by Cynthia Eden
But she was pulling back. Gazing at him with growing pain and shock on her beautiful face. “That’s not true.”
“Yes.” I wish it wasn’t. I wish…
Like his wishes mattered for any damn thing.
“How do you know?” While his voice was cold, hers was shaking. Strained.
“Antony told me. He uncovered intel. My father…” Tell her. “He learned your dad was a spy. He shot him in the street in order to send a message. He liked sending messages, and, hell, he just liked killing people.”
She jerked back.
He didn’t reach for her.
“Antony told you?” Harper shook her head. “When?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, yes, it matters. How long have you known that your father killed mine?” She put her hand over her heart. “Did you know when we made love?”
He shouldn’t have touched her after he learned the truth. He knew it. The limo had exploded, and he’d kept imagining what his life would have been like if Harper hadn’t gotten out. If she hadn’t survived. When he’d been kissing her in his bedroom, when she’d been wanting him so much…I lost control. He swallowed. “I am a selfish bastard.”
“Stop telling me that!” Harper’s voice rose.
He looked away.
“Why? Why did you do this to me?”
His gaze slid back to her. A tear trailed down her cheek. “Don’t.”
“Don’t? Don’t what?”
“Please don’t cry.” He lifted his hand to wipe away her tear drop.
She flinched away from him.
His hand fell.
Harper spun from him. Rushed for the door.
He took a step after her. Stopped. He’d known this would happen. Antony had warned him. Roman had realized the truth himself. When Harper discovered the man Roman truly was…she would leave.
But she couldn’t go. Not just yet. It wasn’t safe. She could be in danger if she left his house.
Danger. I have to protect her. She can’t leave yet. He broke from his stillness and raced across the room. His hand slammed down on the door just as she was hauling it open. His body was behind hers, curving around her, and his hand held the door shut. “I get that you hate me.”
She didn’t say a word.
“I get that you want to run as far from me as you possibly can, but we haven’t found the kidnappers. You’re still at risk. You have to stay here until it’s safe.”
Her body trembled.
His head was bending toward hers. Her sweet scent filled his nostrils. He wanted to pull her close—
“Is that all you have to say to me?” Harper asked in a voice that made his heart squeeze.
He’d told her his father had killed hers. “Isn’t that enough?”
She whirled toward him. Dammit, there were more tears gleaming in her eyes. The sight hurt more than any knife to the ribs ever could.
“It’s not,” she whispered. “Not even close.”
He caged her with his body. Wanted her with his very soul.
“I’m sorry. Please stay.” A desperate plea. “Until it’s safe. Then you don’t have to leave me. I’ll disappear from your life. That was always the plan.”
She flinched. “You are such a bastard.”
“Told you that, I—”
“Get away from me.”
He backed up. One step. Two. “When it’s safe, I will get out of your life. You won’t have to see me again.”
Her lower lip trembled.
I am so sorry, baby.
She turned away from him. Opened the door.
“As soon as you’re safe,” he added, and his voice was ragged. “The intern isn’t the one we’re after. There are bigger players involved. People want me dead because I am too much my father’s son. I followed in his footsteps. I’ve done things that would give you nightmares. I’ve…” A rough inhale. “If you’d known who I was from the beginning, you would have never let me get close.”
Her shoulders were stiff. “Are you done? That the last thing you want to say?”
“I…” Roman clamped his lips together. What was he supposed to do? Shout out that he loved her? She couldn’t even look at him.
“Back to being strong and silent. Right. Got it.” Without another glance, Harper walked away.
I love you. Words he wanted to say, but couldn’t. Because for once—for once—he was not going to be selfish. He had told her the truth. He was letting her go even though it was ripping out his heart.
He’d known from the beginning that she was too good for him.
What he hadn’t known? Just how much it would hurt when she walked away.
Chapter Seventeen
“Harper, some Wilde agents are down at the museum, and they have more forgeries they would like you to—” Antony broke off as he lowered his phone. “What happened?”
She was crying. Crying gave her headaches and made her face splotchy so she hated to cry. Through her tears, she glared at him. “Weren’t you supposed to be handling your head of security?”
“Yes, um, but I got a phone call from the museum…” He brought the phone to his ear and said, “We’ll be there as soon as possible, okay?” Antony hung up the phone. “What happened?”
“Don’t you know?”
He took a step back. “He told you.”
“Yes, he told me. His father killed mine.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach. She hurt so much. “I told Roman that I loved him, and in return, he said, surprise, sweetheart, my dad killed yours.”
“Uh…” Antony winced. “That’s really what he said?”
“Fuck off, Antony, it was close enough.” She stormed past him. Every part of her ached. Her dad? That was what had happened to him? And Roman—God, she’d never told a man that she loved him before. Roman had been the first. The only. She hadn’t even told the prince that she loved him!
Antony’s hand closed around her shoulder.
She immediately stilled. “Don’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Move the hand or the fingers will get broken.”
He moved the hand. “Roman didn’t know. Not until recently. When I told him, it was like I could see something dying in the man’s eyes. He knew it would hurt you to discover the truth. Hurting you was the last thing he wanted.”
