Things were different today.

Zadia and Roman could feel it once they woke up.

Roman was the first to get out of bed.

Quietly, he removed his hand from the inside of Zadia's shirt. It stayed there the entire night again, cupping her breast. It was becoming a habit. They felt like bigger versions of a toy he used to play with when he was younger. The faint memory left him warm inside. Zadia reminded him of home, something about her cozy and familiar.

People like her were worth protecting.

Roman's mind drifted and he thought back to last night.

Orgasms.

It was insane how many he had yesterday. Each time better than the last, each time different than the other. Zadia made him feel like an addict, he couldn't get enough of her— her tightness, her kisses, her touch, it all led to him cumming. He liked to cum—liked how the only thing he saw while doing it was her.

She made him ripple.

He swallowed intrusive thoughts of what it would feel like to cum inside her filling his mind.

He shook his head, trying to think of something else.

Anything else.

Roman slid out from between the sheets and stood. His naked body was on full display while he walked around the room, looking for his things. His mood felt surprisingly light, he wasn't stressed or tired. Finding his boxer briefs on the other side of the room, he picked them up and put them on, his muscles flexing as he did.

Zadia woke up the moment she felt the bed dip. She laid still in her spot, her hands underneath the right side of her face while she watched him. This wasn't planned out as well as she thought it was. Waking up before him is what she wanted to do, so she wouldn't have to deal with the awkwardness. But she overslept and now, well she was screwed.

Roman's shoulders tensed up while he knelt to pick up his shirt. "You know most people tend to say good morning, not stare at someone like a complete weirdo." He turned to face her, putting on his white T-shirt. It was a tight fit, the outline of his abs pivot. "I knew you were awake."

Zadia rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth, sitting up. "What are you, Spider-Man? You showing off your damn Spidey-Senses?" She sassed, removing the sheets off her to stand. Zadia was fully nude, nipples hard. "Big day ahead of us." She mentioned, casually. "Lots to get done."

"Lots," Roman mumbled in agreement, his pants in his hands. As Zadia walked into the bathroom, he craned his neck to catch a glimpse of her. A satisfied smirk plastered on his face, her walk was different. Roman could hear the water running from Zadia wetting her toothbrush. While he finished dressing up, he could feel the lingering glances she sent his way as she brushed her teeth. "Problem?" He drawled, walking past the bathroom door.

Zadia shook her head, brushing her teeth a bit harder. "It's nothing." She quipped, her mouth filled with toothpaste foam. She was trying to gather up the courage to ask him a question and him casually walking in and out of the bathroom was making her nervous. His potential answer to her question made her hesitant to ask. "Hey... Roman." She called gently. She could hear him making his way toward her again. There was a frown on his face this time, she noticed when he looked at her reflection. "What?"

Roman shrugged nonchalantly, although the sight of her brushing her teeth was... messy. It sorta irked him since he wasn't used to messes. "You get weirder and weirder every time I look at you." He stated.

Zadia spit in the sink before she responded. Her eyes focused on him. "Good weird or bad weird?" She asked him, leaning closer to the sink to rinse out her mouth.

"I'm not telling you." He answered and surprised her by stepping closer. His chin settled on the top of her head, his heavy hands at her side while they both looked at their reflection. Her fingertips tingled at the small gesture he made. Roman could be affectionate without even noticing, that's something she realized last night. "You called me." Roman reminded her, his eyes so close to wandering her naked body. As tempting as it may have been, he was afraid it would lead to sex and that the sex would lead to bad decision-making— like actually spending another day at his brothers' house.

"How do we do this?" Zadia asked him softly, drying her face.

His eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "Do what?"

"Normalcy." She said, "I barely know how to act normal around you," Her voice lowered. "and now I don't know how to act around you when we're near others."

Roman nodded, getting her point. "That's where your head is at." He stated as if he knew. "I was thinking you could act like yourself... stubborn, annoying, and chatty." He joked and Zadia was quick to turn around and smack his arm. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding." He said, trying to hold her wrist so she'd stop hitting him. He gripped her arms, pushing them above her head while he pushed her against the bathroom wall. "Stop fussing around, Hamilton."

Zadia's eyes rolled. "That's not my name. " She resorted, trying to escape his grasp. She stopped fussing once she saw he wasn't going to let her go. "Don't call me Hamilton."

Roman scoffed. "It's your last name." He cupped her face. "Maybe, forgetting it happened is our best chance at normalcy." He told her.

"You really think that?"

Roman hesitated, unsure of how he should answer. "No," He shook his head. "But maybe we shouldn't have a repeat of this?"

Zadia looked away from him. "Right." She repeated, straightening up. "Maybe we shouldn't." She cleared her throat, gesturing at her pinned arms. "I've got to get dressed."

Roman sighed, loosening his grip so her hands could fall by her side. "Zadia." He said her name and she moved past him, hating the growing hold he had over her. "This can't get out—"

"I'm not stupid Roman. Everything that happened here, stays here. I understand that." She stepped out of the bathroom to get dressed.

Roman slowly followed after her. "It's what's best."

