Chapter 7 - You Touched What Was Mine
Evelyn froze in her tracks.
Her crimson coat flapped in the wind blowing through the shattered entrance.
"You don't understand," she stammered, pointing a manicured finger at my limp
form.
"She set this up! She hired these men to extort you! She used her brother as an
excuse!"
Roman stood up slowly, lifting me effortlessly into his arms.
My head rested against his broad shoulder.
I was too weak to protest, too exhausted to care about propriety.
Behind Roman, five black SUVs screeched to a halt outside the ruined doorway.
Dozens of armed harbor security guards poured into the warehouse, securing every
exit.
Marco, his forehead wrapped in white gauze, stepped forward with his weapon
drawn.
"Boss," Marco said, eyeing the two groaning thugs on the floor.
"Tie them to the pipes," Roman ordered coldly.
"Call the State Police. Give them the audio recordings from the surveillance van
outside."
Evelyn gasped, her face draining of color.
"What... what recordings?"
Roman looked down at her with utter contempt.
"Did you really think Marco was alone when you ambushed him on Boston Street?"
He took a slow step toward her, carrying me as if I weighed nothing.
"I had three tracker units on Nora's bag."
"I had a directional microphone outside that door from the moment you arrived."
He stopped inches away from her.
"I heard every word, Evelyn."
"I heard you threaten a nine-year-old boy."
"I heard you order my cook thrown into the basin."
Evelyn shook her head, tears of humiliation and panic spilling down her cheeks.
"Roman... our families... the merger! The Calder and Sterling shipping lines!
You can't ruin this over a maid!"
"She is not a maid," Roman said.
His voice echoed off the steel ceiling.
"She is the only honest soul that has walked through my house in five years."
He looked at Marco.
"Strip her coat. Take her jewelry. Put her in the back of the patrol cruiser."
"If her father calls, tell him his daughter is facing attempted murder and
kidnapping charges."
"Roman! You can't do this to me!" Evelyn shrieked as two guards grabbed her
arms.
"I am your fiancée!"
"Not anymore," Roman said without looking back.
He carried me out of the freezing warehouse into the pale morning light.
The harbor air was crisp and biting.
He carried me straight to the warm interior of his personal Mercedes.
He laid me gently across the leather backseat.
He climbed in beside me, pulling a heavy cashmere blanket over my shivering
frame.
"Caleb..." I whispered, clutching his sleeve with weak fingers.
"I need... Caleb..."
Roman took my bruised hand in both of his.
"He is safe, Nora. He is at my estate right now."
May you like
He leaned down, brushing a stray lock of hair from my bloody temple.
"He is waiting for you."
