I'm so sorry for such a delay in the update. I'm coaching for three weeks at a volleyball camp and it's so physically exhausting that I'm too tired to update. But I'm happy to update this weekend. Plus I might be able to update tomorrow. Super surprised at how I'm so close to 100 reviews! Never thought I'd get close to that! Thanks and enjoy, don't forget to review.
Chapter 25: Deal
The next morning
"So this man just took you out to dinner?" Amber asks while hopping off her window sill
"Yea, it was strange."
"You mean he didn't try anything?"
"No, he just put his arm around mine or around my waist, nothing like the usual.."
"He sounds suspicious, I wouldn't put my complete trust in him."
"I know, I know Amber, he was just so kind and open."
Amber shook her head as she dug through the drawers. I was on my back with my arms and head hanging off the bed while I kicked my feet up and down.
"What's his name?"
"Roman"
"Wow Olivia, I thought you'd be a bit more cautious with these kind of guys."
"And you're point is?"
Amber slammed the drawer shut and made her way over to me. She stood in front of me and looked down at me.
"My point is that you're being brainwashed by this man, and once you put your trust in him he's gonna do something."
"You don't know-"
Amber came to the side of me and forcibly turned me around to where I eventually sat into a sitting position. She had her hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes.
"I know what it's like because I've trusted someone like that and it didn't end well. I just don't want you to end up like I did."
She stared into my eyes and started to tear up until she opened her mouth again.
"Just be careful." She said squeezing my hands
I nodded.
"Olivia, Roman called in again, you'll be with him again." Damien says while I walk down the staircase
Alex looks down at me and winks at me, sending shivers down my spine. I wear a pastel blue dress with soft material and long sleeves. It's form fitting as all my dresses are. It's one of my smallest sizes compared to the first dress I was given in Rome. I had tried that one on at some point and it had been too big. Losing nearly forty pounds throughout the year had been progressive since I hadn't ate much here.
"Alright." I respond quietly
The door opens and Roman stands outside while Amber eyes me. I keep in mind what she had told me while I walk out the door to where Roman stands. I take in his black hair and brown eyes. He's wearing black dress pants and a matching white blazer and shirt with a solid red tie.
"I'll see you" Roman says to Damien
Roman leads us to the town car in front of the steps. We get into the back of the town car. My usual driver is there and I get uncomfortable instantly. I remember the driver and I had had a few disputes. He found a way to solve them anyways. It brought flashbacks to my mind. Roman leaves the middle seat open between us as the driver eyes me in his rear view mirror.
"Just leave us downtown please" Roman says
In ten minutes we are downtown and Roman exits the car first. He opens my side of the door and puts his hand out. I give him a questioning look until I take his hand and step out of the car in black pumps.
"You want me to pick you up later?" The driver asks out the window
"Uh-" I hesitate
"It's alright." Roman says
"You sure?"
"It's fine!" Roman says with a force in his voice
I begin to think he knows that something is up with me and the driver. I'm glad that I don't have to come back in the town car with my driver at least. I know he would have me out for another hour or so. He'd pull up to some empty parking lot and force himself on me. He pulls away from the curb.
"I thought we could just have a drink at this bar nearby."
Oh great, this guy is gonna get drunk like Niklas.
I'm hesitant to say anything because I'm more suspicious than ever with Roman now. I'm afraid that he's just another man waiting to make his move at me. He starts to walk down the street towards an unfamiliar bar entrance. I trace behind him as he waits for me.
We walk into a bar that's bombarded with flashing colorful lights. There's a lit up dance floor with people dancing to some techno dance music. We pass by and make our way to bar that's filled with men and women chatting amongst each other. The dance floor is crowded but we find a seat at the bar. A waitress comes over to us and tries to speak to us over the loudness of the crowd.
"What can I get you?" She asks
"The best beer you got and, Olivia, what do you want?" Roman asks
"Uh a martini please?"
