Chapter 4 - Gwen

A groan escapes my mouth. I blink hard against the harsh sunlight spilling through the sheer curtains, disoriented. It takes me a couple of seconds before I peel my lids open completely, and when I do, immediately, I can’t help but frown.

Where was I?

Anxiety takes root in my stomach as I try to make sense of my surroundings. The room was unlike anything I had ever seen—gorgeous and luxurious, with sleek furniture and modern art adorning the walls. I lay in the softest bed I have ever felt, covered in multiple silk blankets.

Panic surged within me. My heart raced as fragmented memories of the previous night began to resurface. The casino, the laughter with Riley, the sudden chaos of gunshots—it all rushed back in a dizzying wave.

I sat up slowly, my head spinning, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cool hardwood floor met my bare feet, grounding me as I focused on the task ahead: finding out what the hell was going on.

Glancing around, I noticed a massive mirror hanging on the wall. My reflection stared back at me, disheveled and bewildered. My hair was a bit of a tangled mess, but I was wearing silk pajamas I have no recollection of putting on. What the fuck is this?

Pushing back my anxiety, I allow a surge of determination to take over. I furrow my brows. I needed answers, and I needed them now. Pushing myself to my feet, I quickly but quietly left the room, looking back and forth down a long marble hallway before I ventured forward. I navigated through what I quickly deemed to be a luxurious penthouse. I reach a circular set of stairs and descend them, careful not to make any noise. On my left is an open living area, and on my right, around the corner, I could see parts of the kitchen. I decided to make my way towards the kitchen.

As I rounded the corner, there he was.

The man I met last night stood shirtless, leaning casually against the counter, his muscular frame glistening with a light sheen of sweat. My heart raced again, but this time not from fear. I scolded myself mentally; I shouldn’t feel this way when I was supposed to focus on why I was here and finding Riley. Anger bubbled beneath the surface, propelling me forward.

“ Hey, ” I snap as I cross my arms in defiance. “What the hell happened last night? What am I doing here? Where’s Riley?” I look down at myself, at the clothes I’m wearing. “Why… Am I wearing these ? Did you undress me, you freak ?

I watched as his expression shifted from amusement to seriousness. “You’re awake,” he said in a frustratingly unbothered voice.

“What—Of course I’m awake. You didn’t answer my questions.” My voice rose, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through me.

Roman pushed away from the counter, his eyes darkening, sending a chill sweeping down my spine. He didn’t answer for a moment, and the way he held my stare made me believe he wasn’t thinking of what to say, just finding amusement in my disgruntled state. Finally, he said, “I didn’t undress you. My housekeeper did.” Then, he turns around.

My lips part in disbelief, and anger churns inside of me. I can’t control myself as I stomp over until I’m standing beside him, forcing myself into his bubble. “What’s the matter with you? What the fuck am I doing here?” When he doesn’t answer, I try to grab his arm. “Take me—”

In one swift morning, his arm snaps out of my pathetic grip, and his fingers latch around my wrist. He turns his head to look down at me with narrowed eyes, and his stare renders me breathless, fear sparking in my chest.

“You were in danger. I removed you from the danger. You’re welcome.”

He lets go of my wrist, and I stand there, unsure what to say. I feel a mixture of everything negative—shock, unease, anxiety, fear. “I-I appreciate it,” I say, mentally kicking myself for how scared I sound, “but I’d like to go home now.”

“Not happening,” he says, and he scoffs. He fucking scoffs. As if this is some big joke to him.

The fear subsides, and the anger returns. “What? You have to let me go. You can’t just kidnap me!”

“I’m not kidnapping you,” Roman says, removing the pan from the stove and then turning it off. He’s not even giving me his full attention. “I’m keeping you safe.”

It’s my turn to scoff, which comes out far more dramatically than his. “ Safe? What the fuck are you talking about? Do you hear yourself?”

Roman finally turns to face me; agitation etched into his features. “Those men would’ve taken you just like they took your friend,” he says, and I feel a pang in my chest as scenes of Riley being taken away cloud the front of my mind. “Here, they can’t get to you.”

At this point, I’m starting to feel defeated. “So, what,” I say, “they were going to kidnap me, so you kidnapped me instead? What kind of game are you playing here?”

