Page 67 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Cecilia

We have a wonderful day shopping after our remarkable yoga session.

We went to a nursery and bought plants for the balcony, the ones I loved at our proposal. I’m already planning out how I’m going to arrange them.

Now we’re at an estate sale. Roman is… uncomfortable, to say the least. I can tell he’s not used to secondhand items. He wrinkled his nose when I found a lovely carpet but gave in when he saw how much I loved it.

He did insist we get it professionally cleaned because ‘Do you know how many strangers’ bare feet and dirty shoes were on it?

’ He looked a little nauseous at the idea.

I can’t wait until my normal shopping buddy is back in town.

After we check out, I step outside onto the sidewalk and wait for Roman. He’s calling one of his security friends to come pick up the rug for us since we drove here in the convertible.

I pull out my phone, ready to respond to Gracie, when it’s pulled out of my hands. Then my purse is yanked on, but since it has a cross-body strap, it doesn’t come off. I scream in surprise as the scariest man I’ve ever seen robs me.

He has short, blonde hair. And blue eyes. His arms are covered in tattoos in a foreign language. He’s wearing all black, which looks menacing on him in a way it doesn’t on Roman.

And he’s holding a gun.

“Give me the damn purse!” he says through gritted teeth. “And shut the fuck up!”

I quickly take my purse off and hand it to him with my left hand. He grabs it then his eyes light up. I follow his gaze, and my heart drops when I find it on my engagement ring.

“Give it to me!” he demands.

A tear slides down my cheek as I gently pull off my ring. I hand it to him shakily, and my heart cracks. He grabs it and races down the street.

I turn, ready to run inside to Roman, but see him running towards me instead.

“What’s wrong, Cecilia? Why are you crying?’ he asks, frantically checking me for injury.

“He… he took it. He took my ring,” I say through sobs, showing him my empty ring finger.

“Who took it? What happened?” he says, cupping my cheeks.

“A man with scary tattoos. He had a gun. He took my phone, purse, and engagement ring,” I tell him when I catch my breath.

Roman crushes me to his chest and kisses my hair.

“I promise I’ll get it all back, sunshine. I promise,” he sighs and pulls me in closer. “But for now, let’s go home.”

No matter how ridiculous it sounds, I believe him. Somehow, my hero will get my ring back.