Page 109 of Only for Him

“Of course,” I say. “You get a say in all this. They took away your choices. We’re not going to do the same.”

Roman looks at me sharply, like I’ve said something wrong. I feel chastised but don’t know why.

And, as much as my needy little soul might like it in bed, I don’t much care for being ordered around inthisconversation.

As far as I’m concerned, we’re equals here. He might have been doing this a long time, but my badge isn’t just for show.

“The problem is we don’t have manychoicesto offer you,” he says, cutting eyes at me when he repeats my word choice. “You come from a Bratva family. We can’t just hand you back. You go home, Dakota, and you’ll be right back in their grip. And we’re obviously not just going to throw you out on the street.”

Well,obviously.I didn’t intend on dropping her off at the goddamn mall with enough money for a pretzel just because that’s what she wanted.

Still, the weight of his words lands harder than I expect. The shadows over Dakota are real. They slither and cling. And we can’t pretend otherwise.

“Witness protection could work,” I say, my voice steady and cool. “We use what Dakota knows to pinpoint who else might be involved. Piece together their movements and leverage that to get her?—”

I turn to her, eyes begging forgiveness.We’re lying to her.No matter how gently I say it, no matter how righteous my tone, what we’re really doing is deciding for her.

“—sorry,youout of harm's way. And we can find other girls in your situation. Plus, if we move in official channels, this whole operation becomes legitimate.”

Roman’s expression darkens. I can’t stop the memory of last night, our fight in the office, his insistence that we do this on our own. I know he won’t like what I just said, but I’m not going to bite my tongue around him.

You’ll stay here and be obedient.That was the deal, wasn’t it? Before he chased me like prey and held me down and whispered that I was his.

It wasn’t exactly a signed contract. I can leave whenever I want, say whatever I want, do whatever I want.

Except you don’t want to, do you, Giselle?

This time, Roman’s voice is what shoves the thought down.

“Why would I want this legitimized?” His voice drips with disdain. “I trust who I trust. That’s it. I don’t trust any other organization to do what I do without backdoor favors and bribes. Every institution—even your precious fucking NYPD—is tainted. If you think there are any incorruptible people out there, you’re naïve.”

I don’t flinch. I’ve stared into those eyes in worse circumstances. I’ve felt them on me while I begged him without words to go harder, deeper, more.

“Incorruptible?” I fire back, lips curling. “You mean like you? Roman the righteous. Roman the executioner.”

Rosa’s eyes widen and even Dakota’s lips start parting. Neither of them says a word. We’re giving them too good a show for them to interrupt.

His eyes blaze, but he doesn’t speak. For one second I think he might pin me to the wall, fuck this argument right out of me with his mouth or his hands or that damn knife.

Part of me wants him to try.

Nowthatwould be a show.

Jesus fucking Christ, Giselle.

No. No.Focus.

But I’m still right. And I won’t stop saying it just because it makes his jaw clench.

“I’m assuming you consider me pretty incorruptible, given that I’m standing here right now. So that’s at least two people. You really think we can’t find more? We’ll move slow, take time to vet people one by one until we have enough to stand against this.”

“It’s too risky,” Roman dismisses with a wave of his hand. His palm still shows the vague outline of my teeth embedded in the flesh, and I shudder at the memory.

We’ve both marked each other now. Staked our territory.

There’s something between us that lives in the gray area between obsession and hate—a pull forged in violence, lust, and mutual understanding. Roman draws me in, even as every instinct tells me to bristle.

He sees me, and I’m starting to see him.