Roman gave me a look that made me feel like he was trying to scold me with his eyes. The look disappeared a second later, replaced by what seemed to be a poor attempt at looking soft. He took a step closer. “This isn’t a game , Gwen. You have no idea what they’re capable of. And I didn’t kidnap you. I had to get you away from the chaos. Trust me, you were in serious danger.”

I shook my head, grappling with the situation. “Danger? Riley is the only person in danger. She’s missing!” The anger that resides in me is not even close to diffusing. “And now? What do you expect me to do here? Should I just sit around and wait? I need to find Riley. They could be hurting her!”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Roman says firmly. He crosses his arms, and just like that, his expressions darken once again. It sends a wave of discomfort through me.

“Y-yes,” I try. “We have to go to the cops and tell them what happened. I’m sure the casino has dozens of security cameras. They might be able to see the faces of the men who took her.”

“We’re not going to the cops,” Roman says firmly. At this point, his voice lacks all emotion, dripping with danger.

My heart drops entirely. I feel sick. The reality of my situation sinks in more with every passing second, and I’m starting to wonder who the man who approached me last night really was. “W-what?” I sputter. “What do you mean we’re not going to the cops? How else are we supposed to find her?”

The toaster pops, and I jump and nearly scream. For a second, what appears to be amusement flashes across Roman’s eyes before he goes to plate his food. He’s completely unbothered and far too calm.

“Look,” I speak up once more. I have to keep trying. I have to find a way out of this, to get to the cops, to get Riley back. “I-I don’t know who you are or who those men are, but… But I just want to go home, okay? I’ll go to the cops on my own. I won’t even mention you.”

Roman turns around, putting two plates of food on the counter. My breath caught in my throat when he turned back to me, taking a few steps until we were dangerously close. My body suddenly rejects my anger and sends another kind of heat running through me.

“I’ll take care of everything,” Roman says, and for the first time throughout this entire interaction, he almost sounds human. He narrows his eyes as he looks down at me. “I’ll get your friend back. You have my word. But you stay here. And no cops.”

Defeat washes over me once again, mixed in with a sense of danger. I can’t help but ask, “What kind of person doesn’t want cops involved in something like this?”

At my words, he smirks. He fucking smirks .

It disappears as fast as it appears, and he leans against the fridge. “You know how I told you my family owns the casino?” He asks, and I nod, even though my memory of the previous night is fuzzy, and I have no recollection of him ever mentioning that. “It belongs to my cousin. I looked at the footage this morning with my brother, and he vaguely remembers my cousin mentioning these guys poking their noses where they don’t belong.”

He grabs his plate of food from the counter, shoving toast into his mouth as he continues. “My cousin’s out of town, so I’m watching the place in the meantime. These guys must’ve found out about it, and when they saw me, they thought to make a move. Send a message, I suppose.”

“But why me? Why Riley?” I shake my head in confusion. “I didn’t even know you before last night—I don’t know you. What do we have to do with this? Why did they take her?”

Roman shrugs. “I noticed them come in after I approached you. I guess they thought we knew each other.”

My mind quickly thinks back to Roman approaching us, to us putting our hands in his, ready to be taken away, and the realization quickly clouds my thoughts, filling me with dread. He was right. They thought we knew each other.

“Like I said,” Roman continues, taking a gulp of orange juice. “I’ll take care of it all, but you have to do something for me first.”

I sigh in defeat. “What, you want me to stay here?”

“Yes,” he says, then shrugs. “But we also need to make a few… arrangements.”

“Arrangements?” My brow furrows. “What kind of arrangements?”

He pauses, almost as if to think before he says:

“You’re going to marry me.”

The words hung heavy in the air between us, and my heart sank. “ Marry you? ” I repeated incredulously. The shock smacks me like a brick to the face, and then I can’t help but laugh. “What are you talking about? You can’t be serious!”

“Calm down,” Roman says, but his words only anger me more. “My family and I have dealt with these kinds of men all our lives. If you marry me and share my last name, it would give me more leverage to protect you. I can ensure your safety that way. Meanwhile, I can use my resources to find your friend.” Another shrug. “We already found their faces in less than a day. With that, you can trust me to handle the rest.”

