Page 90 of Barristers & Bones

“But you don’t hate me. I’ve lost enough in my life–I’m not fucking losing you too.” He swept me up in his arms and carried me into the house, not stopping until we were back in his bedroom. Laying me down on the bed, he crawled over me, bracing himself on his elbows. “That hellhole broke something in me, and now I want to hurt everyone to some degree. When it comes to women, I’ve twisted it into dominance and submission. But you love what I give you, and we fit in our own dark, fucked up way.”

I turned my head and stared at the wall as Fenn’s words rang in my head. We were both so damaged, I wondered if we could ever be happy. “I’ve already been broken, now I just want to be left alone.” Tears leaked out.

He leaned in and licked them up, kissing the corners of my mouth. “No, you don’t, and neither do I. Ivan gave me the police report, and I know exactly what happened to you. Your parents should be rotting in prison.”

“Ivan had no right,” I whispered.

“He had every right after what those fuckers did to us. Knowing what happened to you, and why, makes you one of ours. It makes youmine.” Leaning back on his heels, he studied me in the moonlight. “We don’t have to pretend with each other, and I love having you in the house, puttering around and asking a million questions. Leaving books and candy wrappers around. I want us to fight for this, Sweetness. Don’t let him win again.”

My heart ached, and bone-deep sadness settled over me. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his face beside mine. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I hate him so much…” Burying my face in his neck, I struggled not to break down.

He kissed my hair and wrapped his arms tight around me. “I never should have blamed you. But it brought us here, and I’m fucking keeping you.”

His declaration loosened something inside me, and I turned into him and let go. Roman held me while I cried against him. It had been years since I’d let myself break down like this, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. My mind emptied and shut down for once, and he settled me into his arms as I wept–for both of us.

Chapter 29

Roman

Leaning against the wall, I scanned the people coming and going outside Luna’s classroom as she finished her last final before winter break. Studying had kept her busy, and Gideon took over Milo’s bodyguard duties while Luna finished her exams. There hadn’t been any sightings of Lionel lately, but we knew the psychotic bastard was still out there.

A few students started trickling out of the classroom, and Luna emerged behind them. She glanced around and spotted me, giving me a tired, happy grin. I loved watching that smile spread across her face. Straightening, I held out my hand, and she took it without thinking.

“Are you done for the semester, then?” I asked, taking her backpack.

“Yes. Thank you, Jesus. Did you spell Gideon off?”

“I did. It’s Friday, and lunch is being brought into the offices. Do you want to go there, or somewhere else to celebrate?” She’d stayed at the house studying since Milo had been shot, but I knew she needed to get out.

“The office sounds good.”

When we walked into the reception area, Brenna watched us quietly. She seemed more subdued lately and didn’t glare at Luna.

“Hi, Brenna. Do you have any good snarky insults for me today?” Luna asked.

Brenna raised her eyebrow. “No, because I haven’t thought of you at all.”

Luna smiled. “That wasn’t bad, and your eyelashes don’t look fake at all.” Brenna smirked as we walked past her through the office door.

Gideon looked up and smiled when he saw us. “Good afternoon, Ms. Fowler. How’d your last final go?”

“I think it went well, but I’ll find out next week. What’s been happening around here? How’s the water law acquisition going, and how’s Arthur doing?”

“Fine, and Arthur fits in surprisingly well. He’s even better connected and well-versed in the gray nuances of the law than most the partners are.”

She grinned. “I take it you found out he’s married to a Spade, and he’s Fenn and Sylvie’s uncle.”

We hadn’t discovered that little tidbit until right before we signed the contract to bring him and his portfolio on board. Neither Luna nor Ezra mentioned it, and I had to give them credit for that little surprise. No wonder she wanted to intern with him.

We walked into the conference room and saw Drakos and Ivan dishing food out of to-go boxes. “What’d you order this week?”

“Italian from Francesco’s,” Drakos answered. “Hello, Luscious Luna. I haven’t seen you in ages. It was nice of Roman to finally let you out of his sex dungeon. Are you pregnant yet?”

She shook her head. “Drakos, I think you’re the reason the middle finger was invented.”

Drakos wasn’t fazed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her noisily on the cheek.

“Hands off, asshole,” I growled. He smirked and smacked his lips together.

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