Roman's body moved before his mind could catch up. In a swift stride, he reached Tessy just in time, catching her right before she could collapse. She had staggered after what Williams did, her legs faltering as if some invincible hand had pushed her. His arms wrapped around her with a firm yet gentle grip, anchoring her in place.
He held her close, drawing her against his chest like he feared the earth would open up and swallow her whole if he let go. His strong arms became her only point of balance as the tremor slowly faded from her body.
His brows furrowed deeply as he studied her, worry clouding his usually commanding eyes. There was a tremor in her breath, but her features were slowly relaxing. Relief, subtle but evident, began to register on her face. Her brows that had been tightly knitted now started to loosen, and the sharp rise and fall of her chest began to calm.
"You okay?" Roman finally asked her, his voice low and cautious, though it carried the weight of urgency.
