Chapter 5 - The Life Adrian Never Had
Adrian returned to the hotel at 3:12 a.m.
Rachel was awake.
She stood when he entered.
“Well?”
“Marco is in custody.”
Rachel blinked.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“You didn’t kill him?”
Adrian removed his coat.
“No.”
Rachel stared at him.
“You’re surprised.”
“I am.”
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
He looked toward the bedroom.
“Sophie?”
“Asleep.”
Adrian nodded.
Rachel studied him.
“What happens now?”
“Marco’s network collapses.”
“I mean us.”
Adrian was silent.
Rachel continued.
“You know about Sophie now.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t just take her.”
“I know.”
“You can’t put guards around her school.”
Adrian hesitated.
Rachel pointed at him.
“No.”
“Two guards.”
“No.”
“One.”
“Adrian.”
“Fine.”
Rachel crossed her arms.
“That was too easy.”
“I’m learning.”
“You’re terrible at it.”
“I’ve had one day.”
Rachel almost smiled.
Adrian noticed.
Then the bedroom door opened.
Sophie appeared.
“You came back.”
Adrian immediately looked toward her.
“I promised.”
Sophie ran across the room.
He caught her.
Rachel watched.
Sophie said, “Did you beat the bad guys?”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Sophie.”
Adrian smiled slightly.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because sometimes you don’t have to.”
Sophie considered that.
“Did police get them?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She yawned.
Then rested her head against Adrian’s shoulder.
Within minutes, she fell asleep.
Adrian didn’t move.
Rachel whispered, “You can put her down.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to stand there all night?”
“Possibly.”
Rachel shook her head.
He looked ridiculous.
A feared mafia boss holding a sleeping six-year-old while wearing a five-thousand-dollar suit stained with rain.
Yet somehow—
He also looked exactly where he belonged.
Rachel said, “She likes pancakes.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“In the morning.”
He nodded.
“What kind?”
“Chocolate chip.”
“Anything else?”
“Strawberries.”
“Noted.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow.
“You planning breakfast?”
“I’m capable of breakfast.”
“You once burned water.”
“That happened once.”
“Twice.”
“Exaggeration.”
Rachel smiled.
Then it disappeared.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“I’m not moving back into your house.”
“I know.”
“You’re not moving into mine.”
He looked offended.
“Your apartment has one bathroom.”
“Exactly.”
He nodded reluctantly.
“Then I buy the building.”
“No.”
“The apartment next door?”
“No.”
“Across the hall?”
Rachel stared.
Adrian sighed.
“Hotel?”
“No.”
He finally smiled.
“Worth trying.”
Rachel looked at Sophie.
“I need time.”
Adrian’s expression became serious.
“You have it.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes.”
Rachel studied him.
“Seven years ago, you would have ordered me back.”
“Seven years ago, I thought power solved everything.”
“And now?”
Adrian looked at his daughter.
May you like
“Now I know better.”
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