Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT HE FINALLY TOLD ME EVERYTHING
Adrian and I met at a small restaurant near the river.
No bodyguards at the table.
No expensive private room.
Just dinner.
He wore a dark sweater instead of a suit.
He looked younger.
Less intimidating.
More human.
We ordered pasta.
Talked about ordinary things.
Then I asked:
“Why were you outside St. Catherine that night?”
He looked down.
“I was waiting for someone.”
“Who?”
“Daniel Cross.”
I froze.
“The patient?”
He nodded.
“He was supposed to meet me with evidence about Luca.”
I stared.
“So when I climbed into your car—”
“You interrupted a meeting.”
I covered my face.
“Oh, God.”
He laughed softly.
“It's probably the best interruption I've ever had.”
I lowered my hands.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were exhausted, your phone was dying, and you didn't deserve to be dragged into my problems.”
I studied him.
“And yet I was.”
“Yes.”
His expression grew serious.
“And I'm sorry.”
I looked down at my plate.
Then asked:
“Why did you help me?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because you looked like someone who had spent the entire day helping everyone else.”
My throat tightened.
“And?”
“And I remembered my mother.”
I looked up.
“She was a nurse,” he said.
I stared.
“She worked double shifts. Came home exhausted. Still found time to take care of everyone.”
He paused.
“She died when I was twenty.”
“I'm sorry.”
He nodded.
“For years, I thought power meant making sure nobody could hurt the people I loved.”
He looked at me.
“Then I realized I was becoming the kind of man people needed protection from.”
I remained silent.
He continued.
“I'm trying to change that.”
I studied him.
“Then keep trying.”
May you like
He smiled.
“I intend to.”
