The villa was quiet. Too quiet. Tessa was alone.
Roman has carried his storm elsewhere. Somewhere she didn’t know. Somewhere he didn’t tell her. He had left because being around her was bad for him.
She splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom sink, trying to steady her breathing. Roman’s words were still slicing through her chest, but she pushed them aside. One heartbreak at a time.
She walked into the living room— and froze.
The front door was cracked open. She hadn’t left it that way. Or had Roman come back without her knowing?
Her blood went cold.
She stepped forward slowly— maybe it was just the wind, she thought.
As she closed the door…a shadow fell across her, Tessa gasped.
And suddenly— a hand clamped over her mouth.
She tried to scream but it never got out.
Her b