The waitress walks walks to the other end of the bar while Roman turns his body around on the bar stool to sof beside me. I sit leaning against the bar table and watch the people dance. I feel stupid to think of having let myself be a bit free last night with Roman. It rattled me quite a bit. Our drinks came and I took my martini glass and took a sip from it.
"Mind if we move to a booth?" Roman asks
I shrug and slip off the bar stool taking my drink with me. We make our way to a booth that's on snug against the wall, away from the heat of the crowd. I sit on one side and he sits across from me. I continue to look at the crowd and then I snap at Roman.
"What's the deal with you?"
"What do you mean deal?" He responds laughing a bit
"I mean why the hell are you here. taking me out to places like this, I mean I'm here for damn sex, that's what you want isn't it?" I say harshly
At this point I'm pissed at Roman. I don't know if he's leading me on or this is what he really does. I just want to get it over with.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you my deal."
"You better start now."
I've finished my martini by now.
"I just wanted company, I don't want services or any of that."
"Company?"
"Yeah. It's just me now. I just wanted someone to talk to."
"You had a someone?"
My nerves calmed down a bit and I begin to see Roman's soft side. He get's a bit emotional before he starts his sentence.
"I had a wife for a few years. She was all I could of asked for."
"She left you?" I question
I make eye contact with him before he breaks our his next sentence. He plays with his hands around the base of his beer mug.
"Sort of. A year or so into our marriage, we finally got pregnant. Four months in, she suffered a miscarriage." He says in soft words
"I'm-sorry." I say responding in broken words
"She became depressed after the loss and uh...committed suicide."
I was sorry for this man. He had suffered two losses within a year and was still holding it together. He hadn't wanted any of the things I was being forced to offer. He just wanted someone to be there next to him. A living, breathing human. Our eyes met for a few moments.
"Enough of that, shall we go?" He asks getting up nervously
"Yeah, sure."
"We have reports from Martindale's meets with Olivia." Cragen says informing his team
"Two nights worth of being hooked with a wire and physical sightings is progress." Munch adds
Rollins, Fin, and Amaro sit at the table watching Cragen, Munch, and Martindale at the head of head table standing at the pin board.
"We have an approximate location of the building where the girls are. When I was standing in the doorway, I was greeted by Damien Arsov and Alex Gurevich. Several girls were in the hallway behind them, including Olivia." Martindale says
"How does she look?" Amaro asks
"She's lost weight, pretty skinny now, and her face is a bit sunken in. She has green eyes now, longer hair. I also noticed a scar she was trying to cover up on her shoulder."
"She never told me of any scar on her shoulder." Fin comments
Cragen writes down 'scar on shoulder' onto a yellow piece of note paper and pins it under the picture of Olivia
"When do you think we should infiltrate?" Rollins asks
"I don't think we should until I get a look inside. She was more hesitant around me tonight. In the town car, the driver was a bit rough with Olivia. He didn't want me to take Olivia back, but I dealed with him."
"Alright then, Broderick, you're going to ask for a house call and make sure you get one because we'll be able to find out a way to get inside." Cragen confirms
"Earn her trust and it will be easier." Munch says
"Nice job on the wire last night by the way." Munch adds in patting Martindale's back
Martindale nods and leaves the meeting room where Rollins follows behind him and into the elevator. Rollins hesitates to ask but makes her move to question him.
"That stuff you said last night on the wire, in the bar..."
"Was it true?" He says filling in for Rollins' question
Amanda nods and puts her hands in her pockets as the elevator makes a downwards motion
"Yeah. Thought if I'm undercover, I should be a bit truthful if she questioned anything."
The elevator door dings and Rollins looks at him with a sorrowful glance before she steps out. Martindale steps out of the elevator and walks the opposite way.
Surprise! Thought Roman was a random cop didn't ya? Any of you suspect him? I gave hints with the appearance if you remembered me profiling Martindale a few chapters back... I'll be adding a few more chapters than what I thought. Stay tuned and don't forget to review!