"Mmh." She casually said, putting on her bra. "As I said, I get it, Roman." She raised her hand, grabbing the rest of her clothes. "Because I don't think you do." She moved around the room quickly, looking for something to wrap around herself.

"Would you slow down, what do you even mean?" He asked with his hands crossed, following her.

Zadia stopped for a moment and turned to point a finger at him. "What I mean is out of the two of us, you're the one that constantly can't make up your mind." She leaned on her side to grab the towel off the closet door. "You're telling me one thing now and will probably tell me something different in a few weeks... days even."

"That highly won't happen," Roman said, offended and Zadia scoffed. "I've already made up my mind on the matter... but if I did change my mind, the best thing for you to do is turn me down."

Zadia laughed sarcastically, her hand flaring in the air. "Yes, because it's so easy!" She exclaimed. "I like you and that's not something I can just make go away. Not yet at least."

"It's for your well-being."

"Again! I fucking know that!" She whispered and shouted at the same time. She wrapped the towel around her waist. When she noticed the expression on his face, she sighed. "Look,... I just... I wish things were different." Her eyes stared at the ceiling and she gulped, motioning toward both of them. "I wish we were different."

"I do too," Roman mumbled, his head hung low. "But we're not and we need to be responsible about this."

Zadia's shoulders dropped. "If you think this is the responsible route, then okay. Let's do it. I'm all for it." Roman didn't know if she was being sarcastic or not, not until she stuck out her hand. "We're cool?"

Roman stopped to think about it. Surely the two of them could handle it. His hand clasped over hers and he shook it. "We're cool." He agreed.

"I guess this means your brother is the only thing we've got to worry about." They hadn't let go of each other's hand yet. "You want me to handle it?" Zadia asked.

Roman scoffed dramatically. "You don't think I can handle my brother?"

"That's not what I said." Her shoulders shrugged. "I have the greater advantage at getting through to him. He likes me."

Roman threw his head back in laughter. "I think we both know that's not true." He smirked. "We'll confront him out there, see who can get it done."

"And the winner?"

"Winner gets..." he tried thinking of something. "whatever they want."

"Whatever they want?" Zadia smirked. "Deal."

She didn't stand a chance and Roman knew that, but he wouldn't miss an opportunity to prove her wrong. "Alright." This friendship thing didn't seem all that bad, Roman thought. They looked like the type of people who could potentially be friends in the real world. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't see it. No, they didn't. In the real world, Zadia probably wouldn't even look his way and he would probably do the same. "—I'm sorry, what was that?" He asked, zoning back into the conversation.

Zadia tilted her head. "I said I need my hand."

Roman's eyes shot towards their hands and he quickly let go. "Sorry about that." He hadn't realized that he was still clinging to her. He was very absorbed in how calm their interaction was.

"It's fine." The awkwardness was beginning to rise. Zadia backed away, gripping the doorknob. "I need a few minutes, so I'll see you down there."

"You can finish here." He was quick to offer. "I don't mind and," he cleared his throat. "most of your things are in here anyway. I'll brush my teeth in the next room over."

"Okay." She would take his lead on this. "Thank you."

"No problem."

*

After Roman brushed his teeth and packed, he made his way to the kitchen. "Morning." He said. Dario and Zadia were outside, sitting at the beachcroft table. The glass door that separated the kitchen from outside was left open, a black screen there to keep whatever insects lurking, away.

Roman's eyes lingered on Zadia.

She had on a lounge dress and it didn't resemble the few clothes they got back at the hotel. His tongue traced along his teeth, the slit on the hem of Zadia's dress giving him access to see her thigh. He could recall kissing the inside of that very same thigh, leaving hickeys that trailed to her... He shook his head. "Mango, grape, dragon fruit, peach..." He recited in his mind, to keep from wondering about her in that way.

They just declared friendship and there he was—fucking it up.

"Morning," Dario replied when he noticed that Zadia wasn't going to say anything. Dario clenched the steel Baoding Ball set in his hands, rotating it around his fingers. It had been the one thing to get him through most of his days. "Didn't make breakfast, but there's coffee in the machine."

"Thanks." Dario heard Roman say and he hummed to himself, his eyes squinting together when Roman and Zadia didn't say a word to one another.

Roman leaned against the counter, drinking the coffee in his mug. The air from outside blew against him and the determination to get Zadia out of his head increased. "Apple, honeydew, raspberry, kiwi." He said in his head. Four fruits, that's all he needed to think about till this passed and he wouldn't think of how great Zadia's breast looked in the dress.

Dario looked back at Zadia. There was a cup of tea to her right and steam blew from it, while something else seemed to capture her attention. There was a lot on her mind. "I think we should address the elephant in the room." He started, getting their undivided attention. "Did you guys have sex on my couch?"

Roman groaned, his mind betraying him as he thought back to yesterday.

Fuck.

Zadia's face heated and she laughed, caught completely off guard. "No, Dario. We didn't." The question didn't bother her at all, but it seemed to bother Roman. He looked like he was about to lose it. Zadia blew into her cup of tea, she would handle this. "Dario, do you consider yourself a man of your word?"

