Page 65 of Deceptive Desires

“Roman, I love you. If I don’t make it–”

“Cecilia, no! No talking like that. I’m six minutes away. Call the cops,” he grinds out.

I put him on hold and dial 9-1-1.

I pray the cops get here before Roman does.

I know his love for me is clouding his judgement, because he’s no match for a man with a gun.

I just pray he doesn’t hurt himself being my hero.

Chapter 44

Roman

This fucking motherfucker. Robbing my sunshine at gun point. Breaking in while she’s there. Terrifying her. Traumatizing her.

I’m going to fucking kill him!

“FUCK!” I yell, slamming my palms against my steering wheel as I weave through traffic.

This isn’t what was supposed to happen.

She shouldn’t ever be in harm’s way. And now she’s at risk of being shot.

Fear shoots through me at the thought, but fury tramples it away.

This fucking bastard signed his death certificate the moment he strode into her apartment with a gun while she was there.

I make a phone call.

Chapter 45

Cecilia

“Miss, are you still there?” the 9-1-1 operator asks, grabbing my attention.

“Yes. Sorry. I’m just trying to listen,” I murmur under my breath, not really caring if she hears me.

A ringtone sounds, and I almost pass out from the shock. I check my phone frantically trying to turn off the sound.

But it’s not coming from my phone.

It’s coming from the hallway.

Right outside my door.

My heart stops. He’s right there. Right outside my door. Mere feet away from discovering me. I hold my breath, scared he can sense me breathing.

I hear a male voice curse, then pick up the call. I can’t make out what he says, but he’s off the phone in less than a minute. I hear his heavy footsteps trailing down the hallway, through the living room… and out the front door.

The apartment door slams shut, and silence falls.

“Miss?Did you hear me? Officers will arrive on scene in twelve minutes,” she says kindly.

“Oh, uh… They don’t need to come anymore. I think… I think he just left?” The end sounds more like a question since I’m still confused by his retreat.

Did he really leave?