Page 116 of Between Us

Words broken, he pleaded over and over again in his heathen tongue, but it was too late. He had to go.

Roman couldn't bring himself to feel even an ounce of pity for the asshole headed straight for the gates of Hell. He wasn’t a religious person, but he imagined if Hell were real, it would be reserved for men like Arsen. With the reverberation of the screams following him out of the building, he didn't glance back and he didn’t stop walking.

Matteo was hot on his heels as he reached the deserted parking space up front, illuminated by a single street light. Stepan and the Italian soldiers followed but kept their distance.

Instinctively, Roman reached for his pack of cigarettes. He knew he had to cut down at some point, but now wasn’t that time.

“What?” he said, annoyed, looking at Matteo’s frowning face.

“I have to say, you’ve adjusted pretty damn fast to thenew position.”

He lit up a smoke and took a deep drag. “I've been preparing for it my whole life.”

Matteo nodded, though he still looked a little disturbed. “I should go. I’ll give my father the rundown.”

Roman checked the time. He'd promised Alessandra he would be home before midnight. It was nearing one in the morning. “You do that.”

Not bothering with a goodbye, Roman put the cigarette pack into his pocket and headed for his car.

???

The fucking things were everywhere.

Roman bent down at the waist to pick up the very red and very sparkly hair tie. Just another one of Alessandra's hair paraphernalia lying where it wasn't supposed to. Like in the middle of the foyer, most likely dropped there by his sometimes distracted wife. It had been like that since they moved in: hair ties, bobby pins, and even long, curly hairs he found in the most unexpected places. Getting used to it was still an adjustment, but waking up in the morning with his wife's stray hairs wrapped around his balls was the icing on that strange, domestic cake.

How, and most importantly,why, did women shed so much?

Roman straightened and glared at the offensive item in his hand before tossing it on the entry table holding a vase filled with orange-colored flowers.

Walking into the living room, he was surprised to see Alessandra dozing off in an armchair. Vladik was on the couch, his eyes moving from the silent TV to Romanwhen he felt his presence. On the TV screen, some movie's credits rolled out.

“Where’s Konstantin?” Roman asked quietly, his gaze returning to the woman commanding his attention. She was wrapped up in a yellow blanket, her leggings-clad legs peeking out from underneath it.

“Just got out through the back.” Vladik’s voice matched his. “He's doing the rounds.”

Konstantin covered night shifts whenever he was required to, and tonight was one of those times. Roman glanced at his watch. “Your shift ended three hours ago.”

Vladik got up and shrugged. “I knew you had a busy night, and I didn't mind staying. Vladimir left around midnight.”

“I appreciate that.”

“I'll get going then.” He nodded at Alessandra. “Passed out halfway through the movie. Didn't feel like waking her up.”

After Vladik took his leave, Roman shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it on the couch. Approaching his sleeping wife, he brushed some hair from her face, taking a moment to appreciate the sight of her looking so peaceful. When he put his arm under her knees to pick her up, she stirred, glassy eyes blinking up at him in confusion.

“Roman?” she rasped, rubbing a hand over her face.

“Yeah, baby.” He kissed the top of her head, lifting her into his arms easily. “Let's get you to bed.”

“Fell asleep,” she mumbled, burying her face in his chest.

“I can see that. Good movie, hmm?”

“Lots of shootings and explosions. More like Vladik'sthing.”

“Glad to see you two get along.”

She ran her fingers through the short hairs at his nape as he carried her up the stairs. “He's alright when he's not scowling at me.”

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