Dario smiled mischievously. "On certain occasions. Why?"

Zadia smiled at his response, the wind thrashing her hair back. "Could you maybe not mention the last few nights to anyone at the house... we'd appreciate it."

He frowned. "And miss my chance to piss off Lynn? No thank you, I've gotta rub this in her face."

Zadia shook her head, although amused. "Lynn is the last person that ever needs to know." She told him, not sure how Lynn would react to hearing about Roman and her sleeping together. She could only think it would be chaotic. "None of us need those types of problems. Therefore, no matter how it may please you... could you please give me your word that you won't say a thing?"

He rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess." He said. "Your dirty little secret is stuck with me." His smile widened. "I won't say a thing to anyone."

Roman rolled his eyes. "He's lying." He knew his brother wouldn't keep his mouth shut about this. Roman would have to threaten him for that to happen.

"No, I'm not."

"He's not." Zadia vouched for him.

Roman gave her a look, one that told her to shut it. "Yes, he is." He turned towards his brother. "As far as you're concerned, nothing happened. We came here, we found you, we spent the night, and we all left a day later. That's all you tell anyone. If you say anything else, Dario, I'll get your driver's license suspended." Roman stated nonchalantly.

Dario's smile left his face. The very last time Roman got pissed off and did that, Dario didn't get his licenses reinstated till a year later. Paying off law enforcement, that's how Roman did it. "I won't say a word... I mean it this time."

Roman found Zadia's gaze, ignoring everything that told him not to say anything. "See.."

She sucked her teeth. Roman had won. "Whatever. Dario, you're an ass."

"I know."

"Seems like everyone knows something today," Roman grumbled under his breath. He instantly regretted saying it because of how harsh it sounded. "Ignore me." He quipped, bringing his mug to his lips.

Dario looked back and forth at the two, Zadia sipping her tea. "I'm sorry, I'm confused at what all this is." He referred to both of them. Grabbing Zadia's free hand, he brought her fingers towards his lips and gently kissed them. Their eyes locked and she smiled at his playfulness and the look of annoyance on Roman's face. "Life is less complicated with me."

Zadia sighed already knowing where this conversation was headed. She hummed, finishing her tea. "Delusions, another thing that seems to be in the air today." Lifting her hands, she leaned and flapped her arms to stretch. She could feel the weight of Roman's eyes on her and it made her feel... important being the center of his attention. "When are we leaving?"

It was a simple question, yet Roman felt like he was close to falling victim to that sly smile she sent his way. "Now." Clenching his jaw, he swallowed, recalling the night before when she smiled the very same way when he told her he was going to cum. He blinked, feeling like he'd been caught red-handed. He wasn't expecting himself to think of something so private in this setting. It wasn't like him. "I'm driving." He was quick to state, feeling both scared and confused when he could feel himself growing aroused.

Zadia.

Fuck.

Only she could make him feel this way and the longer he stayed by her, the longer he wanted her to keep doing it.

Roman could see how much she wanted to be in his head right now. Although she didn't say it out loud, the look on her face was a clear indicator. He liked moments like these where it was easy to read her, it gave him the same feeling as solving a puzzle. Zadia was an open and closed book sometimes, whereas Roman was just a closed one. He wondered if Zadia would ever be able to figure him out fully.

"It's my car, I'm driving," Dario told him, crossing his arms. "You drive reckless Roman, I'm not risking you with my baby."

Roman was against it. "It's better if I drive, I'm the better driver here."

"First, that's not a fact, it's an opinion," Zadia said. "Second, Dario should drive since it's his car."

"Heard that Roman? I'm driving. Lock the door in here when you're done, I don't need people breaking into my shit." Dario walked off after that. He wanted to take another look around the place to make sure his things were locked and put away. After notifying a trusted neighbor of his sudden leave, she'd be swinging by his place to care for his outside garden.

Zadia waited to hear the sound of retreating footsteps to let out a failed attempt at a whistle. She gulped somewhat embarrassed but regained herself. "You can't look at me like that in front of others, you know that right?"

The upper side of Roman's face raised, he'd been made. He played it cool, shifting where he stood. "Look at you like what?" He asked, feeling heated under her gaze.

Zadia walked right up to him, her eyes prying while she refrained from getting closer. She stopped herself from saying something bizarre. "Never mind. We should get going, remember?" She purposely reminded him, and stepped back, willing her feet to move. "I took the courtesy of putting our stuff in the car. I'm surprised that your brother owns a hybrid, I was expecting something more... over the top."

Roman shrugged, shutting the screen door. He made sure to lock it. "He must've downgraded, had a Tesla last I remembered." He said, walking beside her.

"He drives a Kia." She stated, placing the teacup in the sink. "That doesn't seem much of a downgrade to me." She picked at her nail, following the path to the front of the house. Her expression was subtle. "I can't wait to see Abel and Tino. I think I'm gonna lock myself in a room with them and never come out."

"I don't blame you." Roman rolled his shoulders, still feeling pain from it. "Crazy isn't it?"

