Chapter 51 She Was Wild Roman I kept my hand on Savannah’s back as we slipped out of our little rendezvous, her perfume a faint trail in the cool night air. The warmth of her body still lingered against my palm, but the further we walked from the shadows, the more reality pressed in. She was still talking, voice airy and teasing. “I always knew I’d strike gold before thirty.” She giggled like a teenager. “I met a fortune teller online, many years ago. She ripped me off of twenty dollars but she did say that I was meant for bigger things. I'm certain that this is it, Roman.” She was one second away from jumping up and down. I let out a low laugh. “You’re the only woman I know who admits that without blinking.” “I hate pretense. It's immature.” She added. “I'm not conceited, so if you offer, then best believe I'm going to jump on it.” I’d half-expected her to turn me down like she had before—run the other way, put walls up. But she hadn’t. She’d taken my offer and then, like it was nothing, made a demand on top of it.I can never predict you, Savannah. What a strange woman. “I'm going to bleed you dry, Blackwood.” She giggled. As if that were possible. “You're welcome to try.” “I can do a lot of damage, you know.” She said jokingly. “Put a good solid dent in that bank account.” “I won't stop you from attempting.” I smiled. She stopped suddenly, pivoting to face me. “How much are you worth, exactly?” She slowly tilted her head to the side. “I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you wear the same suit twice.” I smirked, sidestepping the question. “Let’s go, Sav. People are probably looking for you.” Her smile dimmed. “As if they noticed I was gone. They’re probably patting Henry on the back right now.” I instantly clenched my fists. The name alone made my jaw lock. A good beating would be too kind. He deserves something stronger. “I doubt that.” “If you knew them like I did, you wouldn’t.” “You can talk to me,” I said before I could stop myself. I don’t pry—it’s a rule in my world. Asking questions gives people an excuse to ask back. They demand honesty, which I'm not ready to give. But with Savannah, I keep breaking my own rules. Her shoulders stiffened. “No. You’d just see me like they do.” “Why do you think that?” “I know it.” “Nothing’s going to change the way I treat you, Savannah.” Her gaze lifted, eyes glistening under the dim garden lights. “That’s what you think.” “Savannah—” “Let’s not ruin the moment,” she cut in, forcing a smile. I let it go. She’d tell me one day. And when she did, I’d make sure whoever had hurt her regretted it. The sound of the orchestra swelled as we neared the entrance. Her grip on my hand tightened, as if she wasn’t ready to let the quiet go.Alyssa spotted us first, hurrying over with urgency in her steps. “Sav, where were you guys? I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. I even thought that'd you'd left.” “We just stepped out for some air,” Savannah said softly. “I needed a break, or I’d have impaled Henry with a steak knife.” Alyssa almost laughed. “He’s always been an arse. Come on—Mom’s been losing her mind looking for you.” My phone vibrated in my pocket just as Savannah turned to me. “Are you coming?” “You go ahead,” I told her. “I’ll be right behind you. Just need to make a call.” She nodded. “Don't take too long.” I pressed a brief kiss to her lips before Alyssa towed her back into the madness that was going on in there. Once they were gone, I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring, the faint sound of music bleeding into his voice. “Meet me outside. Left side. By the hedges,” I said. My tone left no room for discussion. The night air was cool, the manicured garden casting deep shadows under the white glow of floodlights. Laughter and music pulsed faintly from inside the restaurant, muffled by walls and distance. A few minutes later, the prick emerged from the venue. The lights from the restaurant spilled over him in a pale wash, turning his tux into a ghost’s uniform. He glanced over his shoulder twice before reaching me, like a man who was afraid that someone might follow him. “Sorry, I had to—” He began, but I cut him off. “Give me the phone.” I demanded. His lips curved into a mocking half-smile. “Show me proof first.” I pulled up the receipt of the transfer and held it out between us. “Do I have to say it twice?” Reluctantly, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out another phone. It wasn’t his main one. This one was older, heavier. He handed it over, and I scrolled. There it was. The video. My thumb hovered over delete. For a moment, I imagined erasing it right then, along with every piece of dirt he thought he had on Sav. But no—deleting it now would mean trusting him, and I trusted Dean about as far as I could throw him. “Are there any copies of this?” “No. Just that.” “For the sake of your legs, I hope there aren't any hidden copies of this video, Dean.” He swallowed, but forced out a chuckle. “I never made copies. Didn’t think I’d need to. I just filmed it and… kept it. Watched it whenever I wanted to.” My fist connected with his stomach before I’d even decided to swing. The sound was dull and satisfying. The breath left him in a rough grunt as he folded over, coughing and dry-heaving. “Keep talking, and the next will be a kick to the balls.” I said quietly. “See how you explain that to your bride tonight.” He straightened slowly, his face pale, his hand gripping his side. “You know… I never thought Savannah would be lucky enough to find someone who treats her like you do.” I stayed silent. Silence can be sharper than words. And besides, it's pretty obvious he's trying to hit a nerve. “She was wild,” he went on, like a man unable to shut his own mouth. “Untamable. Loud. That’s why I liked her in the first place. But honestly? I only dated her to get close to Chloe. I've always had my eyes on Chloe.” Anger exploded like molten lava inside me and I desperately wished that I'd brought a gun. Times like these are the reasons why I have one. “We lasted as long as we did because the sex was that good. Don’t act so righteous, Roman. I know you know what I'm talking about.” His laugh was ugly, cracking around the edges. “God, she still remains the best lay of my life. That video got me through some hard nights, if you catch my drift. But you—” his eyes searched mine for a reaction—“you’re strange. Most guys would’ve called off an engagement after seeing that video.” I smiled, slow and deliberate. The kind of smile that means trouble. “Still working on breaking us apart?” That knocked the cockiness out of him. “I know exactly what you’re trying to do,” I said, my voice low. “And tonight? Hoping I’d make a scene in there? It’s not going to work.” “You’re walking into a storm, Roman. She’s a mistake.” I slid the phone into my pocket, turned to leave, then stopped. Stepped back in close enough for him to smell the quiet promise of violence in my words. “Congratulations on your wedding to blondie,” I murmured. “Enjoy the honeymoon. But if I ever find out there’s another copy of this… I won’t be coming for your phone next time.” I left him in the shadows, bent slightly, his pride hanging in tatters. Behind me, the muffled swell of music and laughter felt like it belonged to another world entirely.