My eyes widen. "What do you mean?"
The doctor presses his hand to the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Mr. Nero…"
As though summoned by his name, Adrian steps through the door. He doesn't knock, doesn't announce himself, doesn't ask—he simply comes inside.
He's changed. Clean suit, no blood. His dark hair is slightly damp like he recently showered. He looks exactly like he did that night at the gala, polished and controlled and dangerously beautiful.
"Going somewhere?" His voice is casual. Like we're having a normal conversation.
Like he didn't murder someone a few hours ago. He's clearly insane, and I know I need to get out.
"I need to leave." My voice comes out shakier than I want. "My brother?—"
"Your brother is safe."
I pause. "How do you know that?" Especially since I don't know where he is. Gabe was clearly behind whatever went down in the alley, and I needed to find him before he ended up dead.
He doesn't answer. Just studies me with those silver eyes that see too much. "Sit down, Seraphina. We need to talk."
"I don't want to talk. I want to leave."
"That's not an option."
The words are matter of fact.
Final.
Fear spikes through me. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"I just saved your life. The least you can do is have a conversation." He takes a seat in the only chair in the room. "Sit. Please."
It's not really a request, but I appreciate that he frames it as one. And I do owe him an explanation.
After all, I'm carrying his child.
I cringe, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, wincing as I do so.
Adrian's eyes watch me, and I know they don't miss how I cringe.
"Let's start simple," he says.
I laugh sardonically. "Nothing about this is simple."
"Tell me about your brother."
"That's what you want to discuss?" Incredulity sharpens my voice. "Seriously?"
His eyes glance to my stomach. "We will get to the other things. Right now, I need to know about Gabriel."
I don't miss how he says my brother's name. Either Adrian knows him, or he ran a background check on me. Neither option is particularly appealing.
"Why do you want to discuss Gabe?"
"Because Dimitri Morozov was trying to kill you, and I'd like to know why."
The name means nothing to me. "I don't know who that is."
"The man in the alley. The one I killed." He says it so casually. "He works for the Morozov family. They control most of Brooklyn. Drugs, protection rackets, gambling."
