Page 20 of The Marriage

Where was a better place to be—if the only thing she really needed was to be safe until she could be happy again—than here? As it was, her mental illness had already scared the men around her in to hiding her from the world, ashamed of what someone else might think. It was highly unlikely they would look here to find her.

The people who ran and managed the facility were trained professionals, and according to Michelle, the best in the business to manage her in his absence. He’d actually flinched when Michelle used that word—managed—like Karine wasn’t entirely her own person with her own mind.

This was the kind of oasis she could use in order to make progress with her own issues, and he couldn’t have her waiting like a sitting duck for Dima and Leonid to attack. Not in Vermont, not in New York. Not anywhere.

It worked twofold.

Well, it should.

The reality of it all actually terrified him, though. Roman wasn’t sure how long he could keep her safe from them without outside help, and this was truly his last resort. However, he didn’t for a second think she would be happy about it. Roman banked on her lashing out and refusing his plan because the same undertones of the situation that bothered him would undoubtedly hurt her.

That’s why he didn’t tell her.

What he didn’t expect was for her to view it as a betrayal.

“Roman!”

Her hiss yanked him violently from his thoughts—the only place that actually saved him from the sight of her rage leveling on him. The second that damn light bulb had gone off for her, he’d already known it was too late ...

She knew what he did.

What could he say?

“You need to tell me, right fucking now, exactly what is going on,” Karine said, every word high and strained. “Don’t lie to me—don’t feed me anymore bullshit. Don’t touch me. Just tell me what you did.”

Roman stood in front of her, squaring his shoulders so that Mel, the floor manager, wouldn’t see the full extent of Karine’s anger in that moment. He needed to be able to handle her himself—at least this one last time before he left.

She’d been right about one thing.

He did this.

No one else.

“I’ll tell you all of it, Karine, but you’ve got to stay calm. You know you’re safe,” he tried to say. “I wouldn’t do anything to fuck that up.”

Her eyes narrowed to two, dark beads. Face flushed, her hands started to shake at her sides, but she made no effort to hide it. When he reached for her she tugged away from him sharply, snarling, “Don’t you dare touch me now.”

Roman winced. “Come on, ba—”

“Don’t call me that, either.”

All that anger inside her came rushing out in a hateful hiss of words that cut him deep. To have her so close, but not be able to touch her ... comfort her, God, it stung. Bad.

That’s when Mel decided she needed to step in.

“Okay, Miss Karine, let’s take a moment to resettle and reset our feelings and conversation. Please, we are here to help you,” the woman said.

Karine turned her fiery gaze on Mel. “It’s Mrs. Avdonin. I’m not a child, and I won’t be talked to like one. Address me accordingly, thank you very much.”

Each word came out calm, and flat. Yet, the rage simmering inside Karine, twisting her pretty mouth into a bitter sneer and vibrating through the rest of her body was still so clear to him. Worrying him, really.

Katina could show, and everything would be over at that point. There was only so much the staff here could or would do for Karine’s violent alter—they’d made that unfortunately clear to him before arrival. Everybody had to be safe. Every doctor, nurse, or any other staff member on the property. Safety was a priority when it came to residents. He tried to understand, even if it was hard, when they explained procedure after procedure in case of different events.

This was not what he’d wanted—yet, what other choice did he have to keep Karine safe when time was running out, and Roman had to go back? Nothing about this was easy.

Fuck.

“My apologies, Mrs. Avdonin,” Mel was quick to say, “but this experience isn’t meant to be traumatic. We’re willing to do anything we can to help during your stay with us, truly. We strive to make this environment one you feel at home in with us.”