"Jeez! How could someone be so fit, yet so heavy," Zadia mumbled between breaths, trying to keep her grip. The cool air made her sigh deeply upon entering his home. She dropped his hands, letting Roman drag him on his own as she shut and locked the front door. She shut her eyes, pressed her forehead to the wooden door, and inhaled. "This place is heaven," Zadia said to herself, loving the fresh salted caramel and vanilla reed scent.
Roman raised an eyebrow, watching her from a distance. "What are you doing?"
"Taking a moment to breathe." She told him and then opened her eyes, facing him. "Let's get you cleaned up before you get blood all over his floor." Zadia surveyed the place, liking how clean it was and how the painted walls suited her taste. If she'd ever owned a house, she'd want it to resemble here. "We don't wanna give him another reason to kill you."
Roman glanced at his brother a final time, before going further down the hall, leaving him alone in the living room. Zadia followed behind him, inspecting the place like it was a museum. "Bathroom should be somewhere around here."
"You've been here before?"
"I bought the place and paid for the renovations." He explained. "Originally, it was supposed to be a house for the three of us, my siblings and I... but things didn't go as planned. Dario said he wanted it, so I gave it to him to do as he pleased."
Zadia eyed the black french door with frosted glass that Roman opened, revealing a guest bathroom. "Why didn't you keep it for yourself?" She asked him as they walked inside, the door left open. The floor tiles were a hexagon pattern, divided into the color black and white. A gigantic white sink was to the right of them with a matching vanity glass set on top.
"It didn't feel right to keep." Roman reached forward, opening the cabinet to pull out a first aid kit. He sat on the sink counter, scooting to his left to be able to see himself in the mirror.
Zadia lifted the bag of money from the straps, before placing it on the counter. "Well, did you at least buy and renovate a new home? You know... for yourself." She opened the water faucet, washing her hands with cool water.
He opened the kit. "With my line of work, there's not a need to."
"That sounds like an excuse." She responded, patting her hands dry with the green cotton towel in front of her. "You're always doing something for others," she picked up an alcohol patch and ripped it open. "When's the last time you did something for yourself?" She asked him while moving closer. "Or better yet, did what you wanted?"
He shrugged. "I don't exactly have the time." He answered and Zadia pressed the alcohol patch to his bloody upper lip, causing him to suck in a breath.
"Sounds like another excuse to me." She sassed, cleaning the wounded area and he squinted at her.
He scoffed. "Hypocrisy."
Zadia stared at him, applying an ointment to his lip. They were very close. "How?"
"I don't ever recall you doing something that you wanted."
Now it was her turn to scoff. "That's a lie, I kissed you didn't I." They both stared at each other awkwardly. Zadia cleared her throat, moving onto his busted nose. "Sorry... I shouldn't have bought that up."
"No, it's fine." He was quick to say. "It's not a big deal."
Her face heated up. "What isn't? Bringing it up or kissing you?" She dared to ask, hoping for an actual response. Roman remained quiet, heart thumping in his chest. Zadia nodded at his silence, placing some of the ointment on his nose. "We're gonna have to talk about it sooner or later ya know. Brushing things under the rug doesn't seem to benefit us."
ChApTeR - 15 pt 2
Start from the beginning
