ROME
“So, this permanent now, huh? Are you planning on taking dual citizenship?”
“Zee, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m happy for you and Heera.” I hugged him one more time.
“You can still call me if you need me.”
“Unless you and Heera want to have a family in Winterbourn, then I can hire you back. But right now, focus your time on her. We’ll be there on your wedding day.”
“And you will be married at that time.”
“Yup. Twenty days feels like twenty years.”
His smile turned into a grin. “I can relate, brother.”
“You two are done with heart-to-heart? We’re gonna be late for our flight.” Cade walked past us, climbing into the jet.
“Go, and I know you miss your princess. Say hi to me, and tell her to take care of you.”
“I will, bro.”
“Safe flight.”
I worked on my laptop during the flight. Cade decided to take a nap since he’d been up all day. He just came from a successful kidnap rescue mission.
I met with Linden, Sax, and Kye earlier, and it was hard to leave them behind, but they would always have a job waiting for them if they decided to work for me.
Mom cried before I left the house, even if we were still going to see before the wedding.
Rune graduated with honors, and he was ecstatic with his new penthouse. I mean, he was only twenty-one and already owned a penthouse. When I was his age, I was fighting a warlord with my team in the desert.
Sadie was happy for me, and she’d known Carly, and I belonged together.
I was going to miss them and my life back in the U. S, but I was also starting a new life with my future wife, building a family while working hard for my business empire.
Life was so good. And I couldn’t wait to come home and be with my princess. I intended to make love to her and tear the damn contract for good.
I was too focused on teaching her lesson and ignored that nothing in this world was perfect and that we would make mistakes. All we needed was to be strong and trust each other, and I knew she would need me by her side, and so was I.
And I understood Carly that her duty meant a lot to her, and the constant prying eyes would always be there, watching and waiting for her to make a mistake again and that included me because I was a part of her life now. But who gave a shit?
I knew what I signed up for- our lives would be a roller-coaster ride, which made life worth living-the imperfection. Yet, you’d got to live another day for the people you loved.
We had a little turbulence on our way, but we landed safely.
“There’s a storm hitting the Guardion,” my captain said before he left.
“Thanks. One Storm is enough for me, though.”
He smiled. “Go ahead and see your fiancée, lover boy. Take care.”
“You, too, Cap.” I saluted him.
“Get in the car now, lover boy,” Cade said.
“Just send me to the manor, then you can go to your new apartment. Here’s the address and the key.” I fished out the key from my messenger bag and gave it to him, and sent the address to his phone. “You can familiarize the city. Just don’t get into trouble.”
“Yes, boss.”
The manor was silent when I arrived. Cade took my bag into the room before he left.
I had not turned on my phone and checked the message. And I couldn’t find the woman I’d been dying to see.
I met the helper on the stairs.
“Welcome back, Sir Rome.”
“Thank you. Do you know where’s the princess?”
“Oh. Princess Carlott left Guardion, sir. Four hours ago.” Great. My excitement died. “She’s spending her weekend there. Don’t you know about it, sir?”
“I haven’t checked my phone. I’m sure she’s been calling me. Did she say why a sudden trip?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know, sir.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to Guardion.”
“You can’t, sir.” She stopped me.
“Why not?” My brows knitted together.
“There’s a storm hitting the Guardion, sir.”
“Not the first time. And why is she there if there’s a storm?”
“I can’t answer you that, sir.”
“Then I’m going to see my fiancée.”
“Sir, that’s a bad idea. You have no idea how bad the storm is there, and no one is traveling.”
“Well, I can’t just wait here.”
Three hours later, I was approaching Guardion. The road was pretty empty. When the helper said about the storm, I thought the worse storm in history had hit the U. S, but I was wrong. I could barely see the road ahead.
When I first came here with Carly, it was a fantastic experience. I saw vast plains, mountain tops, and beautiful houses. Right now, all I saw was a strong gust of wind blowing a heavy blizzard.
I fished out my phone to call Carly. When I thought I would surprise her, maybe it was not going to happen.
I turned on my phone. I still had luck left. This area had cell service. The sudden headlight coming from the other lane flashed against my windshield, blinding me.
“What the fuck?” I raised my arm to cover my eyes. It was so close I thought for a moment it crashed against my car.
Did you know when someone told you not to use a phone while driving? It was absurd because people never listened to that kind of shit anymore. But right now, this was the best advice I needed. Only it was too late.
