Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Roman helped Blair up, his powerful arms steadying her as she wobbled slightly. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her legs weak and her hands trembling. Without hesitation, he scooped her up, ignoring her protests, and carried her to his car. Ethan opened the door, ensuring a smooth transition as Roman settled her inside. Roman shut her door. She watched as he thanked Ethan before moving around the car.

She sat in silence as Roman drove, her mind replaying the near accident. If it had even been an accident? It played over and over again in her mind. What if she had stepped off the curb? Would Ethan have been there in time? Would she be laying in the hospital or the morgue? The thought was frightening. >

Her pulse was still erratic, her body unable to shake the lingering fear. Roman’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw clenched, his entire body radiating controlled fury. Blair could see he was thinking of what had happened, or nearly happened. She was lucky, except for some sore muscles and a small scrape on her hand where Ethan had pushed her out of the way. She wasn’t hurt.

When they arrived at his house, Roman wasted no time. He led her inside, his hand firmly on her lower back, guiding her toward the master bathroom. The large tub was already filling with warm water.

“Let’s get you out of these clothes,” he murmured, his fingers already at the buttons of her coat.

Blair swallowed but didn’t argue. Her body felt cold, her nerves frayed. She allowed him to help her undress, his touch careful, not lingering, though his gaze never left her face, as if making sure she was truly okay. Once she was bare, his eyes scanned her body to make sure she was completely unharmed. Then he guided her into the warm bath, settling her gently into the water.

She let out a slow breath, her body sinking into the comforting heat, her muscles slowly beginning to unwind.

Roman didn’t leave. Instead, he perched on the edge of the tub, his fingers skimming the surface of the water as he watched her for a moment or two.

Then he pulled out his phone and dialed. “Peters,” he said the moment the call connected.

“Sir. We found the car.” Blair could just hear Roman’s head of security voice.

Roman’s eyes darkened. “And?”

“It was torched. Whoever did this made sure there was nothing left to trace. No fingerprints, no plates, no identifying marks. The VIN number was removed.”

Roman exhaled slowly, his free hand flexing over his thigh. “Figures. What about the police?”

“They’ve been alerted. A detective will be coming by the house to take Blair’s statement. Ethan will go to the station to give his.”

Roman glanced at Blair. He saw the way her fingers gripped the edge of the tub, the tension still evident in her body. He put the phone on speaker. “Blair needs to hear this.”

is a lot, but the

what to tell them. I didn’t see anything. The headlights blinded

alright,” Peters reassured her. “Just answer what you can. The footage we’re pulling might give us more.

controlled fury but something deeper,

1/3

16:13 Wed, 18 JunDE

Chapter 45

94%

+28)

hadn’t been there, if you had taken one step

her heart hammering at the intensity in his eyes. This wasn’t just about control or protection. Roman was scared. The realization hit her harder than she expected. Was it more than just concern

could respond, he

wasn’t gentle. It was deep, consuming, filled with all the things he couldn’t say. Blair gasped into his mouth, her fingers gripping his wrist as he tilted her head back, deepening the kiss. Heat curled low in her

safety of his touch, but just as his hand slipped to the nape of

his breathing heavy. He pressed his forehead to hers for a brief second before standing. “That’ll be

but the words grounded her. The police.

legs. Now not just from the accident, but from Roman’s kiss. She grabbed a

pulling it tightly around her before stepping out of the bedroom. She found Roman standing near the entryway, speaking with two officers. His back was straight, his posture commanding as always, but there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn’t left since

inhaled deeply and

a nod as she approached. “Miss Warner, I understand you’ve been through a traumatic event tonight,

led them into the house. They sat down in

expression unreadable, but she

recount the events, hoping that somewhere in the details, they’d find the answers they

didn’t see anything? You have no idea

too bright. I couldn’t even see the driver. Let alone know

his frustration palpable. “And