Chapter 5 - The Price of Touching Sadie
Two weeks passed.
Serrano disappeared from sight.
That made Roman more nervous, not less.
Sadie noticed.
“You're checking the windows again.”
Roman stood beside the kitchen counter.
“No.”
“You've looked outside six times.”
“Five.”
“That's worse.”
Roman glanced at her.
Sadie was arranging fresh carnations in a vase.
Roman hated carnations now.
“You bought those?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To annoy you.”
“Effective.”
She smiled.
The house had changed around them.
Or perhaps Roman had.
Staff no longer vanished when he entered rooms.
He said thank you occasionally.
Once.
Maybe twice.
Sadie had even caught Vincent smiling.
Then Toby arrived with the bread.
Roman happened to be in the kitchen.
Toby saw him and nearly dropped everything.
“Mr. Costa.”
“Toby.”
Sadie sighed.
“Be nice.”
“I am nice.”
Neither Sadie nor Toby responded.
Toby handed her the bread.
“No flowers.”
Roman nodded approvingly.
Sadie glared.
Toby hurried away.
Roman looked satisfied.
“You're impossible.”
“And yet you're still here.”
Sadie turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
The teasing disappeared.
Roman stepped closer.
“Why are you still here?”
Sadie didn't answer immediately.
“Maybe because I finally know the man I was afraid of.”
“And?”
“He's complicated.”
“That sounds disappointing.”
“It isn't.”
Roman lifted one hand.
He stopped before touching her.
Sadie noticed.
“You're asking permission?”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
That was her answer.
Roman touched her cheek.
Carefully.
Nothing about Roman Costa was usually careful.
Their first kiss was quiet.
Brief.
Almost uncertain.
Then every security light outside went dark.
Roman pulled away instantly.
“Sadie.”
She heard it too.
Engines.
Several.
Roman moved between her and the windows.
“Down.”
He didn't shout.
Sadie obeyed.
Vincent entered.
“Boss, west cameras are dead.”
“How many?”
“Unknown.”
Roman looked at Sadie.
“Safe room.”
“No.”
His expression hardened.
“Sadie.”
“You told me nobody could reach me here.”
“They won't.”
“Then don't send me away alone.”
Roman stared at her.
Vincent interrupted.
“Boss.”
Roman made the decision.
“You stay with Vincent.”
“Where are you going?”
“To end this.”
Sadie grabbed his hand.
“No.”
Roman looked down.
“You don't get to finally become human and then walk outside acting invincible.”
Vincent suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
Roman leaned closer.
“I have spent my entire adult life preparing for nights like this.”
“And Serrano knows that.”
Roman paused.
Sadie continued.
“He wants you angry.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Don't give him what he expects.”
Roman studied her.
Then looked at Vincent.
“Turn the exterior lights back on.”
“We can't.”
“Emergency generator.”
Vincent understood.
Instead of confronting whoever waited outside, Roman illuminated every inch of the property.
Then he called the police.
Sadie stared.
“You called the police?”
Roman shrugged.
“Serrano expected Roman Costa.”
“And?”
“He can deal with Nassau County.”
Vincent smiled.
“That's disappointingly legal.”
Roman looked at Sadie.
“I'm evolving.”
The vehicles outside disappeared before officers arrived.
But Serrano had made one mistake.
One license plate had been captured before the cameras died.
Vincent traced it.
By sunrise, Roman knew where Serrano had been operating.
He also knew something else.
Sadie had been right.
Serrano wanted war.
Roman decided not to give him one.
Instead, Roman sent every piece of evidence his lawyers had collected to federal investigators.
Bank records.
Extortion payments.
Shell companies.
Surveillance photographs.
Serrano's empire began collapsing without Roman firing a shot.
Three days later, Vincent entered the kitchen.
“They got him.”
Roman looked up.
Sadie stopped pouring coffee.
“Serrano?”
Vincent nodded.
“Federal custody.”
Sadie exhaled.
Roman simply said, “Good.”
Vincent looked at Sadie.
Then Roman.
“I'll leave you two alone.”
“Why?” Roman asked.
Vincent kept walking.
May you like
“Because I value my sanity.”
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