"What?"

He backed away. "How connections are made." He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, his eyebrows knitting together when his brother's car came into sight. "I can't fit in that, there's barely room."

Dario appeared from the side of the house, locking the gate door. "Yes, there is, you just gotta sit in the back." He walked up the porch, moving toward his front door. "Which is good, because I don't need anyone recognizing you guys while we're on the road. The doors are unlocked."

*__*__*__*

"Are you sure you know where they're at?" Dario questioned, fed up with how long this was taking. They drove to over four potential houses Adam and Lynn could be staying at. All of them empty. "How many more addresses are there?" He pried when Roman didn't look up from the tiny journal in his hand.

"Stop with the fucking questions," Roman said through clenched teeth, using the pencil to cross off the current address. "Three spots left. If they aren't in any of them, we'll circle back to your place." He hoped they were at the next house because he was starting to feel cramped up in the car.

There was barely legroom and his brother was driving him mad.

"We're gonna have to stop to get gas soon," Dario told him, reaching in the backseat to grab the journal from Roman. He began typing the address into his GPS. "It's not that far from here." He said when saw the arrival time. "I'll head there first and then get the gas."

"Let's do that then."

A fine point sharpie traced over the skin on Zadia's forearm. With her forehead pressed to the car door and her body slouched over, she doodled on herself. "Can't we just track them?" She pointed out. "Adam said you all had tracker implants." She shaded in the ovals she drew.

Dario glared at her. "You couldn't mention this four houses ago."

"There's no point. We don't have the software needed for something like that." Roman told them and snapped his fingers. "I know someone that does, but they won't give it up so we're gonna have to take it. It'll be risky."

"Does it look like a great time to do a heist?!" Dario questioned his hands off the steering wheel. "There are cops everywhere and it's bad enough I've got a trunk filled with illegal firearms. I get caught with that and they'll ship my ass out of here so fast."

"Don't forget aiding and abetting a criminal," Zadia mumbled. "Two at that."

"That's an officer's wet dream right there, vato." (Dude)

Roman glanced over at Zadia, she was to the left of him. "You're not making this any better." He frowned looking at the doodle on her arm. She was making a rose but with little ovals. "That ink can get into your bloodstream, it's bad for the skin." He said to her, then nodded at Dario. "If you're gonna keep complaining, I'm gonna drive."

Dario rolled his eyes but said nothing. He rolled the window down and stuck out his left hand, driving at an okay speed. Zadia blinked constantly, the sudden rush of wind blowing fiercely against her. She gripped the sharpie in her hand to keep it from falling. "There's not enough paper in here and I've got a painter's itch."

"A painter's itch?!" Roman questioned loudly, waiting for her to explain. The driver's window being so low, caused the inside of the car to be so loud.

"You know how people who play the piano have this muscle memory with their fingers? A painter's itch is the same thing, it's just your hand is itching to sketch everything that the mind forms!" Zadia explained, debating with herself on if the doodle was finished or not. "I don't tend to get it much anymore, but when it does happen—"

Roman finished her sentence. "You can't help it!"

"Yes!" She nodded, tilting her head back. "I think I'm ready to start painting again. Really this time!"

Roman could hear what she said, but that didn't stop him from leaning over and snapping his fingers in his brother's ears. "Roll the window up halfway!" He shouted at him. Dario grumbled underneath his breath but complied. It wasn't so loud anymore, white noises filling the background. Roman positioned his body to speak with her, "This means you found your muse?"

Zadia's eyes brightened, and she smiled. "I—I think so yeah."

"What is it?" He asked and then squinted. "Wait, am I allowed to know? I don't want you to break any painter's code."

Zadia laughed. "That's not a thing, Roman."

He smiled back at her. "It's not?" He was impressed with the doodle. "Your muse. What is it?" He asked again.

Zadia bit the bottom of her lip and paused, the sound of moving cars loud all of a sudden. "I can't say." She told him, not wanting to reveal her muse was comfort— comfort that came from him. "I don't want to jinx it."

"That's understandable." Roman cluelessly said. He stuck out the palm of his hand for her. "I don't mind being your canvas for the time being." He thought about what he just said, realizing how it sounded. "I mean paper— I don't mind being your paper for the time being."

Dario snorted at his brother.

Zadia grinned. "You sure? You were just nagging me about the ink being bad for my skin."

Roman chuckled slightly. "I'm trying to help you out."

She looked at his hand and sighed, accepting it. Propping the back of his hand on her thigh, Zadia took a final glance at him before dotting on the palm of his hand. Her other hand held his fingers down. "Name a shape?"

"Circle." Zadia thought of something she could draw that would symbolize Roman. As the idea popped into her head, she continued to doodle. The way her eyes seemed to gleam when art was brought up, made Roman hate not knowing enough about the subject. "What's the best paint for beginners?"

Zadia hummed, shutting her eyes for a moment. "Acrylic. It's easier to work and experiment with. It also dries quite fast, which is great because sometimes people like to paint over things. I don't use acrylic anymore, because oil paint is better to me."