For a minute, I just stare at him. I’m completely numb; I can’t feel a thing, but I know that my jaw is probably on the floor in shock.

“You’ll share my last name, and it’ll give me leverage, as well as help me guarantee your life,” Roman continues, putting his glass and plate back on the counter. “Trust me, you’ll quickly learn to love it. I’ll take care of you.” His gaze sweeps me up and down, and I have to physically restrain myself from punching him.

I feel breathless and angry. “Are you… out of your fucking mind?” I yell, daring to take a step closer to him. “Fuck this. Fuck you! I’m not marrying you. I’m leaving and going to the cops. You’ll have to kill me if you want to stop me.”

With all said, I turn and make way for the door. I don’t feel his threatening presence close behind, nor the sound of his footsteps, and, for a second, I’m filled with hope.

Just as I’m about to reach the elevator door, he calls out to me.

“Sure, if you don’t want to see Riley ever again.”

Dread takes over once more as I turn around slowly to face him. “What?”

Roman approaches me slowly as if to get under my skin, leaving a larger distance between us this time. “My family and I aren’t going to share the camera recordings with anyone. We will find out the names of these men and where they are and take care of them our way. That’s how we handle… these kind of men.” He pauses for a few moments, then shrugs. “Riley, on the other hand… There’s really no reason to save her. She’s nothing to us, just collateral damage.”

I feel like I’m about to collapse at this point. It takes me what feels like forever to gather my thoughts. “What… Wh-what kind of men are they?” I finally croak what feels like minutes later, trying to clarify the situation.

“The kind that the cops can’t do anything about,” Roman answers, brows furrowing.

I feel as if my body is going to shut down. “And what about you?” I can’t help but ask. “Does the same apply to you? Your family?”

Roman’s eyes darken, and he doesn’t answer, but the look on his face is an answer enough. “I know this sounds insane. I understand that everything I’m saying couldn’t be more of the opposite of what you want,” he says in what I can only assume is his best attempt at a soothing voice. “But it’s the best option we have right now. You become mine, and I won’t let anything happen to you. I won’t let anything happen to what’s mine. I promise.”

“You’re asking me to throw away my life for a situation I didn’t ask for. I don’t even know you!” I argue weakly. I feel my chest tighten with anger and confusion. I stare into his dark eyes, searching for any hint of deception. But all I saw was determination—an intensity that made my heart race. “What about Riley?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “You say you can guarantee my safety. What about hers? What will happen to her if I agree to this? How can you guarantee they won’t kill her right now? Hurt her?”

“I’ll do everything I can to get her back. But I need you to trust me,” he insisted, his voice unwavering.

Trust him? The thought was almost laughable . This man I met last night and exchanged only a few words with has swept me away from everything I knew and thrown me into a world of danger and uncertainty.

But beneath the anger, a flicker of fear ignited. What if he was right? What if the cops really couldn’t do anything?

What if agreeing to his insane proposal was the only way to keep Riley and me safe?

“Gwen,” he said softly, breaking through my thoughts. “I know this is a lot to take in, but you have no other options. I need your cooperation.”

The weight of the decision pressed heavily on my chest, and guilt gnawed at me. Could I really give up my old life? Would agreeing to this make me a part of his world?

“I’ll think about it,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” he replied, a flicker of relief crossing his features. “That’s all I ask for now.”

As I turned away, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions, I knew this was just the beginning. Whatever decision I made next would change everything, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that my life was spiraling into a darkness I hadn’t yet begun to comprehend.

The silence in the penthouse was palpable now, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Roman turned to finish his food but first slid a plate over to me. I walked back towards the counter and looked down at the buttery toast and scrambled eggs. But the thought of eating made me sick—the thought of everything made me sick.

I turned my back to Roman, feeling the weight of his gaze on me as I paced the sleek marble floor. My thoughts raced, tangled in a web of confusion and anger. I felt like I was trapped in a twisted fairytale, the kind where the heroine had to choose between a life she knew and an uncertain future laden with danger. And, stupidly, she chose a life of danger.

“Gwen,” Roman’s voice cut through the haze, coaxing me to face him. I hesitate at first, but when quiet washes over, I know he’ll only continue once I turn back to him. Reluctantly, I do. “I know this is hard. But I need you to understand how serious this is. Those men from last night won’t stop until they get what they want. It’s clear they think you’re my weakness, Riley too, and they’re going to keep coming at us.”

