Chapter 6 - The Man Behind the Reputation
Three months later, Emma knew two versions of Adrian Moretti.
There was the man New York whispered about.
The man who entered restaurants and caused conversations to soften.
The man businessmen returned calls to immediately.
The man Marcus had been terrified to look in the eye.
Then there was Adrian at seven on Sunday morning.
Barefoot.
Hair messy.
Standing in his kitchen glaring at a pancake.
Emma leaned against the counter.
“That one looks terrible.”
“It’s circular.”
“It looks like New Jersey.”
“New Jersey has a shape.”
“Not that shape.”
Adrian stared at the pan.
“I can negotiate eight-figure contracts.”
“And yet breakfast defeated you.”
He pointed the spatula at her.
“You are dangerously comfortable in my house.”
Rosa entered.
“Finally.”
Adrian looked offended.
Emma laughed.
That was when Luca appeared in the doorway.
His expression killed the mood instantly.
“Adrian.”
Adrian put down the spatula.
“What?”
“Victor Kane was arrested this morning.”
Emma straightened.
“For what?”
“Fraud, bribery, illegal gambling, conspiracy. Long list.”
Adrian nodded.
“Good.”
Luca hesitated.
“There’s more.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Marcus contacted investigators.”
Emma froze.
“What?”
“He gave testimony.”
Adrian looked surprised.
Luca continued.
“He apparently kept copies of financial records. Victor’s people discovered it.”
Emma’s stomach dropped.
“Where’s Marcus?”
“Nobody knows.”
Adrian was already reaching for his phone.
Emma caught his arm.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding him.”
“Why?”
Adrian looked at her as though the answer were obvious.
“Because someone will.”
Emma stared.
“After everything he did?”
“He helped put Victor away.”
“That doesn’t erase what he did to me.”
“No.”
“Then why help?”
Adrian’s voice softened.
“Because you’ll blame yourself if something happens to him.”
Emma opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
He was right.
Hours later, Luca found Marcus at a bus terminal.
Not injured.
Not kidnapped.
Just scared.
Adrian arranged for investigators to take him into protective custody.
Emma listened from the study doorway while Adrian finished the call.
When he hung up, she said, “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t even tell him it was you.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Adrian looked confused.
“Why would I?”
Emma walked closer.
“For somebody with your reputation, you do a lot of things nobody knows about.”
“That is generally how private actions work.”
“You’re impossible.”
“So you keep telling me.”
She stopped in front of him.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you help me that first night?”
He leaned against the desk.
“You were afraid.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“You let random terrified women jump into your car often?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Usually Luca locks the door.”
Emma smiled.
Then became serious.
“You could have left me on the corner.”
“Yes.”
“You could have called the police.”
“Yes.”
“You could have told me Marcus wasn’t your problem.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I could have.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
Emma stepped closer.
“Why?”
This time, Adrian took several seconds to answer.
“When you climbed into that car, you asked me to drive.”
Emma waited.
“You didn’t ask who I was. You didn’t care whether I was rich, powerful, dangerous, or useful.”
He paused.
“You were simply asking another human being not to leave you there.”
Emma’s expression softened.
“And?”
“And I knew what it looked like when everyone else had already decided not to get involved.”
Silence.
Emma reached for his hand.
Adrian looked down at their fingers.
“Emma.”
“Yes?”
“If you do that, I may misunderstand your intentions.”
She stepped closer.
“I’m counting on it.”
He kissed her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Giving her every opportunity to pull away.
She didn’t.
When they separated, Emma smiled.
“You know what’s funny?”
“I suspect you’re going to tell me.”
“The first thing you ever said to me was ‘quiet.’”
Adrian sighed.
“And yet it accomplished absolutely nothing.”
Emma laughed.
“Nope.”
He kissed her again.
May you like
And this time, neither of them heard Rosa quietly close the study door behind them.
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