Chapter 9 - THE KISS THAT SCARED ADRIAN MORE THAN A GUN
Mr. Buttons survived.
Again.
Odette washed him twice.
Mia insisted Adrian participate in the drying process because he had performed “the rescue.”
By morning, the teddy bear sat near a heater wearing one of Mia’s socks around his middle for reasons nobody fully understood.
Three weeks passed.
No attack.
No disappearance.
No new threat.
That almost made Adrian more nervous.
Luca Vescari remained out on bond while prosecutors prepared a sprawling racketeering case.
Nicholas’s testimony strengthened it.
Daniel’s records filled gaps.
Simon Vale was charged with attempted kidnapping, conspiracy, and weapons offenses.
Agatha pleaded guilty.
Elio remained under investigation but would likely avoid prison because of cooperation.
Dominic still struggled with that.
Adrian found him one night outside the kitchen.
“You forgive him?”
Dominic stared.
“No.”
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.”
Fair.
Then Dominic looked toward the dining room where Mia was coloring beside Elena.
“You?”
“Who?”
“Nicholas.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“No.”
“Roman? No such.”
Dominic continued.
“You’re letting prosecutors use him.”
“That is not forgiveness.”
“No.”
“Good.”
They watched Elena.
She wore a green sweater.
Hair tied loosely.
Mia leaned against her arm.
Dominic said:
“You’re in trouble.”
Adrian glared.
“What?”
Dominic nodded toward Elena.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Be quiet.”
“You look at her.”
“I look at everyone.”
“Not like that.”
Adrian’s expression chilled.
Dominic smiled.
“Would you prefer I lie?”
Adrian thought of Mia.
Truth.
Inconvenient.
“Go away.”
“Excellent leadership.”
Adrian had not kissed Elena.
He told himself restraint came from respect.
Mostly true.
Also fear.
Not fear she would reject him.
That would hurt.
Manageable.
Fear she wouldn’t.
That was worse.
If Elena kissed him back, she became something.
Someone close.
Someone enemies could see.
Someone he could lose.
He had spent decades designing a life against exactly that possibility.
Then one Thursday morning, Mia waited near the kitchen at seven.
As predicted months earlier.
She held Mr. Buttons by one repaired ear.
“Pancakes.”
Adrian sat.
“You have a home upstairs.”
“This is where pancakes are.”
Elena entered.
She looked tired.
Adrian frowned.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
Mia pointed.
“That means no.”
Elena glared at her daughter.
“Traitor.”
Adrian touched Elena’s forehead before thinking.
Warm.
Too warm.
She froze.
So did he.
“You have a fever.”
“It’s a cold.”
“You’re going upstairs.”
“I have work.”
“No.”
Elena raised an eyebrow.
He corrected.
“Please.”
She blinked.
Mia smiled.
“He says please now too.”
Adrian ignored her.
Elena did not.
“You’re improving.”
“Slowly.”
Elena ended up with influenza.
Nothing dramatic.
No conspiracy.
No poison.
Just a virus.
Adrian found that almost refreshing.
Then he discovered how unpleasant Elena became when sick.
“I do not need soup.”
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I’m nauseous.”
“Soup.”
“You’re controlling.”
“You’re feverish.”
“Still controlling.”
Mia sat beside her mother on the bed.
“Mommy, eat.”
Elena stared.
“Whose side are you on?”
Mia pointed at Adrian.
“He has soup.”
Reason defeated loyalty.
Elena ate.
That evening, Mia fell asleep in the armchair.
Elena’s fever finally lowered.
Adrian sat near the window.
“You don’t have to stay.”
“I know.”
“You have meetings.”
“Canceled.”
“Because I have the flu?”
“Because half my executives are idiots and meetings are overrated.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“You do this.”
“What?”
“Make people dependent.”
Adrian frowned.
“I bring soup.”
“You solve things.”
“Security.”
“Jobs.”
“Money.”
“Problems.”
Her voice softened.