Roman nodded. "Let's say, I wanted to paint."

"You do?"

"Hypothetically speaking." He said. "Who's the best to learn from?" He raised a finger. "And don't say, Bob Ross."

Her face scrunched up. "What's wrong with Bob Ross?"

"I didn't say anything was, answer the question."

Zadia huffed, pausing to think. "I'm gonna have to say Salvador Dalí."

Roman glanced at his hand, the sharpie against his palm sorta ticklish. "Is that a compass?" He questioned, his eyebrows raised. "Are those supposed to be birds?"

She nodded. She drew the compass in the center of his hand, five small birds flying around it. "Yeah, it's because you always carry a compass." She explained. "The birds, they represent your family. Get it, because—"

"I'm always searching for them?"

Zadia pursed her lips, putting the cap back onto the sharpie. "Well, when you say it like that, I can see how dark it sounds."

They both laughed, unable to keep it in.

Dario rolled his eyes at how loud the two were laughing. He shook his head. "They're definitely sneaking into each other's room tonight." He said to himself, following the GPS. His eyes peaked around at the setting they were in. There were a bunch of lake houses in this area, the community was rich.

"I like it." Roman finally said as his laughter died down. "The meaning is all over the place, but the art is beautiful."

"Thank you." She softly said. They stared each other down, she was still gripping his fingers. "I can teach you if you want. How to paint." She clarified. "I won't be the best teacher, but I can still teach you some stuff like soft and hard strokes."

"I don't think he needs your help in that department." Dario joked.

Roman leaned over and smacked his little brother in the head. "I'm sorry about him." He apologized to Zadia. His schedule was crammed already, but he was sure he could find the time. "I'll let you know when I'm free."

"Alright, cool."

"I think we're here!" Dario shouted and they both cringed at how loud he was.

Zadia let go, her gaze instantly on the window. "That is one big lake house." She pointed at the huge gate that blocked people away from the home. It was pretty secluded here. They could see the driveway from their position, but not a full layout of the land.

Roman was focused on the trees and the number of cameras hidden in them. Many potential exits, no neighbors. This seemed like a place Lynn would bring them.

Someplace safe.

The gate intercom box made a high-pitched sound, a recognizable British accent coming from it moments later. "This is private property. Please remove yourself from the entrance, mate."

Dario grinned, sticking his head out the window. "Adam man, is that you? Long time no see!"

"Dario?" Adam's voice wavered. "Have you heard from Roman? Did he send you?"

Zadia rolled down her window, happy to hear his voice. "He's here, we're fine. Buzz us up, please Adam!" The intercom went dead silent, the gate squeaking as it moved apart, opening. Dario drove ahead and Zadia could feel a wave of emotions hit her. Abel was the first she saw, he came running out of the house with swim trunks on, his body wet with water.

"Zadia?!"

"Abel!?" Zadia squealed, running to him with her arms wide open before Dario could even park the car. When they reached each other, the bone of their jaw collided, but the pain wasn't enough to have them pull apart.

"You have no idea how much I missed you!" They both said at the same time.

Zadia was nearly in tears. Her dress was wet, but she didn't care. It didn't matter. "I was so worried about Tino and you."

He hugged her tighter. "I'm just glad you're okay." Abel backed away to take a look at her, his eyes welling up. "Ignore my face, I ain't crying. I'm just happy to see you."

"Yeah right, I can see those tears a mile away." She joked, finding herself crying too. "It's okay, I'm happy to see you too."

Abel pulled away to look at her. "My fault, about your dress. I was swimming in the lake when Adam told me the news. I ran as fast as I could out here."

"Ohhh, so you missed me that much?"

Abel scoffed, playfully nudging her away. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves now."

They both laughed.

Adam stormed out of the house, he waited for the car to come to a complete stop before he quickened his pace. As Roman opened his door and stepped out, Adam pulled him into a hug before he had the chance to do anything else. "Welcome back." He said to his long-time friend, happy that he made it back to them safely.

"It's good to see you." Roman patted his back and they released each other, standing side by side.

"You gave us a scare," Adam said, patting his shoulder.

"I know. We'd probably be here a day earlier but," his eyes drifted to Zadia. She looked so happy speaking with Abel. "I got shot and needed to recover." He told him, purposely not mentioning the explicit day he had with Zadia. "Once I was back on my feet, we came here."

"Thank goddess!" They heard Lynn say as she made her way to them. Tino was secured in her hands, not aware of what was going on. When Lynn made it to Roman, she pulled him into a tight hug and Roman hugged her back, his arms wrapping around her shoulders.

He relaxed.

They missed each other a lot, but Lynn—she missed him more and although they put an end to whatever they once had, Lynn couldn't help herself. She backed away and smashed her lips against his before Roman could realize what was going on. He froze, in surprise.

His body tensed and besides that, he felt nothing from the kiss.

No warmth. No feelings. Just Lynn's lips.

It felt nothing like kissing Zadia.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the two, not expecting this much PDA from either of them. Dario looked Zadia's way, taking in her confused and hurt expression. She blinked and when their eyes met, quickly looked to Abel. Patting her wet dress, Zadia extended her hands. "How big is the lake? Do you like it?"

