to three before he kicks down the door.

The door bursts open, and we storm in, weapons drawn and senses heightened. The dim lighting does nothing to mask the sound of footsteps scrambling, panic erupting within the confines of the place. I feel alive, the rush of danger coursing through my veins.

We move as one, each brother a cog in a well-oiled machine, each knowing their role without needing to speak. The adrenaline rushes through me, but I keep my focus sharp. We weave through the hallway, a cacophony of shouts and grunts echoing off the walls as we approach the stairs leading to the second floor. We talk in a line, each one of us angling our pistols in different directions as we advance, the sound of voices hauntingly close as we approach the area.

Suddenly, the chaos erupts as we encounter two men, who get taken out with the lead before they even have the chance to realize what’s happening. Shouts sound out from across the hallway, which I can only assume is the Vultures’ men's attempt to mount a defense. Three men run into the hallway with machine guns, but they’re unprepared, their faces a mix of confusion and dread as they realize who’s intruded upon their territory. I catch sight of one of them—a rat-faced bastard I recognize from previous encounters. Anger surges within me, and I zero in on him.

“Roman!” Victor shouts, snapping me back to the moment. I turn just in time to avoid a fist aimed at my face, countering with a swift kick to the attacker’s stomach. He crumples to the ground, and I can’t help but revel in the satisfaction of taking down another enemy. Before he has the chance to get up, I aim my weapon between his eyes and fire.

The fight continues as men appear seemingly from the shadows, fists and bodies colliding in a flurry of violence. Gunshots ring out, multiple bodies dropping to the floor amidst the storm of punches and kicks. I can’t help but feel alive amidst the chaos; it’s what I know best. The exhilaration fuels my determination, but it’s Gwen and getting Riley back to safety for her that really drives me. I need to make this quick; I need to get her friend out of here to ensure they never have to suffer at the hands of this scum again.

More men hit the floor, and I count roughly thirteen, leaving about six standing. We advance down the bloodstained hallway towards a source of light at the end of it. Finally, we reach the back room, and I find her—Gwen’s friend, bound but unbroken. Relief floods through me, but I don’t relish in it as the remaining six men emerge from their hiding spots, aiming their weapons and shooting in our direction. Two of my men to my left hit the ground while the rest of us responded. I grunt as I hit the ground, having dove for cover behind a fallen-over table. Victor joins my side, and we both catch our breath and reload our pistols. He mouths 3, 2, 1, and when he mouths go , we both jump up and fire our weapons.

The remaining bodies hit the floor, and I feel a wave of satisfaction surge through me as I watch growing pools of blood surrounding the mound of bodies on the floor. I holster my weapon, then turn to check on the men who fell. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured. One of them was grazed in the shoulder and was blown back by the impact, while the other only suffered a flesh wound to the side.

“Cut her free,” I command, my voice firm. Anton steps forward, swiftly slicing through the ropes that bind her. She looks up, eyes wide with confusion and fear, and then, recognition dawns.

“Roman?” she stammers, and I nod. I’m surprised she actually remembers my name.

“We’re here to get you out. You’re safe now.”

She bursts into tears, a mix of relief and fear spilling over. My heart swells, knowing that I’m doing this for Gwen. We manage to get her on her feet, and just as we do, a shout rings out from behind us. I whirl around, instincts kicking in as I see more Vultures pouring into the room, anger and desperation painted on their faces.

“Get her out of here!” I shout to Boris, who nods and takes the girl’s arm, leading her toward the exit. I stay behind, ready to cover them, adrenaline still pumping through my veins.

As the fight intensifies, I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, matching the chaos around me. The Vultures aren’t going down without a fight, but neither are we. We take down as many as we can with our weapons, running out of bullets and switching to hand-to-hand, but just as we think we’re making progress, one of the bastards lands a blow to my side and then another to my cheekbone. I wince but shake it off, not letting it distract me from the goal, before I knock him hard in the side of the head, his body collapsing to the floor.

With Boris leading the girl out of the building, I know we can’t stay here much longer. As the last of the Vultures falls to the ground, I finally turn to leave, adrenaline still coursing through me. We’ve done what we set out to do, and now it’s time to regroup and get the hell out.

Once outside, I spot Boris and the girl leaning against a car, catching their breath. Relief washes over me, knowing they made it out. With Victor at my side, we walk towards them, and Riley unexpectedly crashes into me.

“Thank you,” She cries, her body trembling violently against mine as she looks up at me. There are a few light bruises on her face, her wrists are red and swollen, and she looks paler and thinner than when I last saw her, but for the most part, she’s practically untouched.

“Let’s go,” I tell Victor, and he nods, opening the back door for the girl.