She spun toward him. “And what did he want?”
Antony swallowed. “I think he wanted you. But his bastard of a father reached out from the grave and made sure that didn’t happen, didn’t he?”
She couldn’t think straight. She’d been asking Roman to tell her more. Practically begging him to just say—
I love you. I’m not my father. I love you. I—
But he hadn’t said that. He’d gone silent on her.
“He made Roman’s life hell. Can you imagine what it must have been like growing up with a monster for a father? Most of the world assumes Gideon Valentino’s son is just as fucked up as the father is.”
She swiped at the tears on her cheeks.
“But you know that’s not true, don’t you, Harper?” Soft. Sad. Pointed.
“Antony, I’m pissed at you. You could have told me, too.”
“He killed Roman’s mother. That’s classified intel, but I’m giving it to you.”
“What?”
“Roman is pushing you away. You get that, don’t you? Because he’s part of that whole group that thinks the son is just as fucked up as the father. Roman bought the hype. Then he fell for you. I could see it the first time I found you two together. He’s caught up in you, and he thinks that’s dangerous—Roman thinks he is dangerous to you. So he’s pushing you away.”
Doing a damn good job of it. “He doesn’t love me.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he didn’t say it. I told him…” Her lips clamped together. Take it easy. Get your control back. “I’ve been over this with you. I gave Roman my heart, and he told me his father had—” She could not say it
again. Would not. Her temples were pounding, and nausea rolled in her stomach. “He said he always planned to leave.” That part was a knife twisting in her gut. “He was never going to stay with me.”
Get attached to—
She shut down the thought. She’d been afraid of being hurt. She was hurt. “The past is the past.” She wanted to scream. To rage. But one thing that she knew… “Roman would have been a kid when my father died. A toddler. He didn’t—he had nothing to do with what happened to my dad. That crime isn’t on him. And I am so sorry for what happened to his mother. I hate what Roman’s life must have been like.” She pulled in a breath. “But he doesn’t want me, Antony. He doesn’t want us to be together, and I can’t fight for something that he doesn’t want.”
“Harper, I think you’re—”
“You said more forgeries have been found at the museum? I’d better go take a look at them.” She had to get out of there.
“Harper, you know Roman won’t like you going alone.”
“Who said I was going alone? I thought you were coming with me. Didn’t you just say to whoever was on the phone that ‘we’d’ be there soon?”
He blinked. “Oh, yeah. Right. Okay, just let me tell Roman, would you?”
She looked back at the closed door. “He won’t say anything,” she whispered.
“What?”
“I’ll wait for you at the front door. I want to get my gun.” Better to be safe than…
God, it hurts.
Her gaze darted back just in time to see Antony knock on Roman’s closed door.
***
A soft knock rapped against the door. For a moment, wild hope surged inside of Roman. Harper was coming back to him? She was—
The door opened. Antony popped his head inside.
The hope died a swift death. “What the hell do you want?”
Antony grimaced. “Harper and I are going back to the museum. Got a call from some of the Wilde agents there. More forgeries have been found. Charity suspects some of the other jewels are fakes, too, and she thought Harper might want to look at them.”
“I can come, too.”
“About that…” Antony slipped inside. “I think Harper is looking for a little space.”
He thought she might be looking for a lot of space. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“That goes without saying. You’ll have guards here, too. They’re patrolling the perimeter, courtesy of Eric and Dex.”
Roman turned to stare back into the fire. “Take care of Harper.”
Silence, then… “I get why you did it.”
“I doubt it.”
“You could have kept the truth to yourself.”
“Secrets have a way of working to the surface.”
“This secret was buried deep. I knew about it. You knew. Dex. That was it.”
The flames danced. When the limo had exploded, the fire hadn’t danced. It had raged. It had licked at the sky. “It’s time for my relationship with Harper to end. That’s why I told her.”
He heard the inhale of a sudden breath.
Fuck. No, no, don’t be—
He turned, slowly. Antony hadn’t shut the damn door. Harper stood there, just behind Antony. She stared at Roman—
Hell, the same way most people did. Like he was the enemy. A monster. Evil.
“Time for things to end.” She nodded. “Understood. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable with my confession.”
She was apologizing for making him uncomfortable? After what he’d done? Roman lurched toward her.
Her gaze cut from his. “I’m not waiting any longer, Antony. I’m leaving now. Come with me. Don’t. Whatever.” Ice dripped from her words.
Baby, please, please, look at me.
Her stare swung to Roman. “I will not be coming back. Consider us ended.”
She didn’t storm away. Didn’t run. She simply turned and walked out.
He took another lurching step.
Antony moved into his path. “I am so fucking sorry. I thought she said she’d be waiting at the front for me!” The faint lines near his eyes seemed deeper. “I can help fix this, I swear it.”
There was no fixing this.
“She doesn’t care about your dad!” Antony spoke quickly. “Well, I mean, obviously, she does. It’s gutting her. But she doesn’t blame you for what happened.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” There had been so much pain in her eyes.
