Chapter Four - Quiet Ones

"Oh...shit!" I start cycling away as fast as I can.

My poor heart hammers away in my chest when I hear an engine starting. Pedaling faster I look for an alleyway I can cut through to get away from Roman. But just as I've found one a car skids to a stop in front of me. Squealing in shock I press the brakes but it's a little too late. I end up crashing into the side of the car and lose my balance. The back of my head hits the hard concrete just as my arm scrapes against the ground. Groaning I sit up just as the car door opens.

"Elena –"

"You just harmed a cyclist for no reason! Who even let you become an agent?!" I yell as I pull up my sleeve to see bloody scratch marks.

"I'm sorry. Let me clean that up, come on." He extends a hand which I take with a fierce glare.

He takes out a first aid kit from the backseat as I lean against the door on the driver's side. I hold my arm up as he cleans and disinfects it before placing a bandage over the scratches. But when his eyes meet mine it's only then that I realize I've been ogling him. Blushing in mortification I avert my eyes as I mutter out a low "thanks."

"Did you pay for that bike?" He questions as he puts the first aid kit back in the car.

"Yes!" I exclaim before narrowing my eyes at him as I pick it up. "Why would you think I stole it?"

"Return it." He ignores me before nodding in the direction of a bike rack. "And get into my car."

I perk up in excitement but Roman deflates it by saying, "I'm taking you straight back home."

Huffing I wheel the bike to the rack and make sure it's secured before walking back to the car. He's texting away on his phone while the engine runs and I get in unhappily. I should've been stealthier! I think to myself in disappointment. No wonder I got caught!

"Didn't I tell you not to follow me?" He starts driving down the road and the question makes me bite my lip.

"I was not following you." I scoff while desperately trying to come up with a lie.

"Then what brought you here? You said you were going back." He asks as he glances at me briefly.

I spot a Krispy Kreme and can't help what I blurt out next. "I wanted to get some donuts."

"There's two Krispy Kreme's in the city." He deadpans with a heavy sigh.

"Yes...but I heard this branch has a limited-edition donut." I look at him with innocent wide eyes.

Before he can grill me further though a ringtone goes off throughout the car. Muttering something illegible under his breath he accepts the call and answers in a gruff yet professional tone...which I find extremely sexy. Breathing a sigh of relief, I don't miss the way Roman glances at me in suspicion. Smiling cheekily at him I turn my gaze back to the front.

"Uncle Romi?" The voice of a young boy filters through the speaker. A strangled chuckle escapes me which has Roman glaring at me murderously.

"Hey Isaiah." He greets with an embarrassed clear of his throat.

"Are you busy?" He asks thoughtfully and I can hear a girl rambling incoherently that she wants to talk too.

"Nope, what did you need?" He asks in a gentle tone and I'm momentarily surprised by how he softens immediately.

"Um...can you get me a new car like my old one please? Mila broke mine." He explains sadly just as someone squeals girlishly in the background. I'm assuming it's Mila.

"Of course, I'll bring it with me when I come home okay?" He promises before asking him of the reason. "Why did she break it?"

"Because she got mad that I took her teddy." He mumbles and it brings an amused smile to my lips. "She wasn't giving me my car! S-So that's why I took it! She didn't have to break my car!"

"Isaiah, she's a baby. She doesn't realize what she's doing." Roman explains to calm the kid down.

"What is going on here?!" A male voice interrupts which makes the children become quiet. "Please don't tell me you've called one of your uncles again."

"Yep, Roman this time." Roman answers and we hear a heavy sigh in response.

"Sorry man, Isaiah grabbed it and took off. I've been looking for these two everywhere!" He grumbles before telling the kids to put their toys away.

"It's fine, I'll talk to you later yeah? Sounds like you need to deal with them before Ella finds you all." Roman chuckles when he hears the kids engaged in a screaming match.

"Alright, I'll call you in a bit. Bye." He cuts the call hurriedly after Roman says bye but we manage to hear the end of a scolding before it becomes quiet.

"Sorry, that was my brother and his children." He apologizes with a fleeting smile.

"That's okay."

We're both silent for a moment but I'm still grinning over the conversation and more importantly Roman's nickname. He glances over at me and catches my amused expression before I'm able to hide it. An angry scowl overtakes his features and the sight of him has me snickering.

"I swear to god, if you start calling me –"

"I would never...Romi!" I tease before bursting into a fit of chuckles.

He shoves me and I squeal before laughing louder. "Two hands on the wheel!"

"Should've got some duct tape." He mutters angrily under his breath.

"Ooh kinky." I snicker before peeking up at him. "It's always the quiet ones."

"Elena!"

We have been driving for ten minutes now in complete silence and I have tired from staring outside in the first five. I want to ask Roman about so many questions from the case that need answering but I also don't want to come across as even more annoying than I have been. The conversation with his brother and nephew also makes me want to know more about his family but with how quiet and reserved he is I doubt he'll reveal much. Plus, we've only just met.

