Chapter 158
LIVIA-
I heard the commotion before I saw it.
Raised voices in the lobby. A manager saying sir like he was trying to calm someone down.
I walked over and stopped cold.
Roman.
Security had him by both arms. He was still in Titans gear, one hand swelling like he had put it through something hard.
“What room is Luca Vescari in?” He demanded of them. “Tell me the number. Now.”
I gasped the second I realized what was happening and immediately ran forward to stop it from getting
worse.
“Let him go. It’s a misunderstanding. Please. He’s with me.”
The taller guard did not loosen his grip. “He has to calm down first. He keeps shouting for Mr. Vescari’s
room number.”
“I know that, I am the one he’s looking for.” I tried to inform him.
Roman raised both hands, jaw locked, the image of a man who had not calmed down at all and was only pretending. “I’m okay now. Just let me go.”
They let him go slowly like they expected him to start running for the elevator.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a side corridor, away from the front desk, away from phones. Away from people.
His muscle was tensed under my fingers. This was the same body that had had me against a locker hours ago. I shivered at the reminder.
“What on earth are you doing?” My voice shook.
Panic and anger took over.
“You could have gotten yourself in a lot of trouble.” I snapped. “Do you know if anyone recognized you and took videos?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Where the fuck is Luca?
Carry me to him.”
I gaped at him. “Roman-”
“I want his room number. Now.”
140 Mon, Sep 21 ) MJ.
The Mockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
“Can you please calm down.”
did not He started examining my body instead. Eyes down my arms, my throat, my legs, everywhere that he could see. His swollen hand hovered like he might turn me around and look some more. His expression was furious and hungry at once. It made my stomach flip.
“Did he touch you? Did he hurt you? Force himself onto you?”
“Nothing like that happened. Can you please relax. There was another woman in the room with us. His best friend. All he did was ask me if I wanted something to eat. That was all.”
My words seemed to anger him more. He stepped in. The corridor shrank as I suddenly found it hard to breathe.
“Do you expect me to believe he didn’t try to touch you with that reputation that he has?”
I shrugged, even though my pulse was a mess. “It’s the truth. He told me I was the first girl he’s felt-”
I probably should not have been telling him this.
“What? Finish it. What did he tell you?”
The hall was too narrow for the look on his face. I could smell him. It made my knees feel weak.
I gave in.
“He said he couldn’t stop thinking about me. That I was the first girl he’s actually considering having something serious with.”
Roman went still and that was worse than the shouting.
Then he looked even more pissed.
“He said that to you.” Not a question. “Tonight. After my game.”
“Yes.”
“And you went into a hotel room with him. Why? Did you agree to give him a chance? What the hell is this?”
“Nothing happened.”
“You keep saying that like it makes the picture go away.” His voice dropped, he looked furious. “You think I care that his best friend Charlotte was in the room as well? You still went to a hotel room with him. Knowing his reputation. What were you thinking Olivia?”
Heat spread to my neck. Hurt came with it. Then I remembered why I did something this risky in the first place. He wasn’t exactly innocent in all of this. He was the reason I chose to go to the hotel room with Luca.
“You have no right showing up here so angry after the interview you had.” My voice cracked and I let it. “Apparently you played so well for Eden. You stood there and let them call her your good-luck charm. You said the relationship was good. You said you were together. You lied to me the entire time. It was never for me. It was always for her.”
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
He ran a hand down his face and growled, low, like the words hurt coming out.
couldn’t exactly say I did it for you when Ethan was right there.”
We glared at each other.
vouche
I hated that I still wanted to kiss him. I hated that he was looking at my mouth like he wanted the same thing and would rather put his fist through another locker.
“You said someone in the crowd,” I whispered.
“And then you let them decide it was her.”
“What else was I supposed to do?” he asked me. “With Ethan right there.”
“Anything except what you did.”
His jaw flexed. “And you decided that being in the same hotel room as Luca was a great idea.”
Silence stretched. The articles were already out and we were still standing in a hallway making them worse
Roman looked past me toward the lobby, then back at my mouth, then at the exit like he had finally remembered the rest of the world existed.
“We need to get out of here before more reporters show up.”
He yanked his jacket off-still warm from him, and threw it over my head.
His arm locked around my shoulders. Possessive. Angry. He walked me out through a side door like I was evidence he was removing from a scene.
We got into his car.
He did not start the engine right away.
I pulled the jacket down enough to see his profile.
He looked furious. Tired. Still looking like he wanted Luca’s room number. Still looking like he might lean into me and finally kiss me.
He did none of those things.
“I’m taking you home,” he said.
“Dad’s waiting for me.”
“I know.” He started the car angrily. “If Vescari texts you, do not respond. Remove him from your contacts.”
What?
Did he really think he could order me around after that interview with Eden?
He had another thing coming.
T4U Mon, Sep 21 JIM J
The Mockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.