I wanted to be angry with him, wanted to yell and demand he tell me why he had ignored me all day and why he was late. At the same time, I knew if I spoke even a word right then, it wasn’t going to convey what I was feeling. I doubted the maelstrom of emotions swarming inside me could have found an outlet that didn’t make me seem mentally ill right then.
Mostly, I was just so glad to see him. That he was there, breathing and whole. Too many things could have gone wrong. He could have been dead.
A shudder ran through me at the thought, and I had to fight back tears.
Adrian blew out a frustrated breath, thrusting his free hand into his pants pocket and giving me a grim smile. “I’m sorry I am so late. Work got away from me.”
He lowered his head until our lips were less than an inch away. I could actually taste his breath, a mixture of coffee and something sweet, but he didn’t try to kiss me.
“I know I should have called, but I was in such a hurry to get to you, kotyonok, that I didn’t want to waste another second.”
My lips met his as I melted against him. “I was worried about you,” I moaned against his lips, my chin trembling before I could stop it.
“Victoria—”
“There is always time for a text, Adrian. Always. I need to know that you’re okay. I need …” My voice broke, and I buried my face in his chest. “I need you.”
I felt his lips on my cheek, then my ear. His exhale was rough, full of emotions that I was scared to put a name to. I felt him wrap his arms around me, his hands cupping my ass and pressing me closer. He didn’t speak, just let me breathe him in and reassure myself that he was there, as if he knew that was exactly what I needed.
And it was.
Minutes passed, neither of us speaking or so much as moving. My heart was finally starting to calm down and I felt kind of exhausted from all the emotional turmoil I had gone through over the last half an hour. I could see now that loving this man was a job all of its own, but I welcomed it.
He pulled back just enough so he could look down at me. “I’m sorry, kotyonok.”
“I’m just glad you’re here now. That you’re okay.” I ran my eyes over his face, wishing we were somewhere private so I could do the same to the rest of his body, needing to see all of him so I knew he was all right.
“Do you still want to go out? I don’t want to ruin our time together.” There was sincere remorse in his voice that eased the hurt that had been churning in my chest, along with the worry and fear for him. “The only thing that has kept me sane all day was the thought of getting to see you tonight.”
I gave him a flirty little smile and rubbed a hand down my body. “Well, I would hate to let all of this go to waste.”
He made a growling noise deep in his throat. “Yes, that would definitely be a shame.”
Chapter 10
Adrian
Work had kept me busy all day. Between the shitstorm that Vito was throwing, wanting all eyes looking for Jr., and my usual day-to-day issues, to top it off, Klara had tried to score drugs from one of my men.
The woman had a death wish, approaching one of my most trusted men and asking for an eight ball of coke. I didn’t let those closest to me deal drugs or use them. I needed them at the top of their game, and coming to work high was the best way to get themselves killed.
When I had gotten Victoria’s call earlier that day, I had been attempting to talk to my wife in as calm a voice as I could muster considering the rage that had been trying to consume me. I couldn’t really give two shits what Klara did with herself, as long as she left Theo alone. Only, she had pulled him right into it. For whatever reason that only Klara could have possibly known, she had picked Theo up from school early that morning, and then took him with her in her attempt to score drugs.
Everything about it had been out of character for her. She knew better than to score her drugs from anyone even remotely connected to me, and usually got them from her circle of friends or at whatever shitty club she hung out in every night. All I knew was that they were none of my clubs.
Her picking up Theo was so out of the norm I had known instantly she had done it to catch my attention. She ignored her son completely unless it could benefit her in some way. And it was usually how she could benefit with me.
My men had wasted no time in letting me know what had happened, and had even taken Theo away from his mother until Elissa could show up and take the boy home. She had apparently been clueless to Klara’s plan to pick Theo up early, and had been waiting for him outside the private pre-school when I had called to tear into her for letting the boy leave without her.
That shit wasn’t ever going to happen again. Because if it did, I was shipping that bitch back to Russian. In a body bag, preferably. I wasn’t going to let her pull Taras’ son down with her. He deserved better than that, and I was going to make sure he had every opportunity I could give him.
I had wanted to keep Victoria a secret from Klara for as long as possible, but Victoria’s call had come at the worst possible time. When I hadn’t answered either of her calls, Klara’s curiosity had been piqued. I could see it in her greedy little eyes, but she hadn’t said anything about it.
It had put me on edge, and I’d had a bad feeling all day.
Jr. had shown up outside of Iron Hand less than an hour before I was supposed to meet Victoria. He hadn’t tried to get in; had just stood outside, watching as people came and went. Anya hadn’t liked it and had called me to come deal with him. By the time I had arrived, though, something had spooked him and he had been long gone.
Cristiano Vitucci had been inside the club, which had explained Jr.’s Houdini act.
I had gotten out of there before I had to deal with Victoria’s brother, leaving two of my best men to watch over Anya’s club and my sister. I knew she could take care of herself, but I would never chance her safety when Jr. had already been so close.
Now, as I danced with Victoria in yet another club I was a silent partner in, I still couldn’t shake the events of the day.
