Page 100 of King of Ruin
The house has caught on fire too. It’s going to burn…
I look back at Maddie, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“Come on, sweetheart.” With Mrs. Higgins still in my arms, we step out into the alley, the sound of sirens already filling the early-evening air.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Maddie
It takeshours to sort out the police and the other emergency services.
My house is mostly gone.
It’s a good thing I’ve got a buyer, and he’s assured me he’s not backing out of the deal. And I’m talking about Mason.
He’s even got papers for me to sign in the morning, but the weird part is, I’m not even worried.
Roman is not going to turn me out onto the street. I even hear him whispering to Mason about letting the insurance come through before the sale.
Not that it matters.
I’m pretty sure I’m marrying a billionaire. Once we’re all done at the police station, Lucia, Josh, and Mrs. Higgins are shuttled into a limo and taken to Roman’s apartment building.
While we’ve been busy being questioned, Mason’s assistant has seen that two other apartments have been outfitted with basics. A bed, linens, a couch in each, and bar stools at the island.
Roman hands a set of keys to Mrs. Higgins and then another to Lucia.
“How much is the rent?” she asks, taking the key and unlocking the door. When it swings open, I hear her gasp, “Do you see those windows?” Wait until she gets a look at the bathroom.
“Lucia. This is not a rental, you’re welcome to stay as long as—” Roman starts but Lucia cuts him off.
“I’ll never move out, if you continue to talk like that.”
“What my wife means,” Josh inserts, “Is that we would never take advantage of your generosity and as hard-working adults, we’d feel better paying rent.”
“We’re not billionaires, though,” Lucia adds. “And being a vet is not the same as being a doctor. As you think of numbers, bear that in mind.”
I smile, hiding it behind my hand. After a long night, it’s so nice to have a bit of banter, but also…my smile turns into a yawn. “How about we discuss the particulars of rent in the morning? I’m exhausted.”
Roman’s arm comes around me, his lips grazing my forehead. We make our way to the elevator as I count three floors until we reach the penthouse. I laugh to myself. Roman has created a nice buffer between us and them for very obvious reasons.
We don’t say a word as we make our way into the bathroom, Roman turning on the shower as I start to strip off my clothes.
I hear him shrug off his jeans and shirt before his hand clasps mine, pulling me into the hot spray.
Tired as I am, I don’t hesitate to press my body to his, winding my arms around his neck as his lips find mine.
“Oh Maddie,” he rumbles against my lips. “I was worried, after the house, you’d change your mind.”
I sigh, shaking my head before I kiss him again. “I can’t believe both Vigo and Vincent are dead.”
“I’m not crying over it,” he says squeezing me tighter. “But I didn’t actually want them dead either. Even after everything.”
I thread my hands into his hair. My billionaire bad boy is learning to use his heart. “Me either.”
“Still, it’ll be easier for Luke and Kate to come back with them gone…”
I nod. Roman told me hours ago that Kate was alive. “I know I only knew Kate for a night, but I’d take her coming back over my house.”