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“Bella, listen to me.” He stands and steps closer, but I flinch when he tries to touch me. “Don’t be foolish,” he hisses. “You think getting married to a man means you know him? Because he showed you a slice of affection, you think he’s the good guy, and I’m the bad one?”
My chest heaves as he speaks, but the fact that he could read the truth, to some extent, throws me off a little.
And he sees it.
“My Bella,” he murmurs. “You’re a smart girl. Do you believe he has your best interest at heart—a man trained to kill?”
“Yes,” I say, refusing to let him sink his fingers of doubt into my head. “Yes, he does. Because Roman has never once lied to me. He didn’t try to deceive me either.” My eyes sting with tears. “You, on the other hand, are the worst human I know.”
Quietly, I add, “I’m leaving. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
He grabs my hand before I can turn, pushing me against one of the washing machines. I hit my back with a thud as his fingernails sink into my wrist, punishing me.
“You will do as I say, or the consequences will be worse than anything you’ve ever seen.”
“Where have you been?”Roman asks as I walk into the house hours later, his voice filled with restrained frustration.
He was pacing the living room a second before I walked in, and I could see his muscles tensed so hard they could’ve snapped if I had delayed a second longer.
I shake my head, too tired…too drained from my conversation with my father to summon a word.
As I try to walk past, he steps in front of me, his hand shooting out to hold my wrist. The feeling—the mere brush of his fingers against my skin—has me jerking back.
My body responds the way it did when my father shoved me against the washing machine with fear. Roman’s eyes narrow and darken, but his hand falls away.
“What happened?” he asks. There’s heat in his voice, and his frustration bleeds through clearly, but I know it’s not directed at me.
And that’s why I can’t tell him the truth.
Because I know he’s going to go charging after my father. Blindly.
“I will kill him, Bella.You think I don’t have the resources? I’ve been underground for months. Gathering resources. Do you know how many people are willing to take a stab at Roman Volkov? So many.”
He smiled as he said it. Grinned, even. I could tell he meant every word. If it was his delusion or the truth, I’m not certain.
But I can’t let Roman walk into a trap for my sake.
“I just—” I sigh, masking the ache that threatens to rip tears from my eyes. “I got lost. I don’t know how it happened or what I was thinking. I’m sorry if I got you worried.”
“Worried?” he replies with clenched teeth, and I see his fists curling at his sides. I know he wants to touch me again, but he’s holding back. And somehow, it breaks me even more.
Roman runs his fingers through his hair, letting out a drawn, harsh breath. “I thought something had happened to you. You disappeared for three hours, Isabella. I had Leo, Sergei, heck—every last man under my command searching for you until you called to say you were okay.”
My father would never do the same.
“I—” I bite my cheek, turning away to blink back tears. “I’m sorry.” My voice is a near whisper, because any louder and Roman will see what I’m trying to hide. “I didn’t mean to make you worried.”
He sighs. “It’s fine. You’re here now.” He steps closer and reaches for me again, but I flinch. Not because of my father this time.
I’d break. If he touched me, I’d break without a doubt. “I should get some rest,” I murmur, running off before I can change my mind. I run up the stairs, not stopping until I’m behind the door and far away from him.
Then I let it fall. The tears. The sting from my father’s lies and betrayal.
I let them pull me to the ground, tearing sobs from my chest and ripping my heart into pieces.
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ROMAN