I watched Felicity’s expression as the recording finished playing.
"We got ’em, boss. Both of’ em." That was Bruno, Tony’s hit man.
"Got ’em dead?" Tony asked.
"Toast," Bruno confird. You could tell by the tone of his voice that he was smiling.
"Good. That’ll teach people to go to the cops!" Tony laughed with his raspy, cigar-smoker’s voice.
Both n cackled and the recording ca to an end. I gave Felicity a mont to process before I spoke. I knew that playing it for her was going to hurt her, but it was sothing she needed to hear.
Her eyes moved back and forth as she sat on the chair in my study, wrapped in my robe, looking like the most innocent, vulnerable girl in the world.
But I knew she was strong.
This was a girl who would never break. She was prepared to go dance for a living and pay off her parents’ debt, and when she thought I was part of what had happened to her parents, had wasted no ti getting the fuck out of Dodge.
But as strong as she might be, I was always going to be there to support her-especially at a ti like this.
"I know it’s hard to hear, baby — "
"No," she shook her head. "I’m glad you played this for ." She looked up, a fierce twinkle in her eyes.
"Now I know, and that’s better than not knowing."
All I could do was smile at her strength.
"So, what’s next?" she asked.
"They’ve been charged and arrested," I replied. "His n will try to take the rap for him, and they’ll fight us in court, but we’ve got them. And if they want to try and take the fight to the streets...well, we have ways of dealing with that too."
I didn’t want Felicity getting involved in that side of my life, but I also wasn’t going to hide it from her either. The Columbos were going down, but they wouldn’t go down without a fight, and there would surely be more bloodshed before everything was done. But Felicity would be safe.
"I...I always thought it was just a random thing," Felicity said slowly. "I can’t believe my parents never told about this."
"They didn’t want to endanger you," I told her. "As it is, you’re lucky they didn’t co after you too."
Felicity shook her head in sothing between disbelief and acceptance. It was a lot to process, especially from soone who wasn’t from this world.
Guys like Tony were the reason I’d fought so hard to beco as powerful as I was. I didn’t believe in shaking down hardworking citizens like Felicity’s parents, and fought against it whenever I could.
"And Dante?" she asked. "Why did they owe money to him?"
"That I don’t know," I replied.
"I can ask him, but I’m sure it was just part of the shakedown. They needed money and they needed it fast, so they borrowed it. Dante probably told them he’d help and then roped them in."
"Son of a bitch."
"Don’t worry," I told her, coming closer. “Dante’s never going to bother you again. No one is. You’re safe with , angel."
I took her hand and squeezed.
But I could see there was still sothing bothering her.
“Roman, can I ask you sothing?"
"Anything."
"Why...why are you going to the cops with this?" she asked.
"Shouldn’t you guys just...take care of it gangster style or whatever?"
I chuckled. "That’s a good question. And under normal circumstances, you’d be right. But Tony and his goons affected a lot of people, not just other criminals. Innocents like your parents. And if we just retaliate and wipe them out, there will be no justice for those people, and I can’t stand that."
"Justice..." she said quietly. I knew what she was thinking; how could she ever have justice for her parents, who were no longer with her?
My heart bled for her, my angel, but while I couldn’t change the past, I could ensure her future would be safe and secure.
Nothing would stand in the way of that.
I took her hand in mine and stroked it slowly until she raised her eyes to . My protective instincts had never been higher.
I’d love this girl forever.
I’d die for her.
I’d wake up every morning at her side as the happiest man in the world and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe and happy, and it was ti she truly knew that. So, without hesitation, I told her what I’d been feeling.
"Felicity," I said. “I love you."
Her breath caught with a sharp gasp but she didn’t hesitate before she replied. "I love you too, Roman!"
She threw her arms around as tears spilled from her eyes again, but these were tears of happiness. Those were the only tears I ever wanted to see from her again. My angel deserved a wonderful life and I was going to give it to her.
We held each other until her tears stopped and she was able to let go of enough to sit back a bit. She looked like a ss, but an absolutely adorable ss. Her hair was in complete disarray and her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were red. She certainly would have said she looked like shit, but to she was perfect.
"This is all happening so fast," she said softly. "But it feels so right."
"I couldn’t have put it better myself," I smiled.
"It feels...like this was all ant to happen, you know?" she asked.
“Like...if I hadn’t ended up at the club that night with Dante —”
“Then we never would have t each other," I smiled, finishing her sentence for her.
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. Our kiss felt different now that we’d said we loved each other. We’d both known it but saying it out loud had simply confird it. My arms wrapped around her delicate body, and I lifted her up and held her as she locked her legs around my waist.
We kissed like high school sweethearts leaving the dance as I carried her out of my office and into my room. I laid her down on the bed before , and with a quick tug, opened her robe and exposed her body to .
"I’ll never get tired of that," she whispered.
"Of what?" I asked. “ undressing you?"
"No," she shook her head.
"The way you look at when you do."
My lips twisted into a smile. "I’ll never stop doing that."
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