His words sank in, and the gravity of the situation settled deeper and deeper in my gut. I stopped pacing and crossed my arms over my chest, my defenses rising again. “What if I refuse?” I asked. I knew the question was futile, but I was desperate. I asked anyway. “What if I don’t want anything to do with your plans?”

He takes a step closer. His expressions cool over, and he looks down at me with an intense gaze. “I think I’ve made that very clear.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of what might happen if I just turned and ran away from this. I could still picture the chaos of the casino, the shouting, the gunfire, the panic. The look on Riley’s face as I watch her being taken away in the distance. I swallow hard, fighting against the rising tide of fear.

“Why me?” I challenge, my voice shaky. “You barely know me. Why risk everything for someone you just met?”

Roman’s stern expressions ease at my words. He walks over to me until we’re inches apart, and then I have to crane my neck upwards just to look at him. “I see the type of person you are, Gwen. You’re beautiful and strong. You’re the kind of person who seems like they can handle the pressure and help me think clearly when everything goes to hell. That’s the kind of person I want to make mine. Besides,” His eyes were dark and earnest, “you can’t just think of yourself anymore. You have to think of Riley, too.”

The mention of my best friend snapped me back to reality. I thought of Riley's bright smile and how she made me laugh during the toughest days. “And what about her? How do I know you’ll keep your promise to find her? How do I know you don’t just want some claim over me and have no intention of finding her?”

He hesitates before he shrugs. “Because I take care of what’s mine. If you agree to this, I promise you, I’ll do everything in my power to bring her back.” He looks at me seriously. “I need you to be on board, Gwen, but at the end of the day, I won’t force you. I won’t drag you into this against your will.” His voice was steady, but there was a certain tone to it that betrayed him, and he told me he was already set on the idea of me being his.

“I’ll take care of you,” Roman adds. He closes the distance between us, his gaze unwavering. It makes my heart flutter, and I hate my body suddenly for reacting this way. “I’ll protect you. I’ll give you everything you want and more, including Riley.”

The sincerity in his voice strikes a chord within me. I look into his eyes, and nothing flickering in those dark, chestnut orbs makes me doubt his words. I wanted to believe him and trust that he meant what he said. But the idea of marrying a man I barely knew, a man seemingly wrapped in the chaos of this criminal underworld, felt like diving into a deep, dark ocean without knowing if I could swim.

Taking a deep breath, I steel myself. “Okay. I’ll think about it, but I need more than just words. I need to know what I’m getting into. I can’t just jump into something blindly.”

“Fair enough,” he replied, a hint of satisfaction washing over his features. “What do you want to know?”

He guides me, and we move to the spacious living area. The tension shifts slightly, allowing me to catch my breath. I sink into the plush couch, my body still buzzing with adrenaline. Roman takes a seat across from me, his demeanor shifting from casual to serious.

“Who are you?” is my first question.

Roman holds my stare. “Roman Milov. I’m a businessman. I belong to the Milov family. It sounds simple enough, but my family deals with dangerous people, and we’ve made a lot of enemies along the way.”

Milov family . His words wash over me, and the realization quickly sinks in. “Mafia,” I say. I don’t have to ask him the question; I can already tell. I can already guess which one he belongs to, too. And he doesn’t answer, at least not verbally. When I meet his eyes again, they tell me all I need to know.

“What kind of enemies?” I ask, moving on from the subject. My heart is racing again. The more I learn about him, the more complex this situation seems. The more unsafe. The more terrifying .

“The kind that doesn’t play fair,” he replied grimly. “The men at the casino last night, I’ve run into their types dozens of times in my life. Lowlifes belonging to some sort of family or syndicate, hungry for more power and a higher status. The types who think they can intimidate you by targeting your businesses and those you care about. My cousin—Luka—mentioned to my brother that they butt heads a few times, but he’s always turned them down. Seems like they’ve been waiting for an opportunity to swing at him and just so happened to find out he was out of town.”

My pulse quickened. “So, you think they took Riley because of you? They think we know each other and want to use her as some sort of… pawn?”

