Chapter 218 Promise Me Roman Savannah had been pouting since the plane touched down—an actual, committed pout, lips pushed forward, cheeks puffed, the kind of expression that would’ve been cute if it wasn’t accompanied by complete silence. My girl could weaponize quietness better than any argument. And she’d done it for the entire flight, the entire walk through the airport, and now into the car. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest as she stared out the window like the scenery had personally offended her. The sound of the car filled the space between us, but even that felt too loud next to the tension vibrating off her. I nudged her gently. “Hey,” I murmured, keeping my voice low. “It’s not that serious, Sav. The house is always going to be there. We’ll pick up right where we left off.” Her sigh fogged the window. “It’s not about the house, Roman.” Of course it wasn’t. If it were, she wouldn’t be sitting there like she was seconds away from combusting.I glanced at the driver and lowered my voice even more. “Then talk to me. You’ve been sulking since we boarded the plane.” That was all the prompting she needed. “I’m exhausted, Roman.” Her voice cracked—a tiny sound that sliced through me. “I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m tired.” I blinked, caught off guard. “Savannah, calm down—just tell me what’s wrong.” She turned toward me, and the breath punched out of my lungs. Her eyes were glossy, tears clinging to her lashes, threatening to spill. “Roman, I’m tired of all this. Of coming back home to… this mess. Why can’t we just be happy for once?” Her voice trembled until it broke. “Yesterday was perfect. We were away from everything. It was the first time in months that I didn’t feel like I was drowning. And now…” She gestured wildly. “Now we’re back here. Back to chaos. Back to stress. Back to your father. And my father. Back to uncertainty. And I can’t—Roman, I can’t keep doing this.” A tear escaped and she wiped it angrily, frustrated with herself. “I just want all of this to end. All the drama, all the tension, all the secrets. I want peace. Just peace.”Her words tumbled, raw and fast, as if she’d been holding them in for far too long. “I’m always waiting for something bad to happen,” she choked out. “Every time we’re happy, I’m bracing myself. Every time you smile, I’m wondering what’s going to wipe it off your face. I can’t breathe anymore. I feel like everything good is temporary with us, like something will always swoop in and ruin it.” She pressed a trembling hand to her chest. “Is that what our future is going to look like? Happiness today, misery tomorrow? Because I’m tired, Roman. I am so, so tired of this.” I opened my mouth but nothing came out. What was there to say? She wasn’t wrong. She wasn’t dramatic. She wasn’t overreacting. She was pregnant, stressed, overwhelmed, and stuck in the middle of a storm she didn’t create. The guilt hit me like a punch. Gently, I placed my hand on her lap. “Sav, hey… it’s okay. Don’t cry.” She sniffed and wiped her cheek again. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being emotional. I just— I just want it to end.” “It will,” I promised, cupping her cheek. “I swear, Sav. This will be over soon. I’ll handle it.”Her watery eyes searched mine. “You swear, Roman?” My throat tightened. A promise like that had weight. A promise like that could break something if I didn’t follow through. But looking at her—my girl, my pregnant fiancée, the person who somehow still believed in me despite everything—I couldn’t do anything else. “I swear, baby.” I said quietly. She exhaled shakily and leaned into me, resting her head against my chest. “Promise me that by our next doctor’s appointment… all of this will be behind us.” My heart stuttered. The next appointment was close. Very close. Too close. In roughly five weeks. And I wasn’t God. I didn’t control my father or the chaos he thrived in. I didn’t control the landmines waiting for us the moment we stepped out of this car. But I placed a hand on her back anyway, hating myself as I whispered, “You have my word.” She closed her eyes. “Thank you, Roman.”I pressed a kiss to her hair, pretending I didn’t feel like I’d just lied straight to her face. ~~~ For the rest of the drive, she settled into a soft rhythm against my side. Her breathing steadied. Her fingers loosened. At some point, she drifted off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Why would I promise her something I couldn’t guarantee? Why did I let her look me in the eyes and ask for a future I wasn’t sure I could give? My father was unpredictable. He was dangerous. A storm in human form. And I had just promised Savannah that I’d defeat the storm by a deadline. When the car finally rolled to a stop in front of the house, I stared at the building like it was a battlefield I was returning to. Savannah was still asleep, breathing softly, her face calm for the first time all day. Reese appeared at my side the second I stepped out. “Damn. What’s with the long face?” he asked, grabbing the luggage while I lifted Savannah gently into my arms. “Where’s Lizzie?” I muttered.He snorted. “Doing what she always does.” Right on cue, a bloodcurdling scream burst from the living room. Christ. I followed the sound, and sure enough, Lizzie was curled on the couch watching the kind of horror film that probably should’ve been banned. I cleared my throat. She jumped, saw me—and her entire face lit up. She stretched her arms like she wanted to squeeze me and the remote at the same time. “Welcome home!” she sang. Then she noticed Savannah in my arms. “Oh my God—what happened? Is Sav okay?” “She’s fine. Just exhausted.” Lizzie nodded, but her gaze kept darting to Reese. Quickly. Repeatedly. Not subtle at all. God. These two. I do not want to know what went down. I don't have the mental strength for another subplot today. “Get some sleep, Lizzie,” I muttered, heading up the stairs. Reese followed silently. Inside the bedroom, I gently placed Savannah on the bed. I slipped off her shoes, loosened her hair, and tucked her under the duvet. She didn’t even stir. When I turned, Reese was watching me with crossed arms. “Well?” he asked. I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “Sav broke down in the car. She’s done, Reese. Emotionally done. She made me promise everything will be over by the next appointment.” He froze—then burst into laughter. “You did not—Roman, tell me you didn’t—” “I didn’t have a choice,” I snapped. “She’s pregnant. The stress isn’t good for her. I had to tell her something.” “Yeah,” Reese said, sobering, “but telling her something and promising her something are two very different things.” “I know.” I looked at her sleeping form. “But I’m not letting anything happen to her. Not Dad. Not her stupid family. Not anything.” Reese exhaled, leaning against the wall. “I hope you know it’s not going to end well when he finds out she’s pregnant.” “I'll protect her.” I said. And I meant every word. “That old fucker won't touch a strand of hair on her head.” Reese watched me for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I hope you’re ready to stand on that.” “I’ve been ready, Reese. History won't repeat itself.” After a quiet beat, I jerked my head. “Come with me. I need to show you something.” He didn’t argue. We walked downstairs, through the side hallway, and out toward the garage. Reese’s eyebrows shot up immediately. “Why the hell are there guards here?” “They’re not for me,” I said, and headed straight to the bus parked by the side. He frowned. “Then who—” I slid the door open, and there they were. Two women sitting inside, bound and quiet. “Reese,” I said, stepping back so he could see clearly. “Meet Chloe and Paula.” His expression said everything. And mine told him the rest. This wasn’t going to be over anytime soon. But one way or another, I’ll protect Savannah and our child. Even if it tore the world apart.