“I know you’re trying to make some big, dramatic sacrifice.”
“I’m just ending a partnership.” Lie, lie. Harper, come back!
“You want her more than you’ve ever wanted anything in your life. You need her. You’re obsessed with her. You love her.”
Roman shook his head, but he couldn’t force the lie past his lips. If he said no…
No, I don’t love her…That would be a lie.
Because he loved her so much, he was sending her away. Giving her the life she should have. A life not tied to the man who would always remind her of what she’d lost.
“All you have to say in order to get her to stay…” Antony put a hand on Roman’s shoulder. Squeezed. “It’s that you love her. All you have to do is tell her that truth. I was wrong before. When I said that she’d leave when she found out what happened? I underestimated her. She loves you.”
He heard a door slam. “Harper is leaving. I don’t want her to be alone.”
“If you want her, fight for her.”
“I want her…” Guttural. Broken. “That’s why I can’t have her.”
“That shit makes zero sense.” Antony’s breath huffed out. “I’ll try to calm her down. You drag your ass out of the pity party you’re having and realize that you have a chance here. A real shot with someone who doesn’t hold your whacked-out past against you.”
It wasn’t just the past he had to worry about. The threats coming were in the present. He was a danger to Harper.
Antony stormed out. A few moments later, Roman heard the sound of a car pulling away. He remained frozen in the study. The fire crackled. In his mind, he could see Harper’s beautiful, hopeful face as she said…
“I want you to know…that I love you.”
That hope had turned to pain. Burned to ash right in front of him.
***
“Is everything okay?” Charity bit her lower lip as she held a gleaming emerald in her gloved hand. “You seem upset.”
“Everything is fine.” Lie, lie, lie. “That’s another fake. The man really did a number on the museum, didn’t he?”
Charity sighed. “We’re going to be ruined. Maybe insurance will pay some of the claims but, yes, he destroyed this place. Tomas. His partner. You think you can trust someone…” Charity put down the fake emerald. “This is enough for now. I’m not sure I can handle much more.” She stood up, swayed a little.
Harper immediately caught her elbow. “Are you okay?”
“I have low blood sugar.” Charity put a hand to her forehead. “I can’t remember the last time I ate. Hell, I don’t even know what time it is.”
“Let’s get you something to eat. There’s a snack machine down the hall.”
“No, I-I want to go home.” She looked pleadingly at Harper. “Will you give me a ride, please?”
Harper made some quick calculations. “Sure. My friend and I can drop you off before we leave.” Antony had donned his disguise on the way over to the museum once more. Harper had been a bit impressed by how quickly he could adopt the persona of someone new. He’d glued on the beard, popped in some contacts, changed his posture to a lazy slouch, and even used a more rough, gravelly tone when he spoke.
“Your friend makes me uncomfortable,” Charity revealed in a sad, lost voice. “I think he blames me. He suspects me. I’m pretty sure everyone at Wilde does. I’m here—helping out the cops, doing everything I can, but people are watching me like a hawk! I’m the innocent one.”
Harper let Charity go long enoug
h to scoop up a coat. “If my friend seems suspicious, it’s because that’s his nature. All of the Wilde agents are still on edge.” She deliberately didn’t say that her “friend” was a Wilde agent. Because Antony wasn’t. “We’re still searching for the person who arranged my kidnapping.”
“You don’t think it was me.”
“I—”
Something jabbed hard into Harper’s side. “Do you?” Charity demanded as she grabbed Harper.
Harper couldn’t reply. Her tongue felt too thick in her mouth. It was swelling. Breathing was suddenly far too hard. A wheezing sound was coming from her and black dots danced before Harper’s eyes.
“Because if you do,” Charity whispered, “you’re right.”
***
Antony bounded into Charity’s office. When he realized no one was there, he staggered to a dead stop. “Harper?” He’d left her in there just moments before. Where had she gone?
He fished out his phone. Dialed the number he’d programmed in for her. Heard a ringing, one coming from just a few feet away from him. His shoulders stiffened as he turned around.
A phone was ringing, all right—a phone that had been dropped on the floor. He crept closer to it.
Harper’s new phone.
Not fucking good.
***
Roman answered his phone on the second ring. “What is it, Antony?” That was his greeting. He’d recognized the number calling him—Antony had programmed his contact info into Roman’s phone earlier.
“Look, I’m going to need you to be cool. Can you do that for me?”
“What the fuck kind of question is that?”
“It’s the kind of question that’s very important. Can you do it for me?”
His hold tightened on the phone as alarm blasted through him. “Hell, no, I can’t be cool. Tell me what’s happening.”
“I’m investigating. I’m pulling up security feeds at the museum. But, right now, it looks as if Harper vanished.”
“What?” Yet even as he asked the question…
I should have been with her. I knew she was in danger. I should have been there. I—
“I can’t figure it out,” Antony mumbled. “I saw Charity leave alone on the security footage. Harper wasn’t with her. But she isn’t here. I found her phone in Charity’s office, but there’s no sign of Harper.”