“Exactly. These kinds of men see you as leverage. It is a way to intimidate and show us their power by threatening everyone we love and even simply interact with. And I refuse to let that happen.” His expression was fierce. “We need to establish boundaries. You marry me, and it solidifies your safety. Once word gets around, they kidnapped the friend of a Milov…They’ll realize they’ve overplayed their hands by fucking with my wife.”

“And what would happen if I refused?” I asked, this time asking more so out of curiosity than rebellion.

“My family would tell me to let Riley go,” Roman says plainly, then shrugs. “And I’d listen. Riley means nothing to us. Of course, I don’t wish to do that. I won’t do that.” He leans back in his spot with a sigh. “They won’t be too pleased to find out about you and me and my interest in getting Riley back, but I won’t let this go. You already have my word. But it’s risky, Gwen. I won’t sugarcoat it. We have to be smart and careful. And it’ll take time.”

While everything he’s saying seems to be truthful, I can’t help but hold onto that part of me that wants to run away. After all, this isn’t what I want. No matter how sweet he makes it sound, marrying into some dangerous crime family and saving the day by getting Riley back. No, I don’t want that. I won’t have that. I’ll play this game with him now, and when I get the chance, I’ll get away. I will get away.

“What are the chances they’d recognize my face if they saw me in person?” I ask him, feigning curiosity when, really, I’m starting to concoct a plan to escape. “I could go back to my apartment, file a police report, and be perfectly safe.”

He paused, running a hand through his hair. "While I can't say for certain, there's a very good chance they would recognize you. Think about it—they saw you with me at the casino, where high-stakes players and VIPs mingle. They've likely already gotten Riley to speak, to tell them who you both are."

I felt my stomach drop at his words. The thought of Riley being interrogated and possibly hurt made me sick. The opulent penthouse suddenly felt suffocating, its luxury starkly contrasting with the danger lurking just beyond its walls.

I turned back to Roman, studying his face. His chiseled features were set in a mask of calm determination, but I could see the tension in his jawline and the slight furrow of his brow.

"How long?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "How long would this... arrangement need to last?"

Roman's eyes met mine, his gaze unwavering. "As long as it takes to… neutralize the threat and ensure your safety. It could be weeks, months... maybe longer." But, yet again, his voice betrayed him, hinting at something more, something I couldn’t quite figure out.

The reality of what he was proposing crashed over me like a wave. This wasn't just a temporary solution but a complete upheaval of my life. I felt my chest tighten, struggling to breathe.

"And what about school? My job? My life?" The questions tumbled out, each one highlighting another aspect of my life I'd have to leave behind.

Roman leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "We'll create a cover story. Something crazy. It's Vegas, after all. People will believe it.”

I stared at Roman in disbelief, the enormity of what he was suggesting washing over me. It all sounded so surreal, like something out of a movie. But this was my life we were talking about.

Roman's expression softened slightly, and he reached out a palm to grip my thigh, sending sparks to my core. "I'll handle this, Gwen. You already know I will.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The weight of the decision pressed down on me, threatening to crush me under its enormity. When I opened my eyes again, I found Roman watching me intently, his dark eyes searching my face for any hint of my thoughts.

In that moment, I made a choice—not the choice he wanted, perhaps, but the only one I could see that might give me a chance to save Riley and myself. I would agree to his proposal and play along with his dangerous game, but deep in my heart, I knew I would never truly be his.

I would bide my time, gather information, and, when the moment was right, find a way to escape this gilded cage.

"Okay," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it. I'll marry you."

Roman's eyes darkened, a flicker of ease crossing his face before quickly schooling his features into a calm mask. He nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his expression as he smiled.

"Good girl," he said, his voice low and intense. He reached out a hand to cup my face, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. I almost flinch at first, but the sensation is so oddly comforting, and I scold myself for nearly sinking into his hand. "You're making the right choice, Gwen."

I swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to run. Instead, I met his gaze steadily. "So, what happens now?"

Roman stood up, his imposing figure looming over me. "Now, we make it official. I can have the paperwork processed quickly and quietly."

My heart raced at the thought. This was really happening. I was about to marry a stranger, a dangerous man with ties to the criminal underworld.

But I had to remind myself—this was all part of the plan.

Play along, gain his trust, and find a way out.