Once I’m in the car, Victor is already behind the wheel, and we speed off, leaving the chaos of the ambush behind us. The city lights blur past, but I can only think about Gwen. I can’t wait to bring Riley back to her, to fulfill the promises I made since the night I brought her unconscious body home, and when I watched her sign those documents the following morning.

As we pull up to the house, I can’t help but think of her reaction when she sees me. I’m a little bruised up, so I know she’ll be furious, and I don’t blame her. But the look on her face when we walked into that room, the sheer relief, is worth every pain I’m feeling right now.

We step out of the car, and I hear Anya’s voice from inside, a soft laugh that makes my heart swell. As we make our way inside, I glimpse Gwen’s familiar silhouette, and my heart skips a beat.

I take a deep breath, pushing the pain aside, but as soon as she sees me, her face pales. I can already see the horror in her eyes as she takes in the bits of blood on my shirt, the pain behind my smile.

“Roman!” she cries out, rushing toward me. I don’t even have time to brace myself before she’s at my side, hands gripping my arm, her eyes searching mine.

“I’m fine,” I say, forcing a reassuring smile. But the truth is, my vision’s a little spotty from getting punched in the head.

Her eyes narrow, disbelief washing over her. “You’re not fine! You’re hurt!”

“It’s nothing,” I try to say, but she’s already in full nurse mode, her fingers brushing against my side, and I can’t help but relish the attention.

“Nothing?” she hisses, her voice tinged with anger and fear. “You’re bleeding, Roman!”

I can’t help but chuckle, even though it hurts. “It’s not mine, Moya Lyubov .”

She stills, but then her eye catches something behind me, and her eyes widen as if she saw a ghost. “Riley!” She shouts, pulling away from me. I turn around just in time to watch the two women collide so forcefully that they fall to their knees in a marriage of wails. Anya joins me at my side as we watch the women’s reunion.

“Need me to take a look at anything?” She asks with a sisterly concern edging her tone.

“I’ll be okay,” I shrug her off. At the most, I might have a concussion, but I doubt it. Other than that, I only have a few bruises and surface-level scratches that don’t demand any special attention. “Thank you for keeping an eye on her for me,” I add.

“Of course,” Anya says, squeezing my arm and kissing my bicep. “Thank you for coming back alive.”

I look down at her and smile.

A second later, Gwen returns, and I’m winded when she crashes into me in a tight hug. “Easy,” I say. I intend to tease her about it, but it has the opposite effect when she pulls away and starts looking about my body with worry glistening in her grassy orbs.

I want to argue and tell her it’s unnecessary, but watching her concern makes me realize how much she cares.

“Hey,” I say, reaching out to cup her cheek with my palm, forcing her gaze to mine. “I’m okay. We got Riley back. That’s all that matters.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice barely above a breath. She stands on her tiptoes to press a sweet kiss against my lips.

I smile, but it quickly fades as she pulls away and returns to her perusal of my body, examining the cut on my side. “You’re going to need stitches,” she declares, and I can’t help but feel a rush of warmth at the thought of her taking care of me.

“Yeah, probably,” I admit, and the tension in the air thickens as I realize how much I want her by my side through this. She’s my wife, and I have no intention of letting her go. Ever.

Gwen's fingers are gentle yet urgent as she assesses the damage, her brows furrowing in concentration. The world around us fades into a blur; all I can focus on is her, the way her eyes dance with a mix of fear and determination.

“You should’ve been more careful,” she murmurs, her voice steady but laced with an edge of worry.

Despite the pain, I let out a low chuckle, drawing her gaze back to mine. “I know. But you should’ve seen me, Gwen. I was like a goddamn superhero.”

Her expression softens, and for a moment, I see the playful light return to her eyes. “Superheroes don’t get hurt, Roman.” She teases, and I roll my eyes.

She disappears into the kitchen, rummaging through the drawers and returning a minute later with a first aid kit. While my siblings talk in the background, Anya guiding Riley upstairs to get cleaned up, Gwen retrieves a pair of scissors, carefully cutting away the fabric of my shirt to expose the wound. I grimace slightly, more at the vulnerability than the pain. I’m used to being the one in control, the protector. Yet here I am, sitting on the couch while she plays the role of my caretaker.

“I’d be more worried if I were you,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re about to witness my transformation into a full-blown mutant.”

“Funny,” she replies, her tone flat as she dabs antiseptic on the cut, and I can’t suppress a hiss of pain. “This is going to sting a bit.”

“Great,” I mumble. As she works, I can’t help but admire her concentration, the way her brow furrows and her lips press into a thin line. This is the woman I’ve grown to love—the fierce nurse who puts her patients first, even when they’re stubborn as hell.

