Page 204 of Damsel in Disguise

“He also happens to be the reason you’re getting into so much trouble, Ariella.”

I sigh dramatically. “Alistair specifically mentioned he found material related to our previous work. I’m only going early for that, nothing else.”

“That is exactly what bothers me.”

I tilt my head. “The research?”

“The timing.”

I stare at him blankly.

He continues, “You return to England even when I asked you not to, then you get arrested, and within practically no time at all, he contacts you asking for a private meeting.”

“It’s not private. It’s at the faculty office.”

His gaze hardens. “Ari.”

I fold my arms. “What exactly do you expect to do? Accompany me to every lecture? Sit outside every classroom? Follow me through campus for the rest of the semester?”

“If necessary,” he sighs. “Your dad was supposed to assign you some guards. Where are they?”

“Paid them off.”

“Ariella, you—” he exhales aloud. “I’m fucking gonna kill Asher.”

“Why are you here, Adrian?”

“Business issue.”

“I remember Asher saying this same thing. But why are you here?”

“Same thing.”

“Is it something related to Alistair?”

“Maybe… maybe not.”

I huff again. He won’t give me a straight answer. The human Adrian from last night is gone. And I don’t know when I’ll be getting a glimpse of him again.

“I’m going nowhere except my university,” I tell him more gently. “Just a little earlier than usual. You can stay here, deal with whatever business issue you two came here for, whatever it is you people do all day, and pick me up after classes end. Okay?”

His silence stretches for a few moments. I know that look.

His overthinking brain has already wandered into places mine refuses to visit.

Coincidences become patterns to him. Patterns become threats. The problem is that Adrian rarely overthinks without a reason.

Eventually, he exhales through his nose. “You keep your phone on.”

I blink. “That’s your condition?”

“You answer every call.”

“You’re aware I’m attending university and not enlisting in the military?”

“You. Answer. Every. Call,” he repeats, focusing on each word separately.

I throw my hands into the air. “Fine. Happy now?”