Chapter 391
Chapter 391
Chapter 222: Alexander
Reese
A stray.
That’s what he’d called her.
A fucking stray.
As if Serena Matthews had been a dog wandering the street or a cat seeking affection–like she wasn’t a living, breathing human bring whose life he’d sliced out of existence without a flicker of hesitation. A girl who probably laughed, who dreamed, who desersed to see tomorrow. He’d tossed her aside like she was disposable.
And that word. That damn word. It stuck inside my skull like a parasite.
Roman hadn’t moved since I said it. He sat perfectly still, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor as if it might confess something to
him. His jaw flexed once. Twice. Then nothing. Silence so loud I could hear his thoughts gnashing against each other.
The clock on the wall ticked. Ticked again. Ticked louder. Then, finally-
“ We’re going to New Hope tomorrow, Reese. ”
His voice was low. Controlled. Too controlled. The kind of calm that meant violence was two breaths away.
“We’re going to find out what Jace knows. Then we go to Blackwood Manor. ” He stood–no hesitation, no wobble. Just purpose. “It’s about time we take the party to The General’s doorstep. Don’t you think so? ”
I looked up at him.
Let’s burn the world, that stare said.
“I’m with you,” I told him. No hesitation. My heartbeat quickened, steady and certain. “All the way p>
A soft cough dragged our attention to Paula.
She leaned back in her chair, arms folded, eyes narrowed with that razor–sharp intelligence she rarely bothered to show. Het tone carried steel–not fear, not confusion. Judgment.
“I hate to ruin your heroic moment,” Paula drawled, “but what about Chloe? Are you planning to keep her tied up in your garage like a spare tire, or p>
1/3
Chapter 391
Roman’s face darkened instantly,
“Chloe is going away for a very, very long time,” he said, ostira hand mounge to broar shume 16 the police dont do their common? da it for them. I’ve made arrangements. If they let by walk free, Fill garsotullly enters the mud op i at assium She’s dearly insane, so it’s not far from the truth.” He exhaled sharply. “She’s at stepping font auto the dead world again, bor kids, the’s a danger to Seramah and our child, Can’t take chances p>
I let out a laugh. “Sounds like you’ve got everything locked down*
Roman shot me a look. “With that girl, you can’t be too cared. She’s a tikking bomb ‘s best to keep your distance
Paula scoffed, “Great. So that’s one monster handled. Now let’s talk about the Biyer one
Roman raised a brow. “The General p>
She nodded, eyes flashing. “You two want to march in there guns blazing Wonderful. But without great–grosf of Serena Matthews ever being on those grounds–you’re just barking. And he will bury you. Both of you. What minding youre both his sons
Roman looked at me. “You think he erased the CCTV footage? Tampered with everything”
“I don’t know, ” I admitted. “I never cared about those cameras. My only request was that he remove the one from my bedroom p>
Roman’s head snapped toward me.
“He had cameras in your bedroom p>
“I don’t know, ” I said again, shrugging–but the motion felt heavy, guilty. “I felt like he did. I always had this creepy sense someone was watching me. I confronted him, and he denied it. I didn’t believe him, so I brought a friend over while he was out. He checked the whole place. Said nothing was hidden.” I gave a half–hearted laugh. “Guess that was just parancia. Or the fact that my father was pissed I was sleeping around. So he wanted to keep an eye on me. To make sure that I didn’t bring the party to the manor.
Roman blinked slowly at me. “Nothing surprises me anymore. Don’t be shocked if he really did have cameras in there. Or worse, he bad other ways of keeping tabs on you p>
“That old nutjob,” I muttered. “Well… if he watched me, I hope I gave him a show worth the trauma
the supped “They still live there, Paula exhaled sharply through her nose, the sound sharp like a blade. “What about your shingt don’t they? You think none of them can help? Not one? Maybe check the cameras, maybe figure out who y manning them? Something? Anything p>
73
Roman sucked in a breath. “Fuck p>
I rubbed my jaw, guilt pricking like needles. “I haven’t spoken to them since I left p>
“It’s been over five years,” Roman added flatly. “If I show up, they might not even recognize who they’re talking to p>
“I’ll call Rhys,” I said.
Paula’s head jerked up. “Rice? Your brother is named Rice? What the actual p>
I pulled out my phone. “ R – H – Y – S. Originally pronounced as my name. Thankfully Father changed it to Rice. Rhys hates the name though. Imagine both of us with the same damn name.” I shuddered. “Nightmare fuel p>
“Oh,” she said, unimpressed.
Roman gestured. “Call him. Ask who handles the surveillance now p>
I glared at him. He shrugged.
I scrolled through my contacts, found Rhys’s number, and hit call.
“Speaker,” Roman ordered.
I raised a brow.
“Please.” His jaw ticked. That was his version of begging.
I tapped speaker. It rang. And rang. And on the fifth ring-
“Yeah?” His voice hit me in the chest.
“Hi, Rhys. It’s p>
“I know who it is.” His tone was cool, unfamiliar. “ Why are you calling me? ”
Music thumped faintly behind him. A piano. Classical music. Maybe Father was the one playing the piano. Or maybe it was Rhys and he was trying to drown everything out. Either way, he wasn’t happy.
Shit.
He had every right. I left him. I abandoned him. I walked out without a backward glance nor a goodbye.
1/4
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.