AMELIA

Everything else that came after meeting with Roman in front of the room was hazy. I knew he had led me to bed, my eyes heavy with as I kept telling him to promise.

All I could think about was the fact that if he owned Grayson, I wouldn't have to give my shares to Bertha. It would be better if he owned everything…it would be so much better.

Then I could buy my mother's gallery, before Hector Grayson would do anything foolish like stay true to his threats.

My mind was a swirl of countless thoughts as I tried to convince myself that it would be okay.

Roman had promised me.

“Rome?”

The memory pushed itself past whatever barrier my mind had held up, seeping through the cracks.

I was in an apartment. Aching all over, I was recovering from an injury…a few.

And…Roman was seated opposite me, hair blond, eyes bluer than ever, familiar and softer than I'd ever seen them. He looked younger but his eyes were strange, there was a certain edge to them. He screamed danger even from a distance