"Forget about the lake," Abel told her and frowned. She was glowing earlier and now it was the complete opposite. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

She laughed it off, ruffling his hair. "It doesn't matter. I'm fine."

When Roman pulled away from Lynn, it wasn't abruptly. He didn't want to make an even bigger scene than it already was. "Why'd you..." he paused looking around for Zadia. Her eyes weren't on him and from where he was, he couldn't see if she was mad or not.

He quietly grew anxious.

This looked bad.

Lynn stepped away, embarrassed. "I don't know why I did that. I'm sorry." She apologized. She was overjoyed with his presence. Tino fussed in her arms, raising his little arms to be picked up by his uncle.

Smiling down at his nephew, Roman happily picked him up. Tino giggled, hands flaring up to beat Roman's face. "That's no way to treat your uncle," Roman told him, playfully throwing him up in the air and catching him. He didn't expect Tino to miss him this much.

Tino giggled louder, prompting Zadia to stop her conversation with Abel. "One second." She motioned softly with her hand, her head turning in Tino's direction. Her chest pounded, noticing his cute yellow cardigan and blue shorts.

He looked so adorable.

Abel nudged Zadia with his shoulders. "You know who he cried for, these past few days out of Roman and you?" Abel smiled. "You." He told her. "All he ever says is mama. I can't believe he hasn't realized you're here yet."

Zadia's heart swelled.

Roman bounced Tino around. "I've got a lot I need to fill you two in on." He said to Adam barely looking at Lynn. It was awkward and with everyone's prying eyes on them, he wanted to walk away. "Did you guys run into any trouble getting here?" Roman asked, easing the tension.

Lynn clasped her hands and reeled back. "After we drove off that night... two officers tried to pull us over." She explained. "I had to cause an accident to get away."

"There wasn't any other choice." Adam piped up, showing his support for her decision. Being around her these few days, he could see how that decision weighed on her mind although she tried to act like it didn't. "The outcome was two casualties."

Roman's body stiffened. He frowned, bending forward to put Tino down on the grass. Guilt filled him. This was either going to be hard on Lynn or it wouldn't, Roman knew he had a responsibility as the leader to respond appropriately. His words would carry weight. "I'll take care of it," Roman said to Lynn. "This isn't on you. Okay?"

While they continued with their conversation, Tino crawled past his uncle, his ears catching a familiar voice that sparked his interest. With his hands in the grass he maneuvered himself, so could turn around and sit. His little eyes flashed everywhere, trying to find it. "Ma—ma." He pronounced it, but it was so low that it went unnoticed by everyone else. "Ma—ma." He said again, this time spotting her. Happiness washed over him, his hands outstretching so he could get picked up.

Tino pushed off the ground and squealed as he stood up for the first time and rushed her way. "Ma—ma!"

"Tino?" Zadia excitedly called, pointing in his direction for everyone to see. "He's walking! Oh my gosh, he's walking!" She excitedly screamed. "You can do it, buddy!" She encouraged him as he started to lose his balance. The poor kid staggered, hitting the ground the moment his legs weakened.

Instinctively, both Zadia and Roman ran his way. They reached him at the same time, Zadia picking him up first. "He's fine." She told Roman, pressing several kisses on Tino's head. She patted his back, hoping to stop him from crying. Tino hit beneath his chin, but he was fine.

"I never knew something so small could move that fast," Dario said, stepping beside them. He stared blankly at his nephew for the first time, amazed at the strong resemblance. "This is liśa's boy." He stated, Liśa being the nickname he gave his sister long ago. "He looks just like you and her."

"He doesn't look like me," Roman commented. "You sure, he's alright?" Roman asked Zadia while looking Tino over. He worriedly inspected Tino's legs for any cuts or scratches.

"He's alright, just first time walking jitters." She smiled up at Tino, to keep from looking at Roman. "I can't believe you were walking, little guy, that was so good!"

"At this rate, he'll be driving soon," Roman muttered, tugging on his nephew's feet. Tino giggled trying to kick his hand away. "He'll be past your height soon too, watch."

Zadia ignored him, forcing a tight-lipped smile at Lynn who was staring her down hard. "Hey." She tried to wave, but holding Tino made it challenging.

"You're alive," Lynn stated, totally unaware. Zadia was the last person she worried about during these few days. Lynn's eyebrows raised, her eyes going from Roman to Zadia. "You seem... different."

Dario chuckled, knowingly. "It seems Vitamin D is the cause of that." Zadia nearly glared at him, while Roman coughed, choking on his spit. "Turns out Zadia has a vitamin D deficiency and Roman here had to give her some." He smiled at Lynn. "I mean get her some." He corrected.

Adam and Abel looked at the three of them suspiciously. Something was up, they could tell. "I don't think it's vitamin D, Roman looks different too." Said, Adam. "Unless, they both have vitamin D deficiency, which Roman doesn't by the way."

"Have to agree." Abel piped up, pointing a finger at the two. "You guys look younger. It's kinda freaking me out."

