Chapter 7

Roman

I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, my chest rising and falling harder than it should. My fingers tightened around the small pendant in my hand. For a second there, Ava had almost opened it. Almost.

I let out a sharp breath, running a hand through my hair. She wasn’t supposed to see this. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Sliding the pendant into the inner pocket of my jacket, I headed down the stairs, ignoring the curious looks from a few of the staff. I needed air. Space. A drink.

Minutes later, I was behind the wheel, the engine roaring as I pulled out of the driveway. The silence in the car pressed on me, making me grip the steering tighter. I couldn’t shake the image of Ava’s fingers hovering over the pendant. My jaw tightened. No, she couldn’t know.

By the time I pulled up in front of Black Oak Bar, the knot in my chest was still there. The neon sign buzzed overhead, and the muffled sound of music leaked through the walls. I pushed inside, greeted instantly by the familiar haze of beer, whiskey, and laughter.

“Roman!” A deep voice called out.

I turned and saw Marcus, his broad frame leaning against the counter, a cocky grin on his face. Next to him sat Ethan, all sharp eyes and easy smirks, and Leo, the youngest of us, already waving a glass in the air like an idiot.

I walked over, and they all slapped my back in greeting.

“About damn time you showed up,” Marcus chuckled. “We thought the almighty Roman had finally settled down into a family man.”

Ethan raised a brow. “Or maybe he’s too busy playing husband to his new bride?” His tone dripped with amusement.

Leo laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink. “Man, I still don’t get it. Roman, the guy who swore he’d never tie himself down, suddenly married? What the hell happened?”

I smirked faintly and dropped onto the empty stool. “Don’t start.”

“Too late,” Marcus said, signaling the bartender for another round. “We want details. What’s she like? Sweet, innocent little thing? Or does she actually give you hell?”

My mind flashed back to Ava sitting there, wide-eyed, almost fragile, yet still trying to mask it with strength. The way she’d looked at the pendant just now, curious but hesitant, like she already knew it meant something. I cleared my throat.

“She’s… different,” I admitted.

That got all three of them leaning closer.

“Different how?” Ethan asked.

I lifted the glass the bartender slid my way, taking a slow sip before answering. “She’s not like the others. She doesn’t try to please me. She questions everything. And she looks at me like she’s trying to figure me out.”

“Sounds dangerous,” Marcus said with a laugh. “Better watch out before she cracks you open.”

“Or maybe she already has,” Ethan added slyly.

I shot him a look that made him chuckle under his breath. But still, their words lingered, heavy.

I leaned back in my chair, glass of whiskey in hand, as the laughter around the table rolled like waves.

“Well,” I said, raising my glass with a crooked grin, “this is it, boys. my last hangout with you all. Thought I should probably let you know, ” I paused for effect, “, I’m a married man now. So wherever I go, my wife should go too. That’s the law, right?”

For a second there was silence. Then they burst out laughing.

“Married man? Roman, you’ve lost it,” chuckled Marcus, the loudest of the bunch, slapping the table hard enough to rattle the glasses.

“Yeah right,” another chimed in, nearly choking on his beer. “Next boys’ night out, we’re dragging you out of that fancy mansion of yours, wife or not.”

I laughed with them, though the whiskey burned a little sharper than usual going down. We clinked glasses, and soon enough the table was alive again with chants and cheers, like the old days.

But in the middle of it all, I felt a tap on my arm. Subtle, quick. I turned. Elias, the quiet one, always watching more than talking, nodded once, eyes steady, and tilted his head toward the door.

I caught his meaning. With a careful laugh, I set my glass down and slipped out, making sure the others were too busy shouting over each other to notice.

Outside, the night was cooler. The buzz of the bar faded into a dull thrum behind me. Elias was already leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“Does she know?” he asked without hesitation.

I frowned. “Who?”

“Ava.” His eyes locked on mine. “Does she know about the plan?”

A sharp pulse of unease ran through me. I stepped closer quickly, my voice low. “What plan are you talking about?”

Elias’s gaze didn’t waver. “Don’t play dumb with me, Roman. We both know you marrying her wasn't an accident, you carefully planned it.”

I clenched my jaw and closed the distance between us, close enough to shush him. “Keep your voice down,” I hissed. “Nobody, nobody, must know about this. Not the guys in there, not anyone. And especially not Ava.”

His brows pulled together, searching my face, but I held his stare until he finally gave a small nod.

“Good,” I muttered, running a hand over my face and glancing toward the bar door. “Because if this gets out… everything falls apart.”