Chapter 10 - The Line of Fire
I retreated to the quiet sanctuary of the estate's conservatory, setting the glass pitcher down on a wrought-iron table surrounded by tall ferns and orchids. The rain drummed a steady, hypnotic rhythm against the glass ceiling, blurring the city lights far below into soft smudges of amber and gray.
Footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The faint scent of sandalwood and expensive cedar preceded him.
"You shouldn't wander the north corridor after dark, Paige," Roman said quietly, stopping a few paces away.
I turned to face him, leaning my back against the edge of the table. The leather support strap on my right wrist felt secure, but my hands were trembling. "I was just getting water. I didn't mean to listen."
"I know," Roman said, stepping closer. He looked tired, the hard lines around his eyes betraying the weight of the empire he maintained. "Nothing happens in this house that I am not aware of."
"Is that why you brought me here?" I asked, my voice barely louder than the rain hitting the glass above us. "Was the restaurant just an excuse? A way to pull me into whatever war you're fighting?"
Roman stopped just inches away, his dark eyes searching my face with an unreadable intensity. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against my cheek, his touch surprisingly soft for a man who traded in threats and debts.
"I didn't plan for you to drop that water, Paige," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. "And I didn't plan for you to stay. But now that you're here... you are safer inside these walls than anywhere else in this city."
"And if I want to leave?" I challenged quietly, though my heart wasn't in it.
Roman’s hand dropped from my face to rest on my shoulder, his thumb tracing the collar of my white shirt. "You're free to walk out that front door whenever your wrist is fully healed and your ledger is cleared," he said, his gaze holding mine with absolute certainty. "Just know what's waiting for you out there in the dark."
May you like
Before I could answer, the distant chime of the estate's security gate echoed through the stone halls, shattering the quiet intimacy of the room. Roman's expression hardened instantly, the warmth vanishing from his eyes as he stepped back, transforming back into the untouchable boss of an empire.
"Stay here," he commanded softly, turning toward the door. "Marcus will bring you your evening report."
