Page 30 of Roman

“Babe this is non-negotiable. The quicker this shit gets done the quicker we can go home.”

“I get that, I really do but-” I try to protest more but he cuts me off, anger growing in his tone.

“But nothing Pria. This isn’t up for debate. You and Rhylee will stay here. I am leaving soon so I need you to promise me that neither of you will do something stupid. You got it?” I can't help but shrink back slightly on instinct but the determination coursing through me is enough to take a couple of steps closer to him. My hand goes up to his face and caresses the slight stubble left on his cheek.

“You Roman, are a complete asshole and I think what you are about to do is absolutely stupid. But me and Rhylee will stay here and wait it out. Just so you know though, if you get yourself hurt in any way I may just have to kill you.”

“Damn I love you Pria.” His palm coms out and loops around my neck, pulling me in close before melding his mouth on my own. We stay like that for some time until both of us are out of breath.

Roman steps away from me for a moment to go to the dresser. At first I think he is going to start packing but instead, he comes back with a small pistol in his hand. “Keep this close and do not, I meando notgo outside,” Roman repeats his earlier demand. “Are you hearing me Pria?” my throat has gone dry and all I can do is give a tiny nod as my response. “I will be back before you know it.” Roman leans in and kisses my forehead, brushing his stubble across the skin. Even with the looming danger it still gives me goosebumps.

I follow after him as he goes to meet up with the men accompanying him on this stupid mission. “I will be right back,” he says giving me one last kiss. I want to yell at him some more, maybe make a scene so he will be forced to stay longer. Instead I keep myself rooted to the floor.

I watch his back as he walks out of the front door, the rest of the guys following after him. It isn’t until someone calls my name that I realize I have been still for far too long, staring in the same direction. “Pria, let’s go and sit down for a little bit. Have some tea or something.” Buggs tries to coax me away from the double doors to sit down. After a few more times of asking it works and I’m taken from the haze to a chair in the bar. “We have been through many trying times and have gotten through each one. This time will be no different.” She tries to comfort me but it falls on deaf ears. All I hear is the sound of Mikes cries as I stabbed that knife into him. The sight of the blood pouring from his body as I ran out of there to get Rhylee…

“Where is Rhylee?” I stand up suddenly needing to see my daughter.

“The girls are all in the guest suite. They are fine.” Buggs tells me but I still get up to go and see them anyway. Giggling sets me at ease as I walk down the hallway and find all three girls sitting on a large bed painting each other’s toenails. “See? Now let’s go and sit back down.” I’m coaxed back to the chair I abandoned. “I guess I’m being a little paranoid.”

“It’s perfectly understandable. Let’s just try and relax. When Rock had this clubhouse built he did one hell of a good job. There is no one getting in here that we don’t want in. Nor will anyone get out. Rhylee is safe and so are you.”

I sigh, shaking my head, “But is Roman?”

30

Roman

The clubhouse compound almost looks as though it’s from a scene of an old western. The buildings of the small, abandoned town still stand after all these years. They have been reenforced and build up again, much like Pria and I, only we have so much further to go to be completely rebuilt. I still haven’t gained her trust, probably something I never had to begin with. We were too hard and fast in the beginning and I dropped her like a bad habit then didn’t even look back. I thought it was for the best but how fucking wrong I was. I hurt that woman time and time again and now she has come back into my life. As stupid as it may be to keep her close, I’m still going to do my best even though I don’t deserve her or any kind of happiness she may bring me, and I sure as hell don’t deserve Rhylee.

The sun is now just starting to set in the sky, it will be nearly impossible to see anything in the next hour, maybe we should have left sooner? My thought is doused away when a loud crack echoes throughout the emptiness of the land around us. To my left one of the brothers goes down then I’m thrown on the ground myself. Someone has a grip on my tee shirt and I’m being dragged across the dirt. “What the fucking shit was that?” I hear someone yell.

“Roman wake the fuck up.” The hand tugging me jerks again. It’s enough to break the spell I’m under and I find myself scrambling to get to my feet, keeping low as I do. One by one we run back into the clubhouse and slam the doors shut behind us.

“Roman!” Pria’s yell comes out loud and panicked as she rushes over to me. Her hand touches my head softly causing me to jerk away. Fuck that hurt.

I look down at my woman who has sheer panic in her eyes. “Told you I would be right back.”

“And I told you I would kill you if you got hurt! Roman your head is bleeding.”

“Motherfucker,” I grumble and touch the side of my head where I feel heat radiating from. Sure enough my finger tips come away covered in blood. “Well what do you know? Fucker shot me in the head.”

“Oh my God.”

“It’s a graze,” I wave my hand in dismissal. “Slap a band aid on it and I will be fine.” Reaching behind my back I pull out my gun and put one in the chamber. “We got someone up on that roof yet?” I yell and turn to Pria. “Get Rhylee and the kids and get to the panic room. Now.” She nods and starts to leave but I grab her arm and pull her to me. “I love you Pria.” Her eyes are wide with fear and surprise as I slam my mouth to hers in a hard uncontrolled kiss. “Now go!” I yell at her when I pull back. She doesn’t speak only nods and takes off through the door to the hallway.

“Flare for the dramatic,” Rock grumbles as he checks the window. The windows in this clubhouse are bulletproof, to an extent, so he still does his best to keep completely out of view. “Best I can see is there are three of them. One of them got you.” He points at my head then hands me a bandana. I take it and wrap it around the wound, tying it tightly in the back to add pressure. The head wounds always seem to bleed so badly.

“Almostgot me. Fucker missed.”

“Fine, almost. Then there is one coming in from each side. Probably all hired guns. They are moving in unison.” He pauses a moment then says. “The back seems to be clear.” It’s then I notice he has in an earpiece. Wiz is probably in the surveillance room. “They took out the perimeter cameras which is why we didn’t see them until now. The backup cameras are scattered around the compound and are impossible to spot unless you know right where they are. We tend to move them around from time to time too just in case.”

“Let’s end this shit. I need a com,” I tell Rock who jerks his head behind him.

“Go grab one from Wiz.” I nod and leave for the security room. The pinging of bullets coming from all directions echoes around the building. It’s only a matter of time before something gives way and that glass breaks.

“Wiz, need a com.” Wiz nods and hands one behind him, not even looking my way. He doesn’t take his eyes off the screen in front of him as he keeps Rock informed on the whereabouts of the men outside.

“Got one more from the west side of the building. It’s like they are popping up from the ground.”

---