Chapter 6 - The Man Behind the Name
Victor’s arrest tore open half of Chicago’s criminal underground.
The ledger reached federal investigators through attorneys Roman trusted.
Men disappeared.
Others were arrested.
Roman dismantled several businesses connected to Victor.
But he did something nobody expected.
He began dismantling parts of his own empire too.
Three weeks later, I returned home.
Roman came with me.
My apartment had been repaired.
New locks.
New windows.
A better security system.
I touched the keypad.
“What is this?”
“Security.”
“This is excessive.”
“Correct.”
“How many cameras?”
“Enough.”
“Roman.”
“Six.”
“Remove four.”
“Five.”
“Three.”
“Four.”
“Fine.”
I smiled.
“Are you negotiating with me?”
“I negotiate international shipping contracts. Somehow this is harder.”
Lena laughed from the kitchen.
Roman had changed around her.
Less intimidating.
Almost normal.
Almost.
Lena appeared beside us.
“Roman, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Are you dating my sister?”
I nearly dropped my cane.
“Lena.”
“What? He’s here every day.”
Roman answered calmly.
“I’m trying.”
I turned toward him.
“You’re what?”
Lena laughed and disappeared.
I folded my arms.
“You’re trying?”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t asked me.”
“I’m building toward it.”
“Very slowly.”
“I’ve been shot recently.”
“Excuses.”
He moved closer.
“Claire.”
I heard nervousness in his breathing.
Roman DeLuca.
Nervous.
That was almost worth everything.
“Dinner.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“Public?”
“Yes.”
“No bodyguards sitting beside us?”
A long silence.
“Roman.”
“They can sit farther away.”
I smiled.
“Fine.”
“Fine means yes?”
“Yes.”
His relief was unmistakable.
Then I became serious.
“One condition.”
“Anything.”
“No lies.”
“Agreed.”
“No deciding what’s best for me without asking.”
He hesitated.
“Roman.”
“I’m working on that.”
“And I am not something you own.”
His answer came immediately.
“I know.”
“Then what am I?”
He took my hand.
“The woman who saved my life.”
I waited.
“And?”
“The woman who made me want a different one.”
That answer was better.
I squeezed his hand.
“Tomorrow. Seven.”
“I’ll be here at six thirty.”
“Seven.”
“Six forty-five.”
“Roman.”
“Seven.”
I smiled.
Danger had brought us together.
May you like
But danger was not why I stayed.
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