“Of course.” She fished out her phone and handed it to him.
He scrolled to Alexie’s number. The man answered on the first ring. “Ms. Arenas, I didn’t expect to hear from you again.”
Roman’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the other man for a myriad of reasons, but the smooth tone he was trying to use with Taylor raked against his senses. “It’s Roman. We just got a call from the local PD that a mutual acquaintance is dead.”
“Is there a question in there?” The man’s voice was slightly mocking.
“Is Taylor safe?” Because if there was even a chance Lynch was still out there, Roman was packing her up and they were heading back to Vegas now.
A short pause. “I have no knowledge of anyone’s death so if your guy is dead, it wasn’t us.”
“Thanks,” he said before quickly hanging up. He didn’t care about social niceties at the moment.
Roman placed a hand on Taylor’s arm as she slid her key into the lock and twisted it. They’d called off the security watching her place after the news of Lynch’s death. But Roman didn’t like the tingling in his gut that told him something was off.
“What is it?” Her brow furrowed as she looked at him.
“I don’t know. Maybe nothing.” Out of habit he glanced down the hall again, scanning for any potential danger, and pulled out his weapon. He handed the cell phone to her. “Move back,” he whispered, wanting her away from the door.
When she took two steps away he took her arm and guided her out of the way a few doors down. He returned to her door and twisted the key in the lock to open it. Pressing his back against the wall, he reached over and twisted the handle and pushed the door open.
Gunfire immediately erupted, a hail of bullets slamming into the wall across from the door.
“Run!” he shouted, moving backward in Taylor’s direction, but not turning around. He kept his weapon up, ready if the shooter exited the apartment.
His hand was steady as he moved, his actions precise. He could hear Taylor on the phone as she ran for the stairwell, calling the police, her voice shaky but her words coming through clearly.
The shooting had stopped, silence descending. “Move to the stairs,” he ordered quietly. He hadn’t turned enough to see her but he sensed her close behind him. She wasn’t moving fast enough, damn it. He wanted her to fucking run.
“I’m right behind you, the police are on their way.” He could hear her moving but he wasn’t taking his eyes or weapon off her door even as they hurried down the hall. He didn’t relish the thought of opening fire in a residential building but if the shooter revealed himself—Shit!
Lynch peeked his head out the door, his weapon raised in one hand.
Roman fired two shots in quick succession, two hits to the head. Taylor gasped behind him and he was vaguely aware of a neighbor’s door opening then quickly slamming shut. He held up a hand for her to stay behind him. “Get down to the lobby using the stairs. I need to clear your place. Wait for the police.” He didn’t wait to see if she listened, needing to eliminate any other potential threat.
Ignoring the blood splatter and mess of Lynch’s head as he passed the fallen body, Roman kicked the man’s weapon away and silently swept into Taylor’s place. The place was eerily quiet and thankfully it was also empty.
And he didn’t feel an ounce of regret for killing Lynch. The man was a murderous bastard who, if he’d been smart, would have fled the country. But he’d thought he could come after Taylor and get away with it. Roman wasn’t sure how the man had faked his dental records and he didn’t much care.
The only thing that mattered was getting to Taylor and making sure she was truly safe. And he didn’t plan on letting her go.
Chapter 17
Three months later
Taylor grinned at the feel of Roman’s big hand sliding up her bare hip and over her stomach before grasping one of her breasts. “Just stay in bed,” he murmured sleepily.
“Mm, I wish I could.” Man, did she ever. “I’ve got to get showered and dressed though.”
“You should move in with me.” The statement made her freeze, then turn completely over to face him. It was early morning and streams of golden sunlight peeked through the wooden blinds of his bedroom window, bathing Roman’s handsome face. And he looked wide awake, not sleepy as she’d thought. He watched her carefully, his beautiful mismatched eyes steady and intent.
Her heart caught in her throat. “Are you serious?”
“Yep.” No hesitation. “Or I’ll move to California. I love you, Taylor, and I can do long distance, but I don’t want to. I want to share a home with you, to wake up to your face every damn morning.”