Darling Villain (Forbidden Fruit #1)

Chapter 11

Tiffany

T he time goes by a lot faster when I’m allowed to roam and explore the house.

With supervision, of course.

Arthur, my new guard, quietly shadows me as I wander through the house. He keeps a respectful distance but stays within earshot. I sense his gaze on me as I thoroughly examine every nook and cranny of the house.

After an hour of wandering through the brightly lit hallways and numerous guestrooms, I stumble upon a white door adorned with intricate patterns that remind me of those in old European castles. The smooth wood under my fingers beckons to be touched, and I trace the designs with childlike fascination.

“What’s behind this door?”

“The library.” Arthur breaks his silence. His voice sounds rough and deep as if he’s been chain-smoking for years.

“May I see it?”

He nods and holds the door for me.

The library is just as magnificent as the rest of the house. Rows upon rows of bookshelves, filled to the brim with books of all genres, line the walls. The smell of paper and leather, rich and earthy, fills the air and makes me feel nostalgic.

I run my fingers along the spines of books as I walk through the aisles. Each book seems to hold a secret, waiting to be discovered.

My childhood home was always filled with books; my mother was an avid reader and passed on her love of literature to me. I remember spending countless hours curled up in my mother’s lap, listening to her voice as she read me story after story.

Olivia and I frequently snuck into the library every chance we got, pulling out books and losing ourselves in different worlds. We’d sit in the leather armchairs, with our legs tucked under us, reading books for hours on end. It was our secret hideaway, our escape from reality.

After our mother passed away, reading lost its magic for me. It was hard to find joy in something that reminded me so much of her. Instead, I turned to other outlets like numbers and spreadsheets. But being in this library, surrounded by the smell of books and the quiet stillness of the room, a spark of that magic returns.

I stop in front of one shelf and choose a random book.

A crime novel, judging by the cover. As I peruse the shelves more closely, I notice that most of the books are mysteries, thrillers, or detectives. Who’d have thought that Adrien Leroy would be so predictable? Dead bodies and hidden secrets seem to be recurring themes among his collection.

I return the book to its place and turn to Arthur. “Can I borrow some books?”

“You can borrow as many as you like. Just make sure you return them when you’re done.”

I spend the afternoon lounging in a comfortable leather armchair, engrossed in the pages of a gripping murder mystery. I haven’t enjoyed this level of luxury—hours to simply indulge in reading without interruption—in quite some time.

Before I know it, the sun is setting outside. As I stand up to stretch my cramped limbs, I notice Arthur standing nearby, quietly watching over me.

“Is it time for dinner?” I ask.

Arthur nods.

“Perfect. I’m starving.”

The delicious aroma of food wafts through the air as we make our way to the dining room. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since breakfast.

Arthur holds the door and I step into the room, my eyes widening in surprise.

The dining room is lit by soft candlelight, their flames flickering softly in the dimly lit room. A bouquet of red roses sits in a crystal vase at the center of the table, their sweet scent filling the room. A bottle of wine and two crystal glasses, glimmering in the candlelight, sit next to the roses.

It is way too romantic for my liking.

And then there’s Adrien.

He stands by the window, gazing out at the beautiful garden. As soon as he hears us come in, he turns towards us and our eyes meet. For a brief moment, we simply stand there, taking each other in.

In his sharp black suit, light blue shirt, and sleek black tie, Adrien projects an air of confidence. It’s almost unfair how effortlessly he wears the clothes; they seem designed to accentuate his toned body and make me yearn to touch him, run my fingers along his sharp jawline.

“Good evening,” Adrien greets me. His voice is deep and smooth, like velvety dark chocolate.

I force myself to tear my gaze away from him and smile politely. “Good evening.”

He walks over to the table set for two and pulls out a chair for me. I hesitantly take a seat, sinking into the soft velvet cushion beneath me.

As Arthur disappears into the kitchen, Adrien takes the seat across from me, pouring each a glass of white wine. I take a sip, savoring the crisp and refreshing taste that lingers on my tongue.

“I hope you’re hungry. Katherine has prepared a five-course dinner tonight.”

“From the looks of it, you’re either trying to seduce me or distract me from asking my well-earned question,” I say, unable to help myself. “Which is it?”

His lips quirk up into a smirk. “Is one of them working?”

I roll my eyes, but I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks. “I’m not sure yet.”

He laughs and the sound of it echoes through the room, a warm and infectious melody. “That’s too bad. I thought I was doing a great job.”

I try to ignore the flutter in my stomach as Katherine brings out the first course—a beautifully plated dish of seared scallops with lemon butter sauce served with a side of roasted vegetables. The aroma is tantalizing, and my mouth waters at the sight. I pick up my fork and take a small bite.

It’s delicious, the perfect blend of tangy and savory flavors melting in my mouth.

I let out a contented sigh.

She truly is a wonderful cook.

I notice Adrien watching me closely, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. To distract myself, I focus on my food and take another bite of the perfectly seasoned vegetables.

When we get our second dish, a fragrant bowl of creamy tomato bisque topped with a drizzle of basil-infused oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, Adrien interrupts the comfortable silence.

“What do you think of the house?” Adrien asks, taking a sip of his white wine.

I shrug and take in the opulent surroundings. “It’s stunning.”