Roman cleared his throat, recovering slowly. He nervously glanced at Zadia who was just as nervous as him. He spoke up. "It's not important, I'm leaving tomorrow." He told them all. "Dario and I, we've got some things with Cortez we need to handle."

"You just got here." Zadia found herself saying. She thought he would tell her something like this in advance, but he didn't.

"That's your problem, how?" Lynn asked.

Zadia glared at her, not liking the tone of her voice. "It's not, I'm just pointing it out." Zadia couldn't figure Lynn out for the life of her. Lynn was draining to be around and her attitude was pure garbage. She sighed and stepped back. "I'm taking him inside." She muttered, walking away before anyone could stop her.

"I'll come with," Abel shouted, then turned to give Lynn a look of disappointment. "She just got home, she doesn't need you giving her shit," Abel said and took off running to be at Zadia's side.

"Kids right, Lynn." Dario taunted.

"What the fuck is he even doing here?!" Lynn questioned angrily. "I swear every time you leave, you come back with someone who doesn't have a brain!"

Dario smirked. "You're the one to talk to. I came just to surprise you."

"Dario, stop it. Lynn, he's here to help," Roman explained. "He's the one overlooking stuff with Eliśa from now on. Adam, I need you to give him everything you have on Eliśa's trip to New York." He instructed. "Things are heating up at the organization and after killing a Bishop, they aren't so welcoming anymore."

"You did what?!" Adam and Lynn shouted. There wasn't any internet service around the place yet, so they weren't informed about what was happening in the outside world.

"It's a lot to process, I know but it needed to be done."

Adam propped his hands on his waist. "The organization isn't going to take this well and neither will the bishop's people. This—" Adam paced. "This is enough to start trouble, Roman."

"You can't possibly be thinking about leaving, especially when the whole world is going to be looking for you," Lynn said. "You're a target now, we need to stop and figure out how to get you out of this."

"Under different circumstances Lynn I would agree, but since time isn't on our side. I've got to go."

Lynn frustratedly face palmed herself. Adam spoke up. "At least give it a week then. One week and then you can go, surely from the time being Dario can get around on his own."

Dario nodded. "I like Adam's idea. Now that I'm here, I can't say I'm in a hurry to leave."

Lynn rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous, you know that right?!"

He raised his hands in surrender. Roman groaned. "I'll stay for four days and Dario will be gone in two." Adam and Lynn stared at him blankly. "That's me compromising, take it or leave it guys."

"It's stupid," Lynn said. "If you can do four days, then you can do a week."

Adam clasped his hands. "We'll take it."

"Great, now can we get inside." Roman urged. "Where'd you guys even find this place?"

"I called in a favor,—" Lynn said and began filling him in on everything as they walked in the direction of the house. Roman listened carefully, his gaze set on the home.

It felt good to be here.

*__*__*__*

By the time night fell, everyone in the house was caught up with one another. They spent their hours chatting up and sparking conversations that either resulted in laughter or teasing. The whole time there Zadia didn't let the Roman and Lynn thing get to her. Spending time with Abel and Tino didn't give her time to put much thought into it.

Zadia walked out of her bathroom, happy that she had her own now and didn't need to use Roman's anymore. She patted her head lightly, thinking of what to wear. Their clothes from the storage were here, so she had better options to choose from tonight. Abel was awaiting her arrival so they could spend the night binging random movies. Zadia was kinda worn out from the drive here, but she wouldn't let that stop her from spending time with Abel.

He needed this... the both of them did.

Zadia didn't get the chance to make up her mind on what to wear, the light knock she heard on her bedroom door pulled her attention away. She paused to make sure her towel was secured, before walking to open the door. Her posture strengthened upon laying eyes on Roman, she wasn't expecting to see him here tonight. It was around eleven at night and they had barely talked while in the living room with everyone there.

Zadia's throat felt stiff. Looking him over just as he did her, she crossed her arms. "What's wrong?" She was first to ask, quickly mortified. "Shit! Did they find us again?!"

"No, calm down." He said, his voice low enough so no one else would hear. Roman awkwardly scratched the back of his head, standing outside her bedroom. He looked both ways first and continued speaking. "I just wanted to check in...on you," his throat cleared again. "make sure you could... sleep."

Zadia scoffed sarcastically. "Did you do the same for Lynn? I'm sure she'd appreciate it." She responded sarcastically.

Roman frowned, looking over his shoulders and then back at her. "I was caught off guard just like you." He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I wouldn't disrespect you like that." Zadia rolled her eyes. This whole kiss thing was a mess. When Roman saw that she was somewhat relaxed, he stuffed his hands in his pocket. "Can you sleep?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not really." She told him, referring back to all those failed nap attempts on the couch earlier.

"I can't either." He shared, shifting from one leg to the other. Zadia knew what he was going to ask before his lips parted, but still, she let him ask. "Can I come in?"

Zadia thought about it, her reply delayed a bit. "Yeah." She grumbled, shutting and locking her door once he was inside. She almost bumped into him as she turned around. "My bad."

