Chapter 32 —Just a name...

Narrator:

Aylin let out a broken laugh between sobs, wiping her tears with the palm of her hand.

“How nice that you care about the integrity of the people who cross...”

Roman looked at her, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“I don't give a damn about those people.” Aylin fell silent. Roman leaned toward her slightly, resting his elbow on the steering wheel, his dark gaze piercing her in the dim light of the car. "If they cross, they cross. And if they don't, I don't care either way.

The conditions under which they do it? Not my problem. Never has been.“ His tone was dry, without the slightest hint of compassion. ”This is a business, Escalante. Nothing more, nothing less.

Aylin felt a lump in her throat.

“Then why is this different?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Roman didn't look away, didn't try to soften the brutality of his words.

He just held her in that dark abyss that was his presence.

“With you,” his voice dropped to a harsh whisper, “it is diff