Chapter 6 - The Alibi
The rest of the rehearsal dinner passed in a blur of forced pleasantries, tense toasts, and Helen Miller’s desperate attempts to curry favor with Roman.
At 10:00 PM, Roman’s phone buzzed sharply in his pocket—two short vibrations.
He pulled it out, glanced at the encrypted screen, and slid it back into his jacket. The message was simple: The Moretti problem has been resolved. Cleanly.
Roman turned to Sadi, sliding his arm around her waist. "It's time for us to leave."
Sadi nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and melancholy. The performance was over. The alibi had been established. Tomorrow, she would return to her apron, her wire brushes, and her quiet life in the background.
As they walked out to the entrance, Helen and Chloe hurried after them.
"Roman, Sadi! You aren't staying for dessert?" Helen asked, clutching her hands together. "We were hoping you'd come to the wedding ceremony tomorrow!"
"I have business in the morning," Roman said smoothly, opening the SUV door for Sadi. "Thank you for the hospitality, Helen. Your catering was... adequate."
Sadi climbed into the passenger seat, waving a quick goodbye to her mother before Roman shut the door.
The drive back to the city was quiet. The rain had begun to fall in earnest, heavy drops smearing across the dark windows of the SUV as they drove down the highway toward Sadi’s apartment complex.
Sadi looked out the window, watching the streetlights bleed into long streaks of yellow and white.
"Thank you," she said softly, breaking the silence. "You didn't have to go that far. You didn't have to buy the ring or threaten Derek."
"I told you," Roman said, his eyes fixed on the wet road ahead. "I play my parts thoroughly."
"It felt very real," Sadi whispered, the words slipping out before she could filter them.
Roman kept his hands steady on the wheel, but his jaw tightened. "It was an operational necessity, Sadi. The more convincing we are, the less likely the authorities look into my whereabouts tonight."
Sadi felt a cold splash of reality wash over her. Of course. It was an operation. An alibi. She had been foolish to let herself forget, even for a moment, who and what he was.
"Right," she said, pulling off the Cartier ring and holding it out to him. "Here. I don't want to lose it."
Roman didn't reach for the ring. He kept his eyes on the road. "Keep it."
"I can't keep a ring worth more than my life—"
"I said keep it," Roman interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "It looks better on your hand than it ever did in a velvet box."
He pulled the SUV to a stop in front of her dilapidated apartment building. The rain was coming down hard now, drumming against the roof of the vehicle.
Sadi reached for the door handle. "I'll see you at the house on Monday, Mr. Rossi. I mean... Roman."
"Sadi," Roman said, his voice stopping her in her tracks.
She turned to look at him.
He was staring at her, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the dashboard. Slowly, he reached out, his broad hand cupping the back of her neck, pulling her gently toward him.
Sadi’s breath hitched as his mouth covered hers.
The kiss was not polite. It was heavy, dark, and demanding—a sudden storm that swept away every rational thought in her head. Roman’s tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her deeply, while his other hand gripped her waist, pulling her flush against his chest over the center console.
Sadi let out a low gasp, her fingers entangling in his thick dark hair, pulling him closer as she melted into the warmth of his mouth.
When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathing heavily. Roman’s dark eyes burned into hers, his calloused thumb tracing her lower lip, which was now swollen and red from his kiss.
"That wasn't part of the alibi," Roman growled softly.
Sadi stared at him, her lips parted, her whole body trembling.
May you like
"Go inside," Roman ordered, his voice thick with restraint. "Before I forget that you're an employee."
Sadi didn't say a word. She opened the door, stepped out into the pouring rain, and ran up the concrete steps to her building, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
