Page 80 of Born Free

But that’s no good.

I’ll never let Roman die again. Ever.

Because this man right here? He’s my forever. He is literally my other half with our souls being fused. But he’s also taught me that I’m enough all on my own. And so is Roman. But we’re two stars, destined to travel the same path, side by side, until the edge of the galaxy swallows reality. His soul is mine and my soul is his.

We’re forced to be decent when the elevator dings and the doors slide open to the main floor. I climb down from Roman and straighten my dress, just in time before the poor old woman who lives on the floor below me has to blush at us just one more time.

Roman holds the door to the lobby open for me, and, hand in hand, we head down the street toward the Nocturne.

From the outside, you’d never know anything was different. The Nocturne still looks like its historic, beautiful self.

But Roman walks to the door and enters a code into the new security keypad. No more scrounging around for keys. It beeps, and Roman pulls the door open.

The classic charm is still there. The checkered floors, the beautiful woodwork. The ballroom.

But everything is fresher. Brighter.

And this is just the entry.

We head up the stairs, and my heart hammers in anticipation.

The second floor is for guests. There are bedrooms and bathrooms, a living space and a functional kitchen. Jon has put a lot of effort into this floor as a fail-safe. If we need to congregate, if we need somewhere safe we can all go, there is space for everyone.

But as we climb past the second floor and get to the landing for the third, I look over with an insane amount of anticipation.

“No peeking,” Roman says with a coy grin as he pulls me up the stairs.

He’s hung a curtain over the entryway. He’s keeping it all a huge secret, and the big reveal won’t happen until he’s totally finished with it.

As of right now, he’s spending half his time working on our future home.

For us.

Roman and me.

We climb the stairs, rising higher and higher until we reach the top floor.

It’s not one hundred percent finished. The new flooring hasn’t been installed, and there are still some missing light fixtures. But the walls are all in place, the drywall finished, textured, and painted. The place is absolutely beautiful.

We enter right into a huge open area. There are arched windows scattered along the outside walls. Massive pillars hold the roof up. But here in the center is a massive gathering area. There’s a living area off to the side with a big gas fireplace as the center point. There’s a gourmet kitchen in the back corner. And here in the center currently, is a massive banquet table set up.

“I hope you’re hungry,” my father says as he crosses the space with a smile on his scarred face. “Elena’s caterer brought enough food to feed half the city.”

“A drink first, and then I’m starving,” I say, hugging him in return when he wraps his arms around me.

“I can make that happen,” Elena says with a smile as she walks up with a glass nearly filled to the brim with red liquid. The scent of it alone makes my mouth water. She hands it over with a knowing grin, and I down it like I’ve been starving for weeks.

“The place looks amazing,” Roman compliments as his hands slip into his pockets and he observes the space.

“Thanks,” Jon accepts as he turns a watchful eye to it all. They step forward and start talking renovations.

“Is this really our life?” Elena asks as we watch the men we love walk around. “Renovating homes and going to work and having brunch with our best friends?”

“I don’t know,” I say, the sarcasm creeping into my tone. “There’s no bodies on the floor. There’s no one breaking down the door, and the sky isn’t turning red with bad omens. I think we’ve accidentally wandered into someone else’s story.”

Elena chuckles and hooks her arm through mine. “This is the Chicago I promised you all that time ago. Sorry it took so long to show you what it was always supposed to be.”

“Sorry I jinxed it for so long,” I tease her. “You should have known better than to bring this bad-luck magnet into your hometown.”

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