Klara was riding dangerously close to a line that was going to send me over the edge and do something I knew Theo could possible end up hating me for. However, he was better off without someone like that in his life … wasn’t he? For fuck’s sake, his mother didn’t care about him. How could she and have done what she did?
I didn’t like the thought of Jr. being so close to my sister, to anyone that I cared about. Twice already I had texted Anya to ask if she was okay, and each time I had gotten an eye roll emoji for my efforts.
Cristiano being there hadn’t set well with me, either. I wasn’t blind to the fact that there was something going on between my sister and the Cosa Nostra heir, but they had been growing bolder lately. I didn’t want to see my sister hurt. Even if she did pretend like she didn’t have a heart, I knew that it was getting too attached where Cristiano was concerned. He had a handful of mistresses at any given time, and I knew Anya didn’t share well.
Soft fingers traced over my brow. “That’s a fierce look there, cuore mio,” Victoria murmured, pulling me back to the here and now. “You’ve already sent half a dozen people scattering to the other side of the dance floor, and I don’t even think you really saw them.”
I tightened my hand on her hip and breathed in the scent of her daisy perfume. “Sorry, kotyonok. Am I frightening you?”
Her laugh was soft and so sexy it made my cock pulse against her abdomen. “It would take more than that scowl to scare me,” she said with a smirk. “I was just wondering what was putting such a murderous look in your eyes.”
I pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’ve just had a long day. But I’m not going to let it ruin the rest of our night. Forgive me?”
“Only if you kiss me like you mean it.” There was a challenge in her eyes, as if she didn’t think I would kiss her in front of a club full of strangers.
I stopped moving to the music, grasping her waist and pulling he
r in even closer, leaving her in no doubt to how much I wanted her. Even when I had been lost in my own head about the day’s events, I had been hard for her.
Victoria tipped her head back, that challenge in her brown eyes even brighter as she gave me a sassy, pouty look.
“I will always mean it,” I promised her before I caught her lips in a kiss that had her grasping my shoulders and holding on tightly.
Everyone in the club seemed to disappear, the music fading until all I heard was the blood rushing through my veins. No one existed but the woman in my arms. The feel of her lips on mine, how hungrily she was kissing me back. It made everything inside my head stand still, except for thoughts of her. Of how good she felt in my arms, how much I wanted inside her tight body.
She was the one who pulled back first, her breaths coming in fast pants as she looked up at me with dazed eyes. Her tongue touched her top lip, licking across it as if savoring my taste. Then she blinked and shook her head, as if to shake away fog.
Grimacing, she stepped back. “I need the powder room.”
“Are you okay?”
Her face had gone pale, and there was a slight sheen of sweat on her brow.
She tried to smile, but it was shaky. “I just need a minute. I’ll be right back.” She took off, quickly disappearing into the crowd on the dance floor.
Concerned for her, I followed after her, but she was already inside the women’s washroom before I could catch up. Leaning back against the wall outside the door, I waited.
Five minutes passed without a sign from her. When at least a dozen women came and went, I started to worry.
Pushing away from the wall, I opened the door to the lady’s room.
Two women, who had been drunkenly giggling at the mirror, stopped short when they saw me standing in the doorway. My eyes barely skimmed over them before I looked farther into the room.
“Victoria?” I called. “Are you okay?”
“Shit,” she muttered from the largest stall at the end of the row. “I’m okay. I promise. I’m just … busy.”
“Are you ill?”
“Adrian, I’ll be out in two minutes.” Her voice was shaky. “Please.”
Clenching my jaw, I shot a look at the two women still standing at the mirror, gaping at me. “Out,” I barked.
They jumped at the sharpness of my tone and made a run for it. The bathroom was now empty, except for me and Victoria.
I closed and locked the door, but I didn’t leave. There was no way in hell I was leaving if she was sick. She might need help, and I didn’t trust anyone to take care of her.
Two minutes passed before I finally heard the toilet flush. Still, she didn’t come out.
I shifted, ready to go to her, but a moment later, the stall door opened. I moved away from the door.
Her eyes widened when she saw me walking toward her. Pink filled her cheeks, and she quickly zipped up her clutch before I could reach her. “Hey, sorry. I just had—”
“You’re okay?” I didn’t care what she had been doing in there, as long as she was okay now.
“Mostly.” She gave me a small smile that didn’t touch her eyes while she busied herself with washing her hands. Grabbing a few paper towels, she turned to face me. “I hate calling an end to the fun, but do you mind taking me home?”
“Sure. Whatever you want.” I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go.”
Unlocking and opening the door, I saw there were at least ten women waiting to get into the bathroom. I ignored their open mouths and wide-eyed shock as I tucked Victoria closer to me and we left the club.
She was quiet on the drive back to the compound, and I saw the way her fingers trembled.
“Come home with me,” I urged. I wanted to take care of her that night and every fucking night if she would let me. I wanted to be there if she started to feel worse. I had no experience taking care of sick people, but I wanted to take care of her.
