Chapter 7 - Meeting Him Again
Evelyn arrived twenty minutes late.
Deliberately.
The old Roman would have sent a driver at exactly 6:30, called at 6:31, and had security searching for her by 6:35.
The new Roman did nothing.
That irritated her more than it should have.
The community center stood where one of his illegal gambling clubs had once operated.
Now children’s paintings covered the walls.
A tutoring center occupied the second floor.
A legal-aid office had been built downstairs.
Evelyn found Roman carrying folding chairs.
Actually carrying them.
She stopped.
Gabriel appeared beside her.
“Try closing your mouth.”
“I wasn’t—”
“You were.”
Roman wore jeans and a rolled-sleeve white shirt.
No tie.
No visible security.
He looked annoyingly good.
Evelyn hated that divorce had not made him less attractive.
Roman noticed her.
He did not immediately approach.
He finished carrying the chairs.
Then he came over.
“Evelyn.”
“Roman.”
Gabriel looked between them.
“I’m going to find alcohol.”
“It’s a children’s center,” Evelyn said.
“I’m resourceful.”
He disappeared.
Roman smiled.
“You came.”
“You invited me.”
“That has never guaranteed anything with you.”
“Look at you. Learning.”
They walked through the building.
Roman explained that he had sold several luxury properties and used the money to establish independent neighborhood programs.
“Why?”
He glanced at her.
“Because you were right.”
Evelyn stopped.
“I’m sorry. Can you repeat that? I’d like to record it.”
Roman laughed.
“You were right.”
“Again.”
“Don’t abuse the privilege.”
The ease between them frightened her.
This was how she remembered him before marriage became a prison.
Quick humor.
Quiet conversations.
A man who could make a crowded room disappear.
She reminded herself that charm had never been Roman’s problem.
Control had.
They reached the rooftop.
Chicago glittered around them.
Roman stayed several feet away.
“I owe you an apology.”
“You owe me approximately four thousand.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“For?”
“Therapy.”
He laughed again.
Then became serious.
“I’m glad you went.”
“So am I.”
“I started too.”
That surprised her.
Roman Castellano discussing therapy sounded like a shark announcing swimming lessons.
She tried not to show it.
“Good.”
“My therapist says I confuse being needed with being loved.”
“Your therapist sounds expensive.”
“She is.”
“Worth every penny.”
Roman smiled.
Then his expression softened.
“I’m sorry, Evelyn.”
She looked away.
“For the party?”
“For all of it.”
He did not qualify the apology.
Did not explain his intentions.
Did not ask forgiveness.
“I’m sorry I isolated you. I’m sorry I made decisions for you. I’m sorry I used fear as if it were protection. And I’m sorry I made you believe loving me required disappearing inside my life.”
Evelyn’s eyes burned.
“That’s annoyingly good.”
“I practiced.”
She laughed through tears.
Roman reached into his pocket.
Her body tensed.
He noticed.
His hand stopped immediately.
Then he slowly removed an envelope.
Not jewelry.
Not a ring.
Paper.
“What’s this?”
“The deed to the Moretti Foundation building.”
Evelyn stared.
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“It’s already yours. Your father purchased it through a holding company. Vale buried the ownership records.”
She opened the envelope.
Her father’s signature appeared at the bottom of the original deed.
Evelyn touched it.
Roman said quietly, “He intended to build something legitimate.”
“What?”
“A scholarship foundation.”
Her throat tightened.
Roman looked toward the skyline.
“I thought you might finish it.”
Not we.
You.
Evelyn folded the document carefully.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A comfortable silence followed.
Then Roman said, “I should go.”
That startled her.
The old Roman would have used her emotion as an opening.
The new one simply left.
“Roman.”
He stopped.
Evelyn had no idea what she intended to say.
So she asked the safest question.
“Coffee?”
He looked almost suspicious.
“Tonight?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What time?”
“Ten.”
“Where?”
“You don’t get to choose everything.”
His smile was slow.
“Text me.”
He walked away.
Evelyn watched him.
Vanessa appeared from the stairwell.
“Oh, that was painful.”
Evelyn jumped.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I learned from organized crime.”
Vanessa had become unexpectedly important to Evelyn.
After Vale’s arrest, she had testified and then started working with an advocacy organization helping women escape coercive relationships.
Evelyn looked at her.
“Coffee isn’t a date.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I was thinking Roman looked at you like someone had returned oxygen to the atmosphere.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Roman entering the community center.
A red circle had been drawn around his head.
Underneath were six words.
Vale wasn’t the only one involved.
Evelyn’s smile vanished.
Another message arrived.
Tell Roman the debt isn’t paid.
Vanessa saw it.
“Oh no.”
Evelyn looked across the rooftop.
May you like
Roman was gone.
Then a car exploded in the street below.