"Sorry."

They both apologized.

Roman's eyes danced back and forth between her and the towel wrapped around her body. It was bad to admit, but Roman liked it when she didn't wear clothes. Zadia's skin prickled. Whether he knew it or not, Roman was giving her that look again—that same look he tried playing off this morning.

He wanted her.

Zadia parted her lips. "What's up?" She asked with her hands crossed behind her back. She was unsure of what she should do or say. "I've gotta head to Abel's room soon. We're watching a bunch of movies tonight."

His eyes shut. "I have a hard time believing a person as tired as you can make it past two movies." He opened his eyes again. "You're as tired as me."

Gripping her towel, she shrugged. "There's all the time in the world to sleep, I rather chill with Abel. What would you rather do besides sleep?" There was no harm in asking the question.

Roman eyed her. "I can think of a few things." He told her. Zadia bit the inside of her cheek, clenching her thighs together. This conversation was heading in a different direction. "Lay next to me?" He cleared his throat, the awkwardness of his wording settling on his tongue. There was a pause. "It sounds weird when I say it, I know." He chuckled softly. Placing his hands behind his back, he held onto his wrist while he moved around her room. "I can't seem to fall asleep without you. I think it's the same for you too."

"It's not." She lied, her hands sitting on her waist. The towel was still around her.

"Is that right?" The words rolled out of his tongue, forcing her to stare him in the eyes.

"That voice." She thought to herself, a very light breeze brushing against her towel. "He knew just how to adjust it, to make it sound so sinful and authoritative. "Yeah." She said and held onto her towel tighter. "You said your mind was made up." She reminded him, referring to their conversation this morning.

"I also told you if I changed my mind to send me away." Roman dropped his hands to his side. The entire day, she was all he ever thought about, constantly. Her name, the way she ate and smiled and talked— it was all engraved in his mind. He took a deep breath. "We're a mess and—" he motioned towards the both of them. "whatever this is... I don't have a solution for it."

"So where does that leave us?" Zadia questioned. Surely he didn't come all his way to tell her this.

"When it needs to end, we'll end it. Completely." That was the best he could come up with. "Agreed?" When she didn't say a thing, he walked up to her and reached for her.

Zadia held onto his gaze, stepping away before he could touch her further. She wasn't going to dive into this so easily. Zadia wanted to see how serious Roman was about this. "She kissed you," Zadia stated, talking about Lynn. "Did you like it?"

"No. You know that already, Zadia."

She walked away from him, looking on top of the dresser for her lotion. "Do I?"

Roman frowned behind her. "She's not you." He confessed and gently pulled at her fingers, halting her from any other movement.

Zadia looked up at him and sighed against his touch. "Are you gonna change your mind again?" She asked him.

"I won't."

She bit her lips, nodding eventually. "I'm on board then." She told him, knowing what this meant—what she was signing up for.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She agreed and laughed lightly when he leaned forward, she moved abruptly to dodge his incoming kiss. "No, you don't!" Zadia playfully swatted him away. "I said I agree, not that you could kiss me."

Roman groaned softly. All he wanted to do was touch her and feel the warmth that came with her. "How come?"

"I don't want Lynn's germs." She whispered. Her lips parted into a smile. It was a joke, she was joking.

"But you want mine." He resorted with a smirk.

Zadia rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. "That's the last thing that I want." She slowly started to undo her towel. "I've gotta get dressed. Binging movies with Tino, remember?" Zadia dropped her towel, her body still moist from the shower.

Roman blinked at the sight of her. "What am I supposed to do here for the time being?"

Her shoulders shrugged. She grabbed a yellow sports bra from the dresser. "Jerk off, I don't know." She chuckled when she saw the face he made. Grabbing her sweatshirt, she put it over her head and walked toward him. "Don't give me that look, just stay in here till I get back. I won't fall asleep in there—scratch that, I'll try not to fall asleep in there."

Roman pulled her closer, his hands on her hips. "Don't." He grumbled.

"You can always come with. Abel wouldn't mind." She grabbed his hand, tracing over the doodle from earlier with her finger. Parts of it were gone now because he washed his hand.

"That's way too suspicious."

Unconsciously, she grabbed his chin. Until now, she had never paid close attention to how narrow it was. It was attractive. Feeling air spread through her legs, she stepped on her toes and kissed him. It was a simple kiss, but it still hit the same for Roman. Euphoric and savory, that's what her lips were. Zadia groaned, pulling away to whisper, "We'll make this quick then." She arched her left leg.

He knew what she was hinting at. He moved his face closer to hers, delighted. "You have to be quiet." He pointed out, slowly dropping to his knees. "Can you do that?" He questioned her, spreading her open some more. His view from down there was everything he could practically wish for. He'd never once attempted something like this, but he knew he'd get it right.

Zadia would make sure of it.

"Yes." She whispered, bitting down on her lips when she felt his long fingers move against her. As Zadia's body went mellow, she squeezed her eyes shut, letting Roman take over.

Neither of them would forget tonight.

Lightly edited. Point any errors out.

Any thoughts?