Chapter 363
Chapter 363
She gasped. It was almost inaudible but I heard it.
“Round three,” he murmurs. “You should talk. What’s more pathetic than dying, is dying for a man who wouldn’t cross the street to spit on your grave p>
Paula’s breath shakes. Her tears spill over. The men behind Paula tighten their grip on her shoulders.
Chloe squeezes her eyes shut, whispering a frantic prayer.
Roman places the cold metal back to her temple. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My lungs are burning with the pressure of holding in a
scream.
“You don’t have to die today, Paula,” Roman says softly. “Just tell me who you work for p>
Paula’s throat bobs. Her lips tremble. For a moment, I think she’s actually breaking.
Then her chin lifts defiantly. “Do it,” she spits. “Go on. Kill me p>
Roman stares at her… then slowly inhales. And pulls the trigger.
Click.
Paula chokes on a breath so sharp it sounds like a sob. Her face has gone pale, and real fear–undeniable, uncontrollable–shines through.
Roman leans forward. “That was four.” He says, dropping his voice to something almost tender, almost intimate. “Two bullets left. Your odds are getting worse by the second p>
“Roman,” I whisper again. “Please p>
He doesn’t look at me. But his jaw tics.
Paula squeezes her eyes shut, gasping softly, and I think she finally understands what’s at stake. The woman who’s been unbreakable all day now looks seconds away from shattering. Again.
“Just tell him,” Chloe whimpers. “Please, Paula, just tell him. Who cares if he finds out?! Save yourself first p>
Paula shakes her head violently. Tears spring in her eyes–not from bullets but from panic clawing its way up her throat.
“I–I can’t.” She cries out suddenly, tears spilling. “I can’t tell you. You don’t understand what they’ll do to me p>
Roman taps the barrel gently against his head. “So, you’re assuming you’ll survive me. ”
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Dec 25
Chapter 363
Paula’s eyes stretch wide.
Roman breathes out. Then pulls the trigger.
Click.
Paula nearly collapses. Her head falls forward, her whole body shaking uncontrollably now.
“That was five,” Roman says, dropping his voice to something almost tender, almost intimate. “Looks like today is the day you die. ”
“Roman, please,” Chloe sobs. “She’ll die. Please stop p>
“Not until she talks p>
Paula sucks in a sharp, broken inhale. Then she changes the story. “I swear–I swear–I don’t know his real name. I never knew p>
“Lie,” Roman says, completely sure. “Try again. ”
Paula shakes her head, crying harder. “I’m not lying! I don’t p>
Roman stands. The chair screeches as he kicks it back and walks behind Paula. His men stiffen. Chloe chokes on another scream. I grip the edge of the seat so hard my nails dig into the wood painfully.
Roman places the cold metal against the back of Paula’s skull. The room freezes around that one motion. Then very softly, he says: “Round six. Your time’s up. Enough games p>
Chloe sobs harder. “Paula, please p>
Paula inhales shakily. Then she breaks.
“I KNOW HIM!” she screams. “I KNOW HIM, I KNOW HIM, PLEASE STOP–PLEASE–DON’T p>
Roman tilts the gun downward slowly. Paula collapses into panicked sobbing. Chloe breaks into hysterical relief. Even the men inhale like they’d been holding their breath for minutes.
The entire room practically deflates.
But Roman isn’t finished. Not yet.
He tucks the gun into his waistband and crouches in front of her. “Tell me his name.” he demands calmly. “Talk p>
Paula hyperventilates, shaking violently as the truth claws its way out of her throat, “You don’t understand…” she whispers. “ If I say his name, I’m dead. We’re all dead. He has friends. They’ll come for all of us p>
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Chapter 363
Roman says nothing.
Paula’s tears fall faster. “He’s not a supplier. He’s not a middleman. He’s not some street–level crime boss–he’s–be ́s p>
She chokes on her own words.
Roman loses his cool and screams so loud I shake from fear. “Give me his fucking name p>
Paula squeezes her eyes shut, terror ripping through her. And then in a whisper, she says it.
“Jace Hart p>
The world literally stops.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.