Roman DeLuca

Age: 34
Height: 6’5”
Occupation: Owner of an exclusive private security and protection company—but his real business is far more dangerous than what appears on paper.

Appearance

Roman is the kind of man people notice without him doing anything to demand attention.

• Tall, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built

• Thick dark-brown hair, usually slightly tousled

• Deep-set steel-gray eyes

• Strong jaw with a permanent hint of stubble

• Straight nose and sharp, masculine features

• Large hands, usually wearing a simple black watch

• Several subtle tattoos disappearing beneath his shirtsleeves

• Usually dressed in perfectly fitted black or charcoal suits

• At home, he’s much more casual—dark T-shirts, sweatpants, sleeves pushed up his forearms

• A small scar cuts through his left eyebrow

His presence is intimidating without being theatrical. He doesn’t need to raise his voice to make a room go quiet.

Personality

Roman is dominant, controlled, and intensely protective.

He’s naturally authoritative. When he walks into a room, people instinctively look toward him. He gives short, direct instructions and expects them to be followed.

He’s also:

• Extremely observant

• Possessive when he falls in love

• Protective to an almost unreasonable degree

• Patient when it comes to her

• Ruthless toward anyone who threatens the people he loves

• Confident without needing constant validation

• Dryly sarcastic

• Very difficult to read

• Surprisingly affectionate in private

Roman doesn’t fall for people easily.

But when he does?

He falls completely.

He remembers tiny things she says. He notices when she’s tired. He knows her favorite coffee order without asking. He’ll silently move his jacket over her shoulders when she’s cold and pretend it was nothing.

And despite his dominant personality, he respects boundaries. He isn’t interested in controlling her—he’s interested in making sure she’s safe.

Background

Roman grew up in Chicago, the eldest son of an Italian-American family with a complicated history.

His father ran a private security company that secretly handled protection for wealthy businessmen, politicians, celebrities, and people involved in Chicago’s criminal underworld.

Roman grew up learning two things:

Never trust easily.
Always protect your own.

At twenty-four, Roman’s father was killed during a job gone wrong.

Roman took over the company.

Within ten years, he transformed it into one of the most exclusive private protection firms in the country. Officially, his clients hire him for security.

Unofficially, Roman has connections that reach much deeper.

He has money.

Influence.

People who owe him favors.

And enemies who know better than to cross him.

But Roman has one rule:

He never lets innocent people get caught in his world.

Then he meets her.

And suddenly, the one person he desperately wants to keep away from his dangerous life becomes the one person he can’t stay away from.

Because for the first time in his life, Roman wants something he can’t simply buy, protect, or control.