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Roman had wanted to deliver the beating, but it made more sense for him to get Olivia. She might not remember him, but she definitely wouldn’t remember Max.
He shut down his mind, retreated to the still quiet place he went when he fought at Basil’s, when he gave in to his desire to inflict pain on those who deserved it.
He held up three fingers. Max nodded.
3… 2… 1.
Roman stepped in front of the door and delivered a vicious kick, wanting to get it right the first time.
A series of impressions registered in a millisecond: the disheveled motel room littered with clothes, takeout containers, and empty beer cans. The TV playing some kind of wilderness show. Olivia shrinking back onto one of the beds, a coloring book and an assortment of crayons spread out around her.
And Adam Hale, his eyes wide with surprise in the moment before he moved for the drawer in the nightstand.
“A shoot out in the presence of your five-year-old daughter?” Roman asked coldly. “Not going to win you Father of the Year.”
“Might get you killed too,” Max added.
Adam seemed to consider his options.
Don’t do it.
Roman wanted nothing more than to kill this man who had hurt Ruby, who had stolen Olivia, kept her in this shithole, but doing so would bring serious consequences from Baz Rykov and Roman had enough enemies at the moment.
“You’re the ones who brought guns into the room,” Adam said. He might have been trying for defiant, but it came out petulant. A child decrying the unfairness of life.
“And we’re really hoping we don’t have to use them,” Max said.
Roman was glad Max said it because Roman wouldn’t have been able to get out the words.
Hedidhope to use his gun on Adam. He hoped to use his fists and feet, to beat the man until he was bloody and limp for what he’d done to Ruby and Olivia.
Thenhe would use his gun.
But not today.
Roman looked at Olivia. “Hi, Olivia. You probably don’t remember me, but I’m Roman. Remember when we went to the park and watchedThe Neverending Story?”
She stared at him with wide eyes, then nodded.
“That was fun,” Roman said. He tried not to worry about the fact that her clothes looked dirty, her brown hair unbrushed. “Would you like to see your mom?”
“Don’t you talk to her!” Adam roared.
Max advanced on the bed and cuffed Adam on the forehead with the butt of his gun. “Youshut the fuck up.”
Adam groaned and a trickle of blood made its way down his left temple.
Roman looked at Max with a sigh. “Now you’ll have to put money in the swear jar.” He looked at Olivia. “Right, Olivia? That’s what happens when you say bad words.”
“And then we get ice cream,” she said softly.
“Exactly,” Roman said. “So what do you say? Should we go see your mom? She’s missed you a lot. She’s really excited to see you.”
Olivia nodded, her eyes suddenly bright.
“She’s waiting outside,” Roman said, approaching the bed and holding out his arms. “Come on, I’ll take you.”
“Don’t go with him, Olivia,” Adam said. “I’m your dad. Don’t you want to stay with me?”
