Chapter 5 - The Price of Protection
By morning, the snowstorm had cleared, leaving the city frozen under a stark, blinding winter sun. Emma woke up in an enormous king-sized bed lined with Egyptian cotton, disoriented by the utter silence of the high-rise. For a terrifying second, she thought the previous night was a fever dream—until she saw the pristine black dress, tailored wool coat, and leather boots laid out neatly across the vanity.
Beside the clothes was a brand-new smartphone with Roman’s number already saved under the single letter 'V'.
She walked into the open kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed espresso and bacon filled the air. A private chef in a crisp white apron bowed slightly and stepped aside, gesturing toward a breakfast spread on the granite island that could have fed an entire squad.
Roman was sitting at the breakfast bar, reading the financial section of a newspaper while an encrypted tablet blinked beside his plate. He looked as immaculate as ever in a three-piece navy pinstripe suit, not a single hair out of place.
""You slept five hours,"" Roman noted without looking up from the page. ""Your vitals were stable by 3:00 AM.""
""You monitored my vitals?"" Emma crossed her arms, ignoring the lavish food. ""Is there anything you don't track, Mr. Vale?""
""Things I don't care about,"" Roman answered smoothly, finally folding the paper and looking at her. ""Sit down. Eat. We have a meeting in forty minutes.""
""A meeting with whom?""
""The Castiglione council,"" Roman said, taking a sip of black coffee. ""Mateo requested an emergency parley at the Chicago Cultural Center. He knows the hit on Kedzie failed. He knows Marcus wiped out his two best point men. Now he wants to negotiate borders.""
Emma felt a chill run straight down her spine. ""And why do I need to be there?""
""Because Mateo thinks you're my weakness,"" Roman stood up, walking toward her with predatory grace until he was standing barely an inch away. The scent of sandalwood, expensive tobacco, and clean winter air enveloped her senses. ""If I hide you away in this penthouse, it confirms his suspicion. It tells him that by threatening your life, he can dictate my terms.""
""So what do you expect me to do? Act like your girlfriend?"" Emma’s chin tilted up, defiance masking the terror trembling in her knees.
""No,"" Roman murmured, reaching out and gently tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. His fingers were warm, sending an unexpected jolt through her skin. ""I expect you to act like my queen. You will wear the dress. You will walk beside me. You will look Mateo Castiglione in the eyes, and you will let him see that you are completely, unequivocally untouchable.""
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""And if he doesn't believe it?"" Emma whispered.
""Then I execute him in front of his entire family,"" Roman said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. ""Eat your breakfast, Emma. We don't want to keep our enemies waiting.""
