Page 13 of Shattered Dreams

Photos: Roman exiting a hotel at 3 a.m., Annie beside him in a trench coat, her lipstick smudged. Roman's hand on her back. Another shot—his arm around her waist, laughing at dinner.

I slap my hand over my mouth.

"Ava, don't?—"

"She's twenty-one?" My voice trembles. "A fuckingmodel?"

He stares at the floor.

I slam the laptop shut so hard, imagining his dick between it, and the way he’d howl in agony. "Well," I spit, "I suggest you fuck off back to yourmodel; you’re a shallow piece of shit, Roman Muller. I'mdone."

"Let me explain!" he snaps, frustration bleeding through.

Explain?!

I shake my head. "No. If you don't leave, I will."

He steps forward.

I lift a hand. "If you touch me, I'll cut your dirty dick off," I say, calm and deadly.

He curses under his breath, then storms past me, snatching up his keys.

A slam. A rev of the engine.

A fucking model.

5

AVA

FLASHBACK

"Ican't believe I'm your wife."

Roman leans in, his lips capturing mine as the waves lap softly against the shore beside us. He looks unfairly attractive in nothing but white swim shorts, his skin golden from the Caribbean sun.

"Imagine how I feel," he murmurs, his grin lazy and perfect. "You're burning my eyes, you're so damn hot, Mrs. M."

I bite my lip as his fingers trail up my thigh, heat curling low in my belly. He props himself on one elbow, his other hand shielding his emerald-green eyes from the sun as he gazes at me like I'm his whole world.

"I knew it the second I saw you, you know."

"Knew what?" I shift onto my side, mirroring him, squinting as I tuck my hand above my brow.

"That I'd marry you," he says simply. "That you'd be the woman I'd have kids with. That you'd be mine. Forever." His voice, usually teasing and cocky, softens—earnest, raw. The sincerity in his eyes steals my breath.

We're alone on this stretch of private beach. Just us, the sea, the sun…on our honeymoon.

Perks of being married to a superstar athlete, I guess.

"Yeah, right," I tease, flopping onto my back to bask in the sun.

A shadow falls over me. I glance up to find him hovering, smiling down at me like I've hung the damn stars. "Yeah. Right."

He leans down, kissing me hard, possessive, claiming. My lips melt beneath his as his arms wrap around me, lifting me effortlessly to my feet. He tugs me toward the water, his laughter echoing across the sand.

"Didn't you hear my vows, baby?" he whispers as we wade into the clear turquoise sea.