He studies me for what feels like an eternity. "You'd let me punish your wife?"
"I'd let you handle your sister's betrayal." I hold his gaze. "That's the alliance working. That's mutual respect. That's me putting the partnership first."
He snickers, but it lacks mirth. "Fuck." He shakes his head. "I'm understanding why she didn't want to marry you. You are a shit husband." He sits back down. "A good Don, but a shit husband. I'd burn you to the ground before I'd allow you to discipline my wife."
I swallow heavily, trying to keep my cool. "Gemma and I weren't a love match," I remind him. "And I'm doing you a favor."
"A favor?" he chuckles. "You are saving your own skin. If Alexei didn't know what the fuck Gemma was doing, you never would have told me."
"No," I admit. "I wouldn't have, and I'll confess, I had fun fucking with you." His fingers flex, eyes narrowed. He's trying to control himself. Good, that means he doesn't want this to go south. My suspicions were correct. He needs this alliance. "But I'm head of the family now," I stand. "The time for childishness is over. I'm making the hard choice. The one a leader has to make."
Adrian is quiet for a long moment. Neither of us blink. And then, he speaks. "I want her brought here. Tonight."
My stomach drops. I didn't expect him to want to do things this soon. "Adrian?—"
"You said I could handle this. I'm handling it. Bring me my sister. Now."
"It's late. She's asleep. This can wait—" I can't help it; I want to protect Gemma.
"Now, Saint." His voice is ice. I bristle at the order. No one fucking orders me around. Then, he says the magic words. The ones that make me fold. "Do it, or I invoke the contract and take everything. Bring her, allow me to handle it, and we are square."
I close my eyes. This is it. The moment.
Choose Gemma or choose the family.
Choose love or choose duty.
Choose who I want to be or who I have to be.
"I'll bring her," I hear myself say.
"Good." Adrian stands. "And Saint? When she gets here, you leave. This is between me and her. Family business."
"No," I snap. "She is still my wife, and there's a line."
His silver eyes, same as his sister's, are lifeless, and for a moment, I do consider that he might kill Gemma. "My sister threatened my wife and children?—"
"She did not," I remind him. "There was no threat."
He laughs, but it's cold. "Alexei is a threat to us all. He's the reason I haven't put a bullet in your head."
It pains me to take Adrian's bullshit, but I do. For the good of the family.
"I want your word that she won't be seriously injured."
"You want my word?" He laughs. "You're giving me your wife to punish for betraying me, and you want my word I'll be gentle?"
"I want your word she'll be alive when this is over," I chuckle, trying to appear blasé. "I still need an heir."
He stares at me. "Fine. She'll be alive. But that's all I'm promising."
It should be enough. Code says wives aren't killed. Adrian's word that she'll survive should be enough.
But something in his eyes makes me uneasy. And yet, I capitulate.
"I'll be back in an hour," I say.
I leave before he can respond. Before I can change my mind. Before I can see the truth in his face.
