"You should have called me the second it happened."

Roman's voice carried that cool authority I'd come to know too well.Not loud, not angry... Just steady. And that was worse than yelling.

"I know," I murmured, perched on the edge of the bed like a guilty teenager. "And I'm sorry."

"I don't like being disobeyed, Savannah."

I gulped.

He didn't look at me right away. He was too busy folding shirts into his suitcase, every motion neat, efficient, controlled. His jaw flexed when he finally spoke.

"I hate the thought of you being alone with him."

"I know," I repeated, softer this time. My fingers twisted the hem of my top. "But it was just... confusing. Annoying. He's always swayed by her charm, but for once it felt like he was actually thinking straight."

Roman snapped the suitcase shut with a clipped sound that made me flínch. He turned, arms crossing over his chest.

"Well, I don't care about that duo," he said gruffly, "I'm only counting down the hours until tomorrow when we can finally get the hell out of here."

My gaze darted to the corner of the room, where my keys rested on the dresser. "What about my car? Do we go back separately?"

"I'll sendsomeone for it tomorrow." He didn't hesitate. "You're riding with me."

I nodded, though a small part of me hated how final he made everything sound.

And the bigger part? It melts whenever he shows authority.

Just then, muffled voices bled through the walls. A woman's quiet cries. A man's low, urgent response. Then sobs. Broken, emotional,jagged.I stilled.

Roman's head tilted, eyes narrowing toward the sound like he had some sort of X-ray vision. "Why do I find it hard to believe that he's over her?" he murmured, voice cutting through the quiet.

"He is," I said quickly, too quickly. "He told me the wedding isn't happening. That's why he's here. He's going to end things with her." My chest swelled with pride as I said it.

Roman laughed. It wasn't kind, it was sarcastic. "You really don't understand the power your sister holds over him, do you?"

My frown deepened. "Who marries a woman who cheats and gets pregnant by her ex? He's over her, Roman."

He shook his head, chuckling like I was a child insisting the sky was green. "That's what you think."

He returned to packing, methodical and maddeningly calm. I crossed my arms, feeling a little annoyed and a littlerattled.

"The point is, I won." I said, lifting my chin. "The wedding's not happening. And it's because of me. I ruined her fairytale romance,and

honestly?" I let a grin spread across my lips. "I feel damn proud of myself."

Roman finally looked at me then, amusement flashing in his stormy eyes. He laughed, deep and low. "Did you, though?"

"Yes, I won," I pushed. "It's a huge accomplishment,making her miserable. After everything she's done? She deserves it."

"Noted," he drawled. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Sav."I flipped my short hair over my shoulder, grinning wider. "You bet."

It was later, after Roman had finished packing and double-checking every detail for our morning departure, that my mind drifted back to the earlier conversation with my father. The memory slipped in like a needle prick, sharp and unwelcome.

I glanced at Roman, who now sat at the desk scrolling through his laptop, reading glasses perched comfortably on his nose.

"So..." I started carefully, "How'd it go with Dad? What did you two talk about?"

"A lot of things," he replied smoothly, eyes on the screen.

"Okay... like what?"

He looked up, a stray lock of hair falling over his forehead. "He asked me for a favor. Among other things."

My pulse spiked. Heat crawled up the back of my neck. Please tell me he didn't say everything. Please tell me Dad had the sense to keep his

wide mouth shut.

"Oh?" I forced a casual tone, though my voice cracked. "What kind of favor?"

Roman closed the laptop with slow deliberation and placed his glasses on top. Then he turned, studying me where I sat frozen on the bed. His stare pinned me in place like I was an insect uhder glass.

"For starters," he said, voice soft but heavy, "he asked me to help restore his former position."

My eyebrows shot up. "What? Oh no..." A flush of embarrassment burned through me. "I can't believe he'd ask you that. That's so inappropriate. I'm mortified."

Roman raised a hand, silencing me. "No need. I told him I'd consider it."

I blinked. "Wait-you'd help him? Really? But... How could you possibly do that? Is that even possible? That sounds outrageous."

A slow,feline smile curved his lips. He leaned back, fingers lacing together.

"Lots of ways," he said vaguely. "Ways you'd never imagine. Ways that would terrify you if you knew them."

A shiver slid down my spine. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it... Something darker, like he was hinting at a world I couldn't touch.

"You can't be serious."

He shrugged."I can pull strings. I don't mind."

"Why?" I demanded. "Why would you even want to help him?"

Roman's gaze sharpened and his tone dropped. "That's the right question. Sav. Why? The hook is..." He let the pause stretch until my heart thudded painfully. "...you're the reason he gave it up in the first place."

The world tilted. My breath snagged. My palms went slick with sweat.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came. My throat had locked.I swear I dared to speak. I tried to say something but my throat just wouldn't open up.

Roman arched a brow, clearly enjoying my unraveling. "You look like you've got something to say, Sav."

I shook my head. It was all I could manage.

"No?" His smile deepened dangerously. "Alright. Well, your father told me some... interesting stories. But I don't buy everything. Especially when he's the one selling." He continued. "I'd rather hear it straight from those delicious lips of yours."

The blood drained from my face. He couldn't know. Not that.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, voice low and deliberate.

I waited,counting every millisecond.

It was only a few seconds, but it felt like hours had passed before he lazily said...

"So,tell me what happened with the Kingstons."

My blood turned to ice.

Oh my God.

He knew.