Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Walked Into My Restaurant
Three months after reopening, Mave's diner became one of the busiest late-night spots in the neighborhood.
Taxi drivers loved it.
Nurses came after shifts.
Cops came for coffee.
Delivery drivers ate pancakes at 3 a.m.
And occasionally, Roman's people occupied the back booths.
Mave learned not to ask questions.
Roman learned to stop bringing guns into the dining room.
Mostly.
Their relationship changed quietly.
He called her.
She called him.
He sent flowers.
She complained that they were too expensive.
He bought her a comfortable pair of shoes.
She threw the box at him.
He laughed.
One rainy Friday, Roman arrived with a woman.
The woman was beautiful.
Perfect.
Tall.
Blonde.
Elegant.
Mave saw her enter and immediately understood.
She was exactly the kind of woman Mave believed Roman should have.
The woman kissed Roman's cheek.
Mave's stomach tightened.
Roman glanced toward the counter.
His eyes met hers.
Mave looked away.
She hated herself for caring.
The woman sat beside him.
“Who is she?” she asked.
Roman answered simply.
“Mave.”
The woman looked toward the counter.
“The owner?”
“Yes.”
“She used to work here?”
“Yes.”
The woman smiled politely.
“I've heard about her.”
Mave's stomach tightened further.
Roman's expression became cold.
“From whom?”
The woman ignored the question.
Then she looked directly at Mave.
“You're brave.”
Mave frowned.
“Why?”
“To be around him.”
“I own the place.”
The woman smiled.
“Of course.”
Mave hated the tone.
The woman was named Celeste.
She had known Roman since childhood.
At least that's what Roman later explained.
She was the daughter of an old family connected to his father.
There was history.
But no relationship.
Still, Mave found herself pulling away.
Roman noticed.
“You're avoiding me.”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“I’m busy.”
“You haven't looked at me all evening.”
“I've been serving customers.”
He waited until closing.
Then followed her into the kitchen.
“Mave.”
She kept washing dishes.
“What?”
“You're angry.”
“No.”
“Jealous?”
She turned.
“Absolutely not.”
He smiled faintly.
“You are.”
She flushed.
“I am not jealous.”
“Then why have you been glaring at Celeste?”
“I wasn't.”
“You called her ‘blonde royalty’ under your breath.”
Mave froze.
“She heard me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God.”
Roman laughed.
It was the first time she had ever heard him laugh without restraint.
She crossed her arms.
“She is gorgeous.”
“So?”
“She fits.”
His amusement vanished.
“Fits what?”
“Your world.”
Roman stepped closer.
“My world isn't what you think.”
“It's still yours.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
He touched her cheek.
“My world stopped mattering the night I met you.”
Her breath caught.
Then the back door slammed.
One of Roman's men rushed inside.
“Boss.”
Roman turned instantly.
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
The man handed him a phone.
Roman read the screen.
His jaw tightened.
Mave knew immediately.
“What is it?”
“Celeste has been kidnapped.”
Mave's face went pale.
“What?”
Roman looked at her.
“This wasn't about Celeste.”
“Then who?”
“They want me.”
“Why take her?”
“Because they know I'll come.”
He handed the phone back.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Mave.”
“I’m coming.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You don't get to decide that.”
Roman stared at her.
“This isn't a game.”
“I know.”
She stood in front of him.
“And neither am I.”
He looked at her for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“Fine?”
“You stay with security.”
“Okay.”
“But you do exactly what I say.”
“Mostly.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Mostly?”
She smiled.
“There you are.”
Roman shook his head.
For the first time that night, he smiled.
They left together.
The kidnapping was a trap.
They knew it almost immediately.
An empty warehouse.
No Celeste.
No kidnappers.
Only a message painted across the wall.
MAVE.
Roman read it.
His expression changed.
Mave felt cold.
“You know who did this.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Someone who thinks you're my weakness.”
She looked at him.
“And am I?”
Roman's eyes met hers.
“No.”
He reached for her hand.
“You are the reason I remember what I'm fighting for.”
Before she could answer, gunfire erupted.
Security moved.
Roman pulled her behind a concrete barrier.
Shots rang through the warehouse.
When it ended, one man had been captured.
Roman questioned him.
The man laughed.
“She'll never be safe.”
Roman's face became terrifyingly calm.
“Who sent you?”
The man said one name.
“Vincenzo Costa.”
Roman froze.
Mave looked at him.
“Your brother?”
Roman slowly shook his head.
“My cousin.”
“He's supposed to be dead.”
“He should be.”
The captured man smiled.
“That's what he wants you to believe.”
Roman stepped away.
Mave followed.
“Who is he?”
Roman looked exhausted.
“Someone I trusted.”
“And now?”
“Now he wants everything my father left me.”
“What does that include?”
Roman looked toward her.
“You.”
Mave's heart stopped.
“Why?”
“Because I chose you.”
May you like
And somewhere in the darkness beyond the warehouse walls, a man who had been presumed dead was preparing to prove that Roman Costa had finally found something he loved.
Something he could lose.
