LOGINRoman(Past)18 years ago.The club was loud and dim and exactly the kind of place I wouldn’t normally choose for a meeting.But Randy had picked it, and Randy was one of the three men who had survived the night Mario Cole’s empire burned, and when survivors of that night asked for anything I had learned to say yes without argument. They had earned that much.We sat in a corner booth, far enough from the stage that conversation was possible, close enough that the music covered it.“The Kingstons are moving east,” Randy said, turning his glass slowly on the table. “They’re not being subtle about it either. Three ports in the last six months.”“I know about the ports.”“Then you know they’re filling the gap Mario left.”“Everyone is filling the gap Mario left.” I kept my eyes on the table. “That’s what gaps do. They get filled.”“The difference is, the Kingstons don’t leave witnesses.” Randy’s voice dropped. “They’re not building an empire, Roman. They’re burning everything they touch…
RavenRoman keeps me open with the width of his body standing between my thighs, my legs draped over his forearms, and every time I try to close them he just pushes them wider without even looking down. Like keeping me open is something he does without thinking. Like this is his and he’ll take it however he wants.I’m shaking already.“Keep your eyes on me.”I try. God, I try. But he curls his fingers again and my head tips back and a moan tears out of me that I couldn’t have stopped if I wanted to.“Raven.”I bring my eyes back to his.“Good girl.”He adds a third finger and my body arches off the bonnet, my back lifting, my mouth falling open on a silent cry. He pushes me back down with the flat of his forearm across my hips, pinning me there, not roughly but completely, and keeps fucking me with his fingers, deep punishing strokes that push every thought out of my head.“Stay still,” he says.I can’t stay still. My whole body is moving with him, chasing him, rolling towar
Raven Roman steps between my thighs, one hand already sliding up under the fabric, fingers brushing my soaked pussy. I’m dripping, the night air making it worse, and the low sound that leaves his throat when he feels it sends heat rushing through me.“You are my girl,” he says, voice rough as he starts stroking my clit in tight circles. “What does that make you?”“A human,” I gasp, even as my thighs tremble around his wrist. “With feelings. Forgive me for lashing out because my man isn’t loyal.”He stops.Withdraws his hand and I almost cry at the loss.“I am loyal to you,” he grinds out through clenched teeth, gripping my chin hard enough to force my eyes to his. His fingers dig into my skin. “Do you know what you did to me when I sent you to London?”I hold his gaze. Don’t look away.“You fucked the first woman who threw herself at you,” I say. “Because that’s who you are.”Because Roman Bellerie always had women around him.I grew up watching it. Mom and he fought about
Raven“We need to talk,” Roman says calmly.Calmly.How can he be so calm after what he did to me? How can he stand there looking completely unaffected? Not even a hint of remorse.So this is how he wants to play it?Hurt me. Break my heart. Then act like none of it ever happened.“You and I have absolutely nothing to talk about.”“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Anaya says, but I don’t let her.“No. You’re staying. I’m the one leaving.”I snatch my jacket from the chair and press a quick kiss to Anaya’s cheek.“I’ll call you tomorrow.”“Where are you going?”“I don’t know yet. Anywhere far away from this man.”Roman smirks.He actually fucking smirks, like he finds this entire situation amusing.I hate him.I brush past him, out the door before he can say a single word.Before he can explain.Before he can feed me more lies.His voice follows me into the corridor anyway.“Raven.”I don’t stop.I take the stairs, pushing through the ground floor door into the cool n
Raven“Eat something,” Anaya says, holding out the plate she’s been trying to get in front of me for the last twenty minutes.“I’m not hungry.”“Raven.”“Anaya. I’m not hungry.”She sets the plate on the nightstand without arguing and sits beside me on the bed instead. Her arm comes around my shoulders and she pulls me into her side, and I let her because I don’t have the energy to pretend I’m fine right now.My phone lights up on the duvet.Roman.I turn it face down without looking at it properly.“Hey.” Anaya’s voice is soft. “Cry it out. I know how you feel. Don’t hold it in.”And just like that, everything I’ve been pressing down since I walked out of that garden breaks open.I sob into her shoulder the ugly way, the way that makes no sound for the first few seconds before it all comes out at once. She holds me tighter and says nothing, just keeps her arm around me, her hand moving slowly against my back.“That’s it,” she murmurs. “Let it out. You’ll be alright.”I don’t know how
RomanRaven is gone, and I blame myself for it—for not leaving the stage and going after her when I saw her walking away with her friend.I didn’t defend her enough against the cruelty Vivienne unleashed tonight, and she probably hates me for it.Right now, she’s out there thinking I got another woman pregnant.I pull out my phone and call her as I leave her bedroom. It rings, but she doesn’t answer.When I step into the living room, I find Vivienne halfway across it, and anger knots in my stomach.The audacity of her to still be here after pulling a stunt like that.“Pack up your things,” I say coldly. “You’re leaving.”“Too late, Roman. I’m pregnant, and we’re getting married tomorrow.”“You need to stop this nonsense right now. I’ve never touched you.”“I knew you’d say that.”Without breaking eye contact, she pulls out her phone, scrolls briefly, and turns the screen toward me.I watch the video.It’s from my office—late evening.We’re on the sofa, making out.Something cold slide
RomanAcross from me, Aunt Martha hasn’t stopped talking since we sat down, and almost every word is directed at Vivienne. She looks at my fiancée like she’s some rare treasure, her eyes shining with approval.“Vivienne, darling, your skin is absolutely flawless. I mean it. What on earth do you use
RAVENI don’t stop. Don’t turn around. Just keep walking toward the stairs.“Raven, I’m sorry! I didn’t think—”“That’s the problem, Ana!” I spin around and she freezes. “You didn’t think! You just told David something that could get Roman in serious trouble! Do you even understand what you’ve done
Raven I knock on Anaya’s door and she opens it immediately. Takes one look at me and her eyes narrow.“Why are you here so early?”“Movie starts in two hours. I need to shower and get ready.”“Why didn’t you shower at home?”I push past her into the apartment. “Can I just use your bathroom?
ROMAN I walk into the boardroom exactly three minutes before the meeting is scheduled to start.Every head turns toward me as I enter. Twelve men in expensive suits sitting around the long mahogany table. Marcus at my right hand. Caleb across from him. The rest are division heads, logistics mana







