Page 132 of Power & Punishment

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Adrian sighs, dramatically draping a hand over his heart. “That hurts, Mia. And after everything I’ve done for your family.”

Blinding rage tears through me. “You mean murdering my brother?”

“He was collateral damage. Too smart for his own good,” he shrugs, not an ounce of remorse in those two dead pupils floating in his head. “Besides, I didn’t kill the pregnant bitch, did I? Had multiple opportunities. For someone who grew up in the life, she sure doesn’t know how to watch her back.”

My teeth saw together, vibrating through my ribcage. On second thought, shooting him would be far too kind a death. I think Leo would agree.

Adrian stops running his mouth long enough to guide us into another room, and the second I step inside, I can feel him.

Leo.

He’s alive.

He stands perfectly still in the center of the room wearing a stupidly expensive pitch-black suit that makes him look like a prince of hell.

Leo looks as devastatingly handsome as the first time I saw him in my brother’s bar. He saw right through me that night, and tonight is no different when his forehead wrinkles with concern.

“Emilia,” he says, the sound making my knees want to buckle with relief.

He drinks me in, analyzing every burn, cut, and bruise sprinkled over my body. I can feel his restraint slowly snap into tiny pieces with each new injury he discovers.

I want to smile. Joke and tell him that we match now. But it’s no use. Adrian knows the exact buttons to push, and it’s working.

“I’m okay,” I say.

Leo’s jaw continues to stiffen, and then his gaze catches on the small lump on my back hiding the stolen gun. His shoulders drop a fraction of an inch.

Good.

“See? She’s safe and sound just like I promised,” Adrian announces, stealing away our focus from each other.

“She’s hurt,” Leo growls, taking a step forward with his hands curled into fists. He stops as Adrian pulls out his gun and waves it casually around the room like the psycho he is.

But he doesn’t point it at anyone.

No. It’s just a warning.

“She did that to herself,” he points out. “Besides, she’s not as fragile as she looks. Your girlfriend took down two of my men upstairs.”

Keith snorts under his breath.

I cross my arms. “They started it.”

The corner of Leo’s mouth quirks up just long enough for Adrian to notice. His expression sours immediately.

“You both seem awfully calm for people standing at gunpoint,” he chides, his eyes narrowing, getting colder.

Leo turns to him, all the concern from before disappearing and tightening into the controlled and capable man I’ve come to love despite every warning sign. “Maybe it’s because I finally understand what all of this is.”

Adrian tilts his head, amused, but cautious. “This should be good. Please enlighten me.”

“A desperate man losing control.”

37

LEO