Read Roman: Book 1 for Free Online Page A

reverse and hauling my ass back to Holiday Inn when his deep voice pours from the speaker, “Ms. Mackenzie, how many times do I have to ask you, what do you want?”
    My words tumble out in a series of awkward squeaks, “Hey! Ummm, hey. I ahh… just maybe some dinner, if you haven’t eaten. I pay, I mean, I can pay, or my treat. You know, I need somewhere to kinda stay, too.”
    What. The. Fuck did I just ramble?
    “Heather, I don’t need for you to pay for my dinner. Actually, I was just sitting down to eat when you interrupted. I will ask you only one more time, little girl. What. Do. You. Want?”
    I’ve barely processed his words before I shove out my plea, “Please, Roman, please. I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’ve been living at the Holiday Inn for two fucking weeks, please, just until I can get a job and get on my feet. I don’t have anyone else.”
    “I know where you’ve been living, and yes you do, you have three brothers. Ask for their help. Not mine.”
    The intercom crackles with static and goes dead silent, signaling he’s finished with me.
    Oh hell no. I say when, asshole.
    I slap the intercom buzzer again.
    After minutes of no answer I click the speak button and shout, “Don’t think I won’t put this bitch in reverse before gunning it through your gates, Roman Payne! I’m at rock bottom here, dammit. I’ve got nothing left to lose. I’m sure you know what it means when you fuck with a woman who has nothing left to lose, right?!”
    The gates slowly part and a smirk slides across my face. As soon as the words ‘Check mate’ Skate through my mind I hear his chuckle spill from the speaker and his husky voice say, “There is nothing I find more gratifying than a woman who claims to have nothing left to lose. Come on in, little mouse, I’ll warm you up a plate.”
    Little mouse? OH shit, what in God’s name have I gotten myself into?
    I pull up the long drive edged in massive willow trees and a sense of dread prickles down my spine as the sun sets behind the massive manor. Really there are no other words to describe it. The cobbled stone covering the first, second and third floors have ivy and wisteria perfectly draped in several places. The high pitches in the roof are accentuated by dark mahogany beams which meet in the center of the pitch. Each window is made of ten or more windowpanes with glass so old it looks as though it sags. There are sconces between each window lit with gas lamps, and two massive ones on either side of the front door under a low swooping high pitched front porch. I’d like to say it reminds me of the
S
even
D
warfs front porch, if the
S
even
D
warfs were kings instead of miners.
    Huge, old oak trees and their low hanging arms cover the mansion in shadows making the entire place seem both enchanting and intimidating.
    I pull around the circle drive, making sure to point the front of my car towards the exit.
Taking
the keys from the ignition,
I
grab my bags from the back of my trunk and make my way up the uneven cobbled drive and staircase. My finger hits the doorbell and instantly the heavy door flies open and I’m jerked inside of Roman’s dark, cold house. Both of my bags hit the floor right before my back hits the stone wall of his foyer and my arms are pinned above my head in one of Roman’s hands while the other wraps tightly around my neck.
    Alarm bells are blaring loud and fucking clear along with the warnings my brothers and Uncle Jay
have
been screaming at me for the last two years.
    Don’t play with a wolf, Mac and not expect to see his teeth.
    That’s the problem, Mac, your inability to believe that he’s capable of murder, that’s what will get you killed if you don’t smarten up, sis.
    You’re ATTRACTED to him! You cannot separate fact from your feelings for him! This man will fucking kill you before you ever come to the realization he is indeed the devil his file claims him to be!
    Mac, there are twelve women linked to him