Page 71 of Between Us

“No.”

“No?”

“I want a meeting. Tonight.”

Vitaly didn’t seem to like the way his sondemandeda meeting with his Vory brothers. But given the gravity of the betrayal, he had no choice in the matter. “Give me two hours.”

27

“How are you feeling?” Roman stood up from the bed when Alessandra stepped out of the bathroom where she’d taken a quick shower.

She pressed a towel to her wet hair, avoiding his eyes. “I'm okay.”

“The doctor is here.” He met her halfway, grabbing her waist. “You need to let him take a look at you.”

“I’m fine,” she said more quietly, trying to walk away.

He kept her in place. “I’m sorry.”

“It's not your fault.”

Cupping her chin, Roman gently lifted her face, bringing her eyes up to meet his. What he saw in them felt like a sharp knife being shoved into his chest, over and over again. He didn't know what else to tell her—didn't know how to express everything he'd felt when he'd found her tied up to that chair, surrounded by men ready to take her away from him. But this wasn’t about him. It was about her, about what she’d been throughand the hollow look in her eyes.

His voice turned rough with emotion as he pleaded with her. “Tell me what I can do.”

“Nothing.”

“Did they—” He couldn’t even bring himself to speak the words.

She shook her head slowly, and Roman felt as if a heavy weight was lifted from his chest.

He tried to find his strength, even as his heart demanded that he stay there with her. It was for her. For both of them. “I have to go out for a little while, but Andrei and Alek will stay here with you.”

Alessandra turned pale. “Don’t leave.”

He drew her closer and pressed his lips to her temple. “I won't be long, I promise. Nothing will happen while I'm gone.”

“Okay,” she said, though she didn’t sound too convinced. She started trembling again, her body seeming to have a mind of its own.

Roman stroked his palms up and down her back soothingly. “I need to know you’re okay, baby. You shouldn't have seen what you did.”

She was too pure to handle the atrocities of mob world. Guilt left a bitter taste in his mouth. He'd failed to protect her, and that was something he didn’t think he could ever forgive himself for.

It wasn't going to happen again. As he held her body, warm and fragile in his arms, he made that silent promise to himself. For as long as he had breath in him, she was going to be safe.

“Come on,” he said after some time. “Let the doctor have a look at you.”

While Dr. Hall examined the bruises on Alessandra'sface and neck, Stepan and Dimtri showed up. Roman led the men into the kitchen so they could talk in private, leaving the doctor and Alessandra alone in the living room.

“You have them?” he asked, feeling more like himself after he’d seen Alessandra smile weakly at a joke the doctor made.

Stepan nodded. “In the trunk. A few men are getting rid of the bodies as we speak.”

“Good.” He looked at Andrei. “I'm going to need you and Alek to keep an eye on her while I attend the meeting.”

“Sure.”

Alek gave his brother a cautious look. “How is she?”

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