Love . I don’t even realize I think it until I catch myself after the fact. The word appeared so casually in my thoughts, and I washed over it without even realizing it.

But the word didn’t feel wrong. It fit.

Pushing those thoughts aside temporarily, I reach out and take her hand, needing her to know I’m okay, that I’ll always be OK as long as she’s here. “Gwen, I’m fine. Just a scratch. The real hero is the one who held it together while I was out there risking my life.”

Her eyes narrow, and she shakes her head, a smile ghosting across her lips. “You’re such a dork.”

“Dork? I prefer the term ‘maverick.’”

“Whatever you say, Maverick .” Her tone shifts as she gently stitches the wound, her fingers deftly guiding the needle through my skin. “But if you pull a stunt like this again, I’ll make sure you don’t leave the house without a bodyguard. You need to think about the people who care about you.”

“I can’t promise that,” I reply, my voice low. “I’ll always put myself in danger if it means keeping you and your friends safe. You know that.”

“I do know that,” she replies, her voice softening. “But there’s a line, Roman. You can’t sacrifice yourself.”

I want to argue, but something in her gaze stops me. She’s right; I can’t keep pushing myself like this. But every time I look at her, I know the risks are worth it. “I’ll try to be more careful. For you.”

“Good,” she replies, her lips curving into a soft smile as she finishes stitching me up. “Because I don’t want to have to keep stitching you up like this. It’s too much stress.”

“Maybe I like the attention,” I tease, winking at her.

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a lightness to her expression that pulls me in even deeper. I reach for her, pulling her close, my hand wrapping around her waist. She fits against me perfectly, like she was made to be here as we belong together.

“Roman,” she starts, her voice wavering slightly. “I keep thinking… What if something happened to you? I can’t bear the thought—”

“Shh,” I interrupt gently, brushing a thumb over her cheek. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m too stubborn for that.”

Her eyes glisten with emotion, and I feel the weight of the moment settle between us. I lean in, capturing her lips with mine, pouring everything I feel into the kiss. It’s slow at first, filled with relief, gratitude, and a promise that I’ll always come back to her.

When we finally pull away, she looks breathless, and I can’t help but smile. “You know I’ll always come back to you, right?”

“Yeah,” she whispers, and I can see the weight of her worry begin to lift.

“Good,” I say, pulling her back into my embrace. “Because I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

As she settles against me, I can feel the tension between us shift into something warmer, something more intimate. It’s moments like this that remind me why I fight, why I push through the pain. For her, for the life we’re building together.

A sudden thought hits me, one I’ve been wrestling with since we got married. “Gwen, about what happened with your friend…”

She pulls back slightly, concern flickering across her face. “What about it?”

“I’m proud of you,” I say, my voice steady. “You didn’t hesitate. You fought for her, and that’s something to be proud of.”

“I just wanted to help,” she replies, and I can see the guilt creeping back into her expression. “I didn’t want her to think I abandoned her.”

“You didn’t. You helped to save her. That’s what matters,” I assure her. “And now you can let that guilt go. You can focus on being the incredible woman you are.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and I wipe it away with my thumb. “You don’t know how much that means to me, Roman. You always know what to say.”

“I’m just saying what’s true,” I reply, my heart swelling with pride for her. “You’ve got the biggest heart, and you’ve shown it time and again. You’re a loyal friend and an incredible wife. I don’t take that for granted.”

“Thank you,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Really… thank you.” She paused, and I noticed a spark of conflict in her eyes.

“I care about you, Roman,” Gwen says, and I can’t help but notice how forced it sounds when she uses the word ‘care,’ almost as if there’s another word she wants to use but is too afraid to. “More than I expected to. More than I like to, to be honest.”

I chuckle and roll my eyes. Her lips part, but no words are coming out. “I care about you too, Gwen,” I say to fill the silence and remove some of the pressure from her, which works by the way her body relaxes into mine. “I never expected things would turn out this way with us.”

She nods eagerly. “Me neither. But I’m glad.”

As she leans back into me, I can’t help but think about the future. We’ve faced so much already, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. Whatever challenges come our way, I’ll be there to fight for her, to protect her, and to care for her fiercely.

“Just promise me one thing,” I say, the words spilling out before I can think better of it.

“Anything,” she replies, her eyes wide with sincerity.

“Promise me you won’t let fear hold you back. If you ever feel like you need to fight for something, you do it. I’ll be right by your side, no matter what.”

Her expression shifts, a flicker of something more in her gaze. “I promise, Roman. I won’t back down.”

And at that moment, I knew we’d get through anything together. We’ll face the darkness, hand in hand, and emerge stronger on the other side.