I follow him to the terrace. He lights a cigarette, offers me one. I decline. "Those things will kill you."
He laughs. "The Russians are getting aggressive," he tells me. "Pushing into territories that were agreed upon years ago. We need to present a united front."
"Agreed."
"Good." He takes a drag.
"And the heir situation?"
My jaw tightens. Adrian knows how badly Antonio wants an heir. After all, it was key to our part of the contract negotiations. "We're working on it."
"No pressure. These things take time, but you'll want to make sure you are doing your part."
I don't respond, but my brow lifts. "You really want to talk about your sister's sex life."
He has the good sense to look disgusted. "Not particularly." He takes a drag of his cigarette. "I simply want to ensure that things are going well."
"You want to make sure I'm happy with my acquisition, so I don't back out of our agreement," I say, plainly.
He studies me. "Yes," he tells me, plainly. "Gemma is upset. I get it, but she just needs time to adjust." His silver eyes narrow on me. "You both do."
"And if she doesn't? How far are you willing to go to ensure your investment?" I ask.
He puffs on the end of his cigarette. "Then you handle it however you need to. That's the agreement. I don't interfere in other men's homes unless I need to."
"Unless you need to?" I repeat questioningly.
"Unless the contract is broken." He meets my eyes. "As long as you uphold your end, what happens in your home is your business."
So that's it. That's all she is to him.
A bargaining chip. Handed over and forgotten. She'd told me as much, but I hadn't fully believed it until now. But watching Adrian's face, seeing his complete indifference, he really doesn't care. As long as I don't break the contract, he'll bury his head in the sand and allow his sister to be miserable.
"What would you do," I ask slowly, "if I was harming her?"
Adrian laughs. Short, dismissive. "You wouldn't. You're not stupid. Harming her means breaking the contract and breaking the contract means war. You don't want that. Antonio doesn't want that." He drops his cigarette, crushes it under his shoe. "Besides, Gemma's tougher than she looks. She can handle you."
Can she?
He handed her over and decided she was handled.
Problem solved.
My hands curl into fists. I feel anger on her behalf. I may not give a fuck about Gemma, but her brother should.
"We should get back," Adrian says. "Our wives are probably wondering where we are."
I follow him inside, but my mind is elsewhere.
Adrian Nero is arrogant. Comfortable. He thinks he won. Thinks he secured the alliance, protected his sister, maintained his power.
He thinks he's untouchable.
And that pisses me off more than anything else tonight.
The car ride home is silent.
Gemma sits beside me, staring out the window. She's not asking about my conversation with Adrian. Not pushing about my decision on her proposal.