"So..." I start only for my stomach to release the sound of a dying whale.

A smirk tugs at his lips as my cheeks turn fire truck red. "If I get you food will you refrain from asking me any questions about the case?"

"I wasn't going to ask you about it!" I protest weakly only for him scoff. "I'm serious! I was going to ask you about...your family!"

"Alright, ask away." His lips quirk slightly as he shakes his head.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight." He answers as he stops at a red light. "You?"

"Twenty-four." I reply as my eyes light up when the familiar golden arches come into view. "How many siblings do you have?"

"I'm the eldest of six brothers. I don't have any sisters but I do have two sisters-in-law. Ryder was born after me then Theo, Hunter, Judah and Noah. Ella is married to Ryder and Zoe is married to Hunter." He explains as he turns into the McDonalds drive through.

After I tell him what I want and thank him I continue with my questioning. "And what do they do? Are some of them in school or college still?"

"Ryder is the owner of his medical company and Ella is a music teacher. They live in Canada and have two children who I just talked to. Isaiah is going to turn five soon and Mila is two. Next is Theo who works on our family ranch and manages everything, he's also just started his own graphic design business on the side. Hunter is a lawyer and lives in New York city with his wife Zoe who is a photographer. Judah lives in the UK and owns his software company. Lastly Noah is still in school." He elaborates as he grabs the food from the worker.

"Wow, your parents must be so proud of you all." I remark as I take out my burger and chips before putting my drink in the cup holder.

"Very. What about your family?" He asks before taking the unwrapped burger I hold out to him.

"I'm the youngest sibling and the only daughter. I have three older brothers. Santino is the oldest and he's a doctor. He lives with his family near our parents in Italy. After that it's Alessandro who is a chief financial officer of a tech company in Tokyo. Marissa is married to Santino with three children, Marzia, Renato and Serafina. Madelyn is married to Alessandro. Then there's Romeo who works as a computer programmer in Germany." I explain while remembering how long it's been since I last saw my family.

"So, you're from Italy?" He glances at me before taking a bite of his burger.

"Yes, I moved here when I was eighteen to study and then landed a job at a news company in California." I explain as I bite into my fries.

"Why did you leave the job?" He frowns before finishing his burger in three big bites that makes my eyes widen momentarily before I remember that my own brothers literally inhale their food too.

"I was fired actually." I glance at him with a sheepish smile. "Every potential story I would bring to my boss' attention he would tell me it's garbage. I finally had enough so I cursed him to the depths of hell and stormed out of the office."

"Did you tell him about this serial killer case?" He asks as we stop at a red light.

"Yes! And do you know what he said? He called it garbage! Like...what the fuck man?! There's a serial killer on the loose and you don't think it's important to let people know?!" I rant angrily and look up to see Roman trying not to smile.

"And what did you say?"

After reiterating everything about that horrid day to Roman I watch as he bursts into a fit of laughter. And just like the rest of him his laugh is perfect. It's rich, husky and comforting. His entire expression lights up as he chuckles freely.

As we talk we eventually reach the city. He asks me where my place is and I give him the directions to the motel I'm staying at. I can see the questions in his eyes once we pull into the parking lot and he gazes at the dingy looking building.

"Why are you staying at a motel?" He finally asks while I'm grabbing my bag.

"Fired remember? I can't blow all my savings on a fancy hotel room." I chuckle before opening the door. "Besides it's not like I'm staying long. I'll be off to Louisiana tomorrow where the recent mur – shit!"

"Elena, are you fucking serious?!" He growls as he leans across the gear stick.

"Uh...I was just kidding! Ha! Got you!" I fake laugh before slamming the door shut and turning.

But I've only taken two steps before I hear the door open. Groaning I turn to see Roman marching over to me with a furious expression. He stops in front of me and crosses his arms...which is a big mistake because now all I can focus on are his muscles and how good he looks.

"Elena, how many times must I tell you to drop it. It's not safe!" He thunders before snapping his fingers in my face once he realizes that my attention is elsewhere.

"Oh, come on! What's the worst that could happen –"

"Getting murdered by a serial killer?!"

"Look, I'm a big girl. I can handle myself. Don't worry about me, okay?" I grin before swinging my bag over my shoulder and turning.

"Give me your number." The demand makes me stop and I wiggle my brows at him in a teasing manner.

"Well, don't you work fast –"

"Elena!" He glares murderously as I snicker before reciting a fake number to him. Thankfully he's too riled up to confirm if it's real.

"If I come back here tomorrow to find you gone you won't like what I do next." He threatens...which of course I don't take seriously.

"Yeah, yeah...goodnight Romi." I wave without looking back as I rummage in my bag for my room key.

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- R.W. ♡