Perfect Monster (The Oligarchs)

“I know. You don’t have to feel guilty.”

“If something bad happened to you, I couldn’t live with myself.” He stopped, turned to me, and gripped my hands in his. His body vibrated with suppressed desire and a quiet, burning rage. Angst rolled off his skin in waves. I wanted to hug him, kiss him, tell him it would all be okay—but that would be a lie.

I didn’t know what would happen. Only that Roman needed his revenge as much as he needed to breathe, and he’d go to any lengths to get it.

“I’m here because we made a deal, remember? I won’t back down from that.”

“Protect anyone you want.” His lips quirked, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “When was the last time you spoke to Winter?”

“Days,” I admitted. “We’ve been busy.”

“You should call her soon. Before the ceremony.”

“I will.”

“But don’t invite her. It’ll be too dangerous.”

I let out a breath. “My wedding is too dangerous to invite my best friend. How messed up is that?”

“You can back out whenever you want.”

“No, I can’t, and I won’t.” I stood on my toes and kissed his lips. “And you won’t let me.”

He released my one hand and laced his fingers through my hair. He gripped hard and stared down at me, his muscles rough and intense, his jaw locked down tight. He was in pain, struggling with something, and it stabbed him in the guts.

“I care about you Cassie. I care about you much more than I thought I ever could.”

“I know.” I touched his cheek. The stubble pricked at my fingers. His lips opened, his tongue ran along his teeth. “I care about you too. As insane as that may be.”

“When this is over, I don’t want to let you go. I need you to stay.”

“I don’t plan on leaving.”

He nodded and kissed me, tightening his grip on my hair. I wanted him to say it, finally say the words that lingered between us, but when he pulled back, his eyes shining and fierce with devotion and passion, I knew the words didn’t matter, because he looked at me like I was the only important thing in this world.

Before he could speak, his phone rang. He cursed and went to silence it, but as soon as he did, it began to buzz again.

“Emergency,” he said, pulling the phone out. “It’s Erick.” He answered and didn’t say anything. His face turned pale and he stepped back away from me. “Are you sure?” he asked. Then he hung up. “We have to go.”

“Go where?”

“There’s been an attack.” He reached out a hand. “Come.”

I followed him to the car. As we approached, another black SUV pulled up, slamming on its breaks. The door flung open and Erick jumped out, looking around like an assault was imminent, his gun drawn.

Several people stared, and at least one took out his phone to call the police.

Erick grabbed Roman’s arm. “Get in. We got to go.”

Roman shook him off. “How bad?”

“Bad. Everyone dead.”

“Take me there.”

Erick shook his head. “We have to go somewhere secure. You’re not safe.”

Roman shoved Erick hard enough to make the man stumble. “You will follow orders.” Roman was shaking with anger.

Erick stared at him in surprise, then nodded, his face clouding. “Yes, sir.”

We piled into Erick’s vehicle. Roza poked her head out the window of her SUV, but Erick told her to stay put and she actually listened.

Erick sped off. Roman was silent on the drive. I could tell he was struggling with fury, barely suppressing his emotions.

I didn’t know what was going on, but it had to be bad.

An attack on the bunker.

But how? I thought nobody knew about it?

It took me a while to realize that driving in a car didn’t bother me anymore, not ever since I told Roman about what happened. It was like he loosened something inside of me that was constantly trying to get out, and now I was free.

Unfortunately, my epiphany didn’t last long.

We reached the bunker drive. Roman cursed softly and his fingers pressed into the dash in front of him.

The front gate was a ruin. The drive up was like heading into a war zone.

Bodies were left in the sun.

“I bribed the local cops already,” Erick said as he parked. “Nobody’s coming. As far as they know, the gunshots were fireworks.”

“Good.” Roman got out. “Keep the car running.” He walked toward the smoking topside structure.

I leapt out after him. “Roman, wait.”

He ignored me, kept going. I ran over, trying not to look down.

Dead bodies everywhere. Blood and guts. I wanted to scream and cry as panic raced through my skin.

But I forced myself to follow my Roman up the steps and in through the front door.

The fire was dying down. The room was smoky and I coughed against the haze, but it was clear enough to breathe. A sprinkler system drenched everything. Roman walked to the elevator, ignoring the wreckage of his house, and pressed the call button.