Page 29 of Roman

“Um… we have a bit of a problem.”

“Problem?What now?”he snapped.

“It’s Charlotte.She’s… gone,” Grigori said quietly.

“What the fuck do you meangone?”Roman almost screamed down the phone.He stood up, rushing out of his office, making it to the bottom of the stairs in a flash.

“I mean, she’s fucking gone.I was making her lunch, and she said she needed to use the bathroom, then she was gone.And that’s not all.”

“What else?”he snapped, making his way through the club, nodding to Roxy as he slipped out the back door to get into his car.

“She took one of your cars.”

“Which one?”

“The Bugatti.”

“No, idiot.I’ve got the Bugatti.I’m getting into it right now,” he told him, sliding into the leather seats.

“No, Roman, not the Veyron… the La Voiture Noire.”

“What!”Roman yelled at the top of his lungs, almost dropping his phone.

The car was one of a kind, the only one in the world, and had cost him millions of dollars.Now, a mortal girl, who was wanted by his enemy, had stolen it.

Hell, does she even know how to fucking drive!?

Roman hung up the phone, furious.He flung it onto the passenger seat, gripping the steering wheel so hard it crushed in his grip.He swore, getting angry all over again.Now, he had to replace the goddamn steering wheel, which would probably cost the price of a small house.God help him when he finally caught up with Charlotte.His patience had finally run out.

10

Charlotte wound through the streets of the Hollywood Hills, trying to find her way back to downtown Los Angeles.The eye-catching black car she’dborrowedfrom Roman’s garage was exquisite.It reeked of wealth and power; the sleek design would make anyone envious of its owner.

She wasn’t an expert on cars, but she had a bad feeling it was worth a lot more money than she could ever earn in her lifetime.The word Noire was embroidered into the headrests, dash, and center console.The magnificent sweeping sky roof design gave the interior a spacious, open feel.

Definitely expensive.

Her body sank into the seat, the leather amazing against her body, but she only enjoyed the sensation for a second, a horrible feeling of panic washing over her—she’d just stolen a fallen angel’s car.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she told herself sternly, sitting up straight, tightening her grip on the steering wheel.

She had to make sure Ava was okay.The image of her lying on the ground unconscious plagued her.She would get home, find Ava, pack their bags, and get out of Los Angeles as fast as possible.Then, she’d put as much distance between her and these angels and demons as she could.Charlotte could start again; she’d done it before.She knew how to have nothing and get by in this world, so this would be no different.They’d swing by and take Kate with them as well.There was no way she would leave that poor girl behind to have the baby alone.Yes, that was the plan, she told herself, feeling a little more confident.

Charlotte finally arrived, parking her expensiveborrowedcar in front of the rundown apartment building in her rundown neighborhood.It didn’t go unnoticed the way everyone was staring hungrily at the car as she closed the door, locking it with the central lock on the keys.Okay, Charlotte, in and out, easy peasy,she told herself, rushing into the building.She stopped in the lobby, repeatedly smashing the elevator button.

“Come on,” she murmured, feeling anxious.

The elevator was taking too long.They would know she was gone by now, so she had to move as fast as she could.Please be here, Ava.The door finally opened, and she hurried in, pressing the number three for her floor.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Charlotte was banging frantically on her apartment door.She noticed that someone had fixed the door.

“Ava, it’s me, Charlotte.Let me in.”

Silence answered her.

Charlotte turned the handle and stiffened as the door slowly opened.If there was one thing you didn’t do in this neighborhood, it was leave your apartment door unlocked.Something was very wrong.

She stepped into the apartment, immediately covering her mouth with her hand.Ava had lain unconscious the night Charlotte had been taken.Now, in Ava’s place was a small pool of dried blood on the floor.The tiny lounge room was still in disarray from the struggle with her abductors.Tears welled in her eyes.She knew Ava was gone.They must have taken her as well.

“My god, what do I do?”she whispered, tears escaping.

---