“Fuck!” With a strong, swift move, I swiveled the steering wheel, and the car just went off the road. I stepped on the brake harder but hit a drift the airbag went off. I lost control of it.
I got a headache from the impact, but grateful I had a seatbelt. I felt okay.
I blinked off quickly and checked my face in the mirror to make sure I didn’t get a head injury or something.
Unfortunately, half of my car was covered with snow. The engine was still working but not for long. And it seemed no one so stupid to travel during the storm, only me because I wanted to see Carly.
Now my ass could be frozen before the storm would pass, and some passers could notice my car. That was if I was lucky, but it was nearly impossible since I was off the road on a pretty deep slope.
I tried reversing, but it didn’t work. I turned to snow mode, but I was still stuck. And there was no way the door would work. I was stuck. And it was getting cold so fast.
My mind went back to Carly. And I started to get worried. My hope started slipping off.
“Fuck you, Elon. Your car sucks!”
I picked up my phone and dialed Carly. She picked up right away as if she was waiting for my call. Thankfully, gloves nowadays work on touchscreen phones.
“Babe, my darling Rome.”
I closed my eyes. God, I fucking loved her, but I couldn’t lie to her. I had to tell her everything, or it might be too late.
I was just so stupid. And if I didn’t make it, I would be breaking her heart.
“I’ll hang up. I’ll call you back. Please, babe. I love you.”
“I love you.” I saved the battery of my phone.
I went to the backseat, opened my bag, took out another coat, and returned to the font. I covered myself, hoping it would warm me.
With my thick clothes on, I still felt cold.
My breathing vapored. I rubbed my gloves together, hoping the help would come soon. Even if it was nearly impossible, it was not the time to lose hope. And I was still marrying my fiancée.
I realized my stupidity would put other people at risk. I knew Carly would not stop, and her family in power, the authority would find a way to rescue me.
My worse nightmare was about to come. Any moment now, the car would run out of battery.
I picked up my phone and located my area. I found a house maybe a mile away from here on Google Maps, and I was not sure I would make it there.
I called Carly again.
“Babe, the help is coming. Just hang in there, okay?” She must be crying.
“There’s a building or a house maybe one mile from here. I could walk- ”
“Are you insane? Don’t try killing yourself out there. I sent your location to the rescuer. Just keep yourself warm and wait for help.”
“I’m so stupid. I wasn’t thinking straight. All I want is to be with you, fuck the damn contract and make love with you. But I am stranded here, and my ass is getting frostbite.” I shivered as I laughed. My face seemed to stiff.
“Earlier today, I talked to my mother. I told her I couldn’t wait for another twenty days. I wanna get married. But she said people had spent so much time and effort pulling things out for the wedding. So I came here instead.”
“I was just thinking the same thing, sweetheart. If I can get out alive.”
“Langston, stop saying that! You will, and we are getting married, having babies, and growing old together.” She sobbed over the phone, and here I was, just a few miles away. This situation was just fucking terrible.
“What I am trying to say is, can we just elope or call an officiant to marry us?”
“Then stay your arse there until the help arrives.”
“Storm?”
“Yes, I am here.” She sniffled.
“I was an ass to you for two months. And I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I do, sweetheart.” I shivered. The engine just shut off. Fucking great! The universe was testing me, and I couldn’t tell her. I put my hand under my armpit. “Storm- ”
“I’m here, babe. Are you okay?”
“It’s cold.”
“That’s good. When you feel hot, that’s the problem. Just cover yourself, okay?”
“I just wish I was there with you.”
“You will be.”
“I was saying I was an ass. I was just so hurt and angry, but you never left my thoughts. I always thought of you. I never stop loving you, even for a second. It’s just my anger and my urge to teach you a lesson. I took it too far.”
“It’s okay. I should have never doubted you. I was just scared you might regret your decision once you realized what kind of life I had.”
“Sweetheart, I knew what I signed up for. And there will be times life will be hard on us, but as long as we are together, we can get through it. You just have to trust that no one and nothing can tear us apart. Our love and our trust will always be our source of strength. And I will always have your back as you have mine.” I blew a shivering breath.
“That was beautiful.”
“It can pass as my vow, right?” I laughed like a lunatic.
She chuckled. “Yeah. It can.”
“Maybe we can get married tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait.”
My bone seemed freezing.
I felt a million needles pricking my skin.
My face was iced. It was like The Day After Tomorrow in Guardion.
“The temperature just dropped, sweetheart.”
“Babe, please? Just hang on a little longer.”
“I love you, Storm. Never forget that.”