Chapter 4 - The Departure
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Roman placed his hand gently on the small of Sadi’s back, guiding her toward the exit. The warmth of his touch seeped through her cashmere sweater, grounding her.
As they walked past the velvet seating arrangement, Chloe finally found her voice.
“Trevor, get up,” she hissed, her face flushed with extreme humiliation. “Everyone is looking at us. Get up right now!”
Trevor slowly scrambled to his feet, cradling his bruised wrist. He did not look at the other shoppers, who were whispering and pointing. He kept his eyes fixed on the broad, retreating back of Roman Mercer, a sickening knot of pure dread forming in the pit of his stomach.
Sadi and Roman stepped out of the boutique and into the wide, cedar-scented concourse of the Galleria. Arthur and Silas fell perfectly into step three paces behind them, maintaining a flawless, invisible perimeter.
“Are you sure you are alright?” Roman asked quietly once they were away from the crowd.
“I am,” Sadi smiled, leaning slightly into his side. “I didn't need you to buy the entire store, Roman. That was incredibly dramatic, even for you.”
A faint, rare smile touched the corner of Roman’s mouth.
“I didn't buy the store for him, Sadi,” Roman replied smoothly. “I bought it because you looked beautiful looking at that display case, and I refuse to let any man make you feel small again. Especially a coward who left you with nothing.”
Sadi felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks. Even after a year of marriage, the sheer magnitude of Roman’s devotion still caught her off guard. He was a ruthless, terrifying phantom to the rest of the world, a mafia boss who ruled the city with an iron fist. But to her, he was an absolute shield.
“What are you going to do to him?” Sadi asked softly as they approached a set of private, heavily tinted glass doors leading to the VIP parking garage.
May you like
Roman stopped walking. He looked down at her, his icy eyes completely devoid of mercy.
“I am going to take everything he values,” Roman said. “I am going to dismantle his life piece by piece until he realizes that the dirt he left you in is the only place he truly belongs.”