She gave me a smile that seemed sad. “Maybe next time.”
When I pulled up to the usual spot where I had met her earlier, she didn’t waste time getting out when she normally would have lingered. “Goodnight, Adrian.”
I caught her hand as she stepped out of the car. “Sleep well, kotyonok.”
Chapter 11
Victoria
My glucose levels were being a little bitch. I couldn’t get them to level out, and it was making me feel like pure shit. After all the years I had been living with my disease, it was times like this that I hated it.
The episode I’d had at the club with Adrian had come on quickly, and it had taken me forever to get it dealt with. When he had locked us in the bathroom to give me privacy because he had thought I was having stomach issues, I should have told him then and there about my illness. Should have just spit it all out and let him decide if he was man enough to take on a girlfriend who had a life-threatening disease like mine.
It was the right thing to do.
Give it to him straight and let him decide.
Instead, I had clammed up and kept my mouth shut on the entire ride home. Instead of stealing a few more minutes alone with him, I had made a run for it. My levels still felt off, and it was making me sick, but I didn’t think I could stay with him another second and not confess what had happened back at the club.
It was a huge secret to keep from someone I wanted in my life, but I was scared.
What if he decided he didn’t want to be with someone who didn’t know if she was going to be healthy from one day to the next? Someone who would most likely one day need a new kidney, for fuck’s sake.
What if he pitied me?
Shit, that was almost as bad as if he didn’t want to be with me. I didn’t deal well with pity. It pissed me off faster than almost anything else.
I had my illness under control … for the most part. Maybe it was trying to get out of hand, and maybe I should have been on a damn insulin pump, but I wasn’t a fucking baby or an invalid.
As soon as I dropped down on my bed, I hated that I had wasted tonight with Adrian. Hell, I should have just come clean, told him about it, and then enjoyed the rest of the night together. I could have been in his arms right then. That was the only place I really wanted to be.
Fighting back tears because I had been such a coward, I pulled my phone from my clutch, along with the used syringe. Taking care of the needle, I pulled up Adrian’s last text message.
Sorry I ruined tonight.
Almost immediately, I got a reply.
Nothing is ruined. I got to hold you.
No sooner had I read that one, another text came in that had the tears rolling down my cheeks.
Feel better, kotyonok. I will see you tomorrow.
***
It took hours for me to fall asleep. Then it felt as if I had only just closed my eyes when I got a text that startled me awake.
Pulling my phone under the covers with me, I blinked a few times so I could see the screen clearly. When I saw Adrian’s name, my heart turned over. I stroked my fingers over the screen before unlocking my phone so I could read the message.
How are you feeling?
Guilt hit me between the eyes again, but I couldn’t tell him the truth about what had happened. Pushing the feeling down and refusing to let it ruin my day, I quickly replied.
Better. I’m sorry about last night. I miss you so much.
The message had barely sent before I got a reply.
Nothing to be sorry about. I miss you so fucking much. Can I see you tonight? At my apartment?
My fingers started to move over the screen to let him know I would be there whenever he wanted me when I heard a tap on my door. I knew it was Scarlett without having to get up, but I didn’t want her to see my phone if she just walked in. For once, I couldn’t share something with her.
“Just a sec,” I called out as I pushed the phone under my pillow.
I finger combed my ha
ir as I hurried to open the door, knowing my twin wouldn’t wait very long. Normally, she just barged in, and I did the same to her. Still, I was thankful she had given me a moment of privacy.
The instant I saw her face, I knew something was wrong. My first thought was that Ciro had fucked with her again. That damn prick was always twisting her around, confusing her, and then running in the opposite direction because he was too stupid to see that she was made for him.
“What’s wrong? You look like you want to kill someone.” And I would happily help her if she needed me to. I loved her more than anything or anyone on the planet, and I would gladly hide a body for her. Or kill someone for her.
“I do.” She grimaced. “I have to talk to you. Can I come in?”
I immediately knew what was on her mind, and it didn’t concern Ciro Donati … much. Some of my happiness from being awoken by Adrian’s text evaporated, knowing this was about him.
“Wh-what did you find out?” My voice was little more than a whisper, but I couldn’t find the strength to make it louder.
Scarlett glanced over her shoulder, saw the usual guard doing his hourly rounds, and then pushed me back into my room before closing the door and locking it. She gently grasped my arm and led me over to my bed where she pushed me down onto the mattress and crouched down in front of me.
The way she held my suddenly cold hands made me want to cry. I knew this was going to be bad. Whatever was about to come out of her mouth was going to hurt, and not just a little. I could see it in her brown eyes identical to mine in every way, with that knowing light that only a twin could possess.
“You’ve been talking to him, haven’t you, Tor?” Her tone was quiet, as if she was talking to a small, scared animal. I wasn’t so sure I wouldn’t be when she was finished.
My gaze went to where my phone was safely hidden. Guilt ate at me for keeping my continued relationship with Adrian from her. It wasn’t like me—like us. I told her everything. Everything. But Adrian was different in every way, and I just couldn’t share him with Scarlett.
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