“It feels safe.”
“That sounds bad when you say it.”
“It can be.”
Adrian looked at her.
Elena continued.
“If I start relying on you because you can make everything easy, I need to know I’m not confusing safety with…”
She stopped.
“With what?”
Her eyes met his.
“Something else.”
The room changed.
Adrian’s breathing slowed.
“What something else?”
“You know.”
“I want you to say it.”
Elena almost laughed.
“Of course you do.”
He stood.
Moved closer.
Not touching.
“You think I’m buying affection.”
“No.”
“Do you?”
“No.”
“Then?”
She looked toward sleeping Mia.
Then back.
“I’m scared.”
That honesty silenced him.
“Of me?”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“Of this being real.”
Adrian understood immediately.
Maybe too well.
“Good.”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
“I’m scared too.”
She stared.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Adrian Moretti?”
“Don’t spread it around.”
A laugh escaped her.
He smiled.
Then:
“Can I kiss you?”
Silence.
Elena looked at him.
The question mattered.
Not assumption.
Not order.
Choice.
“Yes.”
Adrian leaned down.
The first kiss was gentle.
Too gentle, maybe.
Years of control compressed into barely touching her.
Elena’s hand moved to the front of his shirt.
Then she kissed him back.
That destroyed the restraint.
Not violently.
Honestly.
Adrian cupped her cheek.
Elena leaned closer.
Warm.
Real.
Terrifying.
When they separated, both remained still.
Elena whispered:
“You look alarmed.”
“I’ve been shot with less concern.”
She laughed.
Then coughed.
Adrian stepped back instantly.
“Romantic.”
“You’re contagious.”
“Coward.”
“Yes.”
Mia opened one eye.
“I saw kissing.”
Both froze.
Elena covered her face.
“Mia.”
The toddler sat up.
“Can I have water?”
Adrian stared.
“That’s all?”
Mia looked confused.
“What else?”
Elena started laughing.
Adrian got water.
Life continued.
That frightened him almost as much as the kiss.
Because nothing exploded.
No enemy entered.
No punishment arrived.
He kissed a woman.
Then made a toddler water.
Maybe closeness did not automatically create catastrophe.
He was still learning.
Two days later, catastrophe arrived anyway.
Not because of the kiss.
Because Luca Vescari disappeared.
His ankle monitor was found near Newark.
His driver was dead.
His lawyer claimed ignorance.
Federal agents issued alerts.
Marcus called at midnight.
“He knows the case is strong.”
Adrian stood beside the bedroom window.
Elena slept behind him.
Mia in the adjoining room.
“What does he want?”
“Before disappearing, he emptied three accounts.”
“Money?”
“Eight million.”
“Escape fund.”
“Or war.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
Marcus continued:
“Nicholas says Vescari has one place he uses when everything collapses.”
“Where?”
“Old family property near Lake Michigan.”
Adrian went still.
Lake Michigan.
His father’s body.
“Coordinates?”
“Sending.”
Elena’s voice came behind him.
“You’re going.”
Adrian turned.
She was awake.
“Yes.”
“No.”
He almost smiled.
“Now who gives orders?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Federal agents can go.”
“They will.”
“Then why you?”
He could lie.
Didn’t.
“My father.”
Elena’s expression softened.
“Adrian.”
“I need to see where they put him.”
“You think Vescari will tell you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
He looked toward the floor.
“I don’t know.”
She stood.
Crossed to him.
“You want the ending.”
“Yes.”
“Daniel didn’t get one.”
“No.”
“Neither did I.”
He looked at her.
“And somehow we’re still here.”
She touched his hand.
“Don’t let a dead man pull you into becoming one.”
Adrian’s throat tightened.
“I’ll come back.”
Elena searched his face.
“Promise?”
There it was.
Mia’s language.
Simple.
Impossible.
Adrian answered anyway.
“Yes.”
She leaned up.
May you like
Kissed him once.
“Then keep it.”
