ROMAN “It's a dead end, sir,” My brows furrowed deeply as I watched the man in front of me. His expression was devoid of any emotion and his voice was cold with polite professionalism as I've always known it to be. There was no way he was lying to me but…with his skills… “Are you serious?” I lif
I pushed the car harder than I should have through the winding roads leading to our house, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. The rational part of my brain kept telling me I was overreacting – the phone networks had been spotty lately, and Amelia was safely home. But years of survival ins
And that? That was their mistake. Because they'd forgotten something crucial: I hadn't retired because I'd gone soft. I'd retired because I'd already won every battle worth fighting. Because I'd become so good at violence that peace became my only challenge. I moved toward the front door, noting w
I studied the man carefully as he remained quiet, measuring my next words. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with the knife Amelia still held behind her back. "If you have nothing better to say, I suggest you leave," I said, my voice carrying the quiet authority I'd cultivated over ye
When our eyes met briefly over the counter, my heart did that familiar skip that I'd never quite gotten used to. I couldn't look away from her if I tried, drinking in every detail – the way she tucked her blond locks behind her ear, the slight furrow of concentration between her brows, the elegant l
AMELIA A week had passed since my grandfather's unexpected visit, and I found myself settling into a strange sort of normalcy. The kind that felt both comforting and dangerous– like walking on a bridge made of glass. Beautiful, but with the constant awareness that it could shatter at any moment. T
JESSICA The steady beeping of monitors faded into background noise as I stripped off my surgical gloves, satisfaction warming my chest even as my bones ached from the exhaustion from being up for countless hours. Another successful surgery, another life saved. That's what I lived for now – not t
"That was one time!" she protested, but she was laughing too. "Okay, maybe twice if you count the Christmas party incident. And the baby shower thing... Fine, point taken!" Our laughter was interrupted by a throat clearing. We both turned to see Dr. Morrison, the hospital's chief of medicine, stan
SIX MONTHS LATER The annual Wellington Anniversary gala was in full swing, and we'd decided to host it in our home rather than the hotel it was in late year. The ballroom of our estate glittering with lights that illuminated the beauty of the hall’s interior, reflecting against the marble floors
Wolves. They were fucking wolves yet Roman acted like they simply dogs he'd raised. And in turn, they acted the same towards him. “Why wolves though?” I raised a questioning brow as I caressed Sage's soft fur and Juniper whining a few seconds after that. Roman shrugged, “Why not?” He replied w
"You should hate me," I whispered, my voice breaking. "After what I did, you should hate me." "I know," he agreed, the ghost of a smile touching his lips. "It would be so much easier if I did." A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. Roman reached out, hesitated, then gently brushed i
"What happened?" he asked, his voice gentler than I deserved. I laughed bitterly. "Nothing dramatic. No great tragedy or betrayal. Just... emptiness. Day after day of emptiness. Making decisions that affect hundreds of people, never letting anyone close enough to see that I'm terrified of making th
I woke to unfamiliar shadows dancing across an unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, panic seized me as I forgot where I was. Until it came rushing back and I found myself sinking deeper into the mattress Roman's bed was sinfully comfortable, the sheets soft against my skin. I stretched, my muscles p
The rain continued to lash against the windows, filling the silence between us. Outside, lightning flashed, illuminating Roman's face and his even darker expression. I wasn't getting through to him. And I didn't blame him. "Two years ago, you made it very clear that you didn't need me," he said
Roman chuckled, the rich sound sending heated shivers down my abdomen. His eyes crinkled at the corners, making him look more like the man I remembered. "So did you," he replied, nodding toward my pixie cut. I reached up self-consciously to touch the ends of my damp hair. "Maybe it should be called
Roman suddenly cleared his throat and dragged his gaze away. He ran a hand through his short blonde hair, sending droplets flying. "I'll get you something dry," he said, his voice rougher than before. He disappeared down a hallway without waiting for my response. Left alone, I took the opportunity
AMELIA My mouth opened, but no sound came out. Words, which had never failed me before, suddenly evaporated from my mind like morning dew under a harsh sun. I stood there, gun still stupidly hanging from my fingers, staring at the stranger-not-stranger before me. Roman Wellington. But not my Roman