Xander took a step away from her mother. “Adria, I want to apologize again for the Sombras De Salva’s behavior yesterday. I’ve spoken to Gabriel; they will no longer be a threat to you or your entourage.”
Adria gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, Xander.”
Xander smoothed his shirt before saying, “As discussed yesterday, I do not think your mother fully considered the danger she was putting them in.”
“I understood,” her mother interrupted. “I wanted to see how capable my daughter’s suitors were.”
Adria shot her mother a look. Yesterday, they’d argued—Adria hated how Sophia had treated Bryson, Kaydon, and Seth. Her mother had bristled at first but eventually agreed to do better.
“Did you find your ring yet?” Adria asked.
“No,” Sophia said, lifting her coffee and taking a sip.
Xander gave the two of them a slight bow before moving out of the room.
Adria hesitated. “I keep having that dream—the one about Alexey.”
Her mother’s fingers froze. It was a slight motion, but Adria caught it.
“Except now it’s less of a dream and more of a memory.”
Adria saw the images clearly.
“I remember Maxim cutting him and you stopping him. What I can’t figure out is why you are covering for him.”
Her mother set her phone down and pressed her lips into a line.
“You were so young. I didn’t think you would remember.”
“Why did he kill him?” Adria asked.
Her mother eyed her before saying. “Why did Maxim do anything? He was probably trying to cover his own ass. You should never have had to see something like that.”
Anger, hurt, and shame swirled in Adria’s body. Xander wanted her to move forward. Bryson wanted her to look back, and Adria…
She just wanted her mother to see her.
“Do you have any idea what things I saw after you left?” Adria said, fear filling her voice.
Her mother sighed. “Xander told me a few things.”
“I can assure you, living them was a lot worse,” Adria said.
Her mother locked eyes with her. “Then make them pay, Adria. Your father and Jonathan are dead, but the rest of them are just as guilty. Work with me, and together we can take them down. Remake the Triune the way we see fit.”
The lust for revenge in her mother’s voice surprised Adria. She wished Bryson was here to see it. Her mother cared that Adria had been hurt.
“I’m willing to take them down, but not if it hurts Bryson, Kaydon, or Seth. Are we understood?”
Her mother nodded.
“Cole comes in tomorrow. I want you to meet him in town with Eric.”
With that, Sophia left the room.
CHAPTER 57
CURITIBA PARANÁ
