Chapter 6 - The Night Roman Finally Chose Me Over His Family
We found Daniel Bennett's old records inside a storage facility registered under a fake company.
The evidence showed everything.
Sophia had ordered payments.
Victor had refused to participate.
Elena had tried to expose the family.
Daniel had helped her.
And Roman had secretly spent years dismantling the organization from within.
That was why people feared him.
Not because he wanted power.
Because he had taken control of the family empire and slowly removed the people who had been hurting innocent people.
But Sophia had anticipated him.
She had built a second organization.
One loyal only to her.
The ledger gave us enough evidence to bring down everyone involved.
But Lily was still in danger.
Sophia wanted her dead.
Roman wanted her protected.
Victor wanted revenge.
I wanted justice.
Those goals collided.
Then Roman made a decision.
He called every person loyal to him.
“I am ending the Duca organization.”
The room went silent.
One of his men asked, “What happens to us?”
“You walk away.”
“And you?”
Roman looked at me.
“I walk away too.”
I stared at him.
“You can't.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You've spent your whole life fighting this.”
“Exactly.”
He took my hand.
“I don't want the throne.”
“What do you want?”
He looked at me.
“A bakery.”
I laughed.
“You hate baking.”
“I like cinnamon rolls.”
“You like stealing them.”
“I can learn.”
I shook my head.
Then I kissed him.
It was brief.
Soft.
Terrifying.
Real.
When we pulled apart, Lily smiled.
Victor looked away.
“Finally.”
Roman glared.
Victor laughed.
But the moment didn't last.
A phone rang.
One of Roman's men answered.
His face changed.
“Sophia has Lily's location.”
Lily froze.
Roman stood.
“Where?”
The man whispered the address.
A warehouse near the river.
Roman reached for his gun.
I grabbed his arm.
“Don't go alone.”
“Clare.”
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“I've been dragged into this because of you.”
“I won't let you die because of me.”
“You don't get to decide that either.”
He stared at me.
Then nodded.
“Stay behind me.”
I smiled.
“Absolutely not.”
May you like
For the first time, Roman laughed.
And together, we walked into the darkness.