It’s a multi-million dollar mansion straight out of a luxury home magazine. But then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone like Adrien Leroy.

“It is. I love it here,” Adrien says, almost wistfully. “Sometimes, I wish I could stay in this peace and quiet forever.”

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. “Really? You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys peace and quiet.”

“I can appreciate moments of tranquility every now and then. It helps me recharge and focus. It also reminds me of my childhood home back in Italy.”

The mention of Italy catches my attention. It’s the first time Adrien has shared something personal, a glimpse into his past. I sense a vulnerability in his words, a hint of longing that softens his usually guarded demeanor.

It was probably an accident, but the crack in his armor intrigues me. I decide not to press him further on the subject, though my curiosity burns like wildfire. Instead, I nod and take another spoonful of soup before asking, “What’s holding you back from staying here full-time?”

“Responsibilities, I suppose. My business demands my attention. It would mean leaving my work behind, changing who I am, and becoming someone else entirely. My work is in the city. That’s where I need to be.”

“Then why did you bring me here? If this place means so much to you.” I set down my spoon and give him my undivided attention.

“I brought you here because the first time I saw you, I knew there was something special about you,” Adrien admits, leaning back in his chair. “You intrigue me, angel.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, and I take a gulp of wine to steady my nerves. I can feel Adrien’s sharp gaze on me, and I wonder what he sees when he looks at me. Does he see the same scared, vulnerable girl that I see in the mirror every morning? Or does he see someone else entirely?

“You have a way of getting under my skin,” Adrien continues, his voice low and husky. “I can’t stop thinking about you, even though I’ve only known you for a few days. You’re a puzzle waiting to be solved.”

His words are both enticing and dangerous. There is always a price to pay when getting involved with charming men like Adrien.

I know I need to keep my guard up, but the way he’s looking at me makes it almost impossible.

I clear my throat. “Do you say that to all I the women you bring here? I’m not a puzzle to be solved, Adrien. I’m a person with my own thoughts and feelings. You shouldn’t treat me like a game to be won.”

“Oh, angel, I am not treating you like a game. And I am not trying to win anything. I want to understand you, every part of you. I want to unravel your secrets and hidden desires, and discover the fears that make your heart race.”

“Is that why you essentially kidnapped me?” I ask, my tone laced with sarcasm. “To uncover all of my secrets? If you wanted to sleep with me, there were easier ways to go about it.”

With his icy blue eyes, golden skin, and perfectly tousled hair, Adrien Leroy radiates sex appeal. If he had simply asked me to sleep with him, I probably would have said yes, despite my better judgment. Now, there’s no way in hell I’m going to fall for his games.

He grins. “Sleeping with you was never my intention, angel. Though I can’t deny it’s an appealing idea.”

Katherine interrupts our conversation bringing out the third course—a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak with peppercorn sauce, served with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. I’m quite full, but the food is too delicious to pass up.

As I savor the meal, I can’t help but watch Adrien. He eats with precision and grace, using his utensils like a skilled surgeon. It’s almost hypnotizing to watch him slice each piece of meat carefully and chew slowly and methodically. He doesn’t seem like someone who enjoys food; rather, he sees it as mere fuel for his body.

After we finish our meal and Katherine clears the empty plates, she brings out a dessert, decadent chocolate mousse. Adrien pours a glass of Muscat wine for each of us. We sit in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the rich chocolate flavor of the dessert and the sweet wine. It’s comfortable, but there’s an undercurrent of tension, like two people circling each other in a boxing ring.

“I still have one question left.” I break the silence.

Adrien swirls his wine glass. “And what do you want to ask?”

“You said my uncle double-crossed you. How?”

I need to know the truth, but I’m afraid of what I might hear.

Adrien’s expression darkens at the mention of my uncle. He sets his wineglass down and leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table.

“He got me involved in a deal that went sour.” Adrien is blunt. “Your uncle didn’t think he’d get caught, but he put me in a terrible position. One that could have ruined my business. Fortunately for him, I was able to come out relatively unscathed.”

A knot forms in the pit of my stomach as he continues, “He needed safe transport for illegal goods from Russia.” He grits his teeth. “If you know the right people, you can smuggle anything for the right price. Stolen artwork, guns, contraband. It’s easy. I have a few rules, though. I steer clear of drug dealing and human trafficking, a fact your uncle knew. I’m not a slave trader, I don’t care how much money it pays. Human trafficking is the lowest of the low.”

“Are you telling me that...?” I can’t even finish the thought.

“Yes, your uncle is the lowest of the low,” Adrien says. “He tried to drag me into the filthiest of businesses, and I paid a heavy price for it.”

My uncle is a criminal.

I always suspected he was playing dirty, but I never thought it would be this dark and dangerous.

Adrien’s words hang heavy in the air, filling the room with a sense of foreboding. I try to wrap my head around the fact that my own flesh and blood would stoop so low, into the depths of human depravity in his pursuit of wealth and power.

The man I cared for, the man who raised me after my parents’ death, is not who I thought he was.

“What happened?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Your uncle told me he needed someone who could smuggle the guns without asking questions, without getting involved. Just drive, deliver, and leave.” Adrien watches me closely, his eyes assessing my every reaction. “The deal went to shit.”

My mouth is dry, my hands—clammy.

“My trains are guarded, but it’s just a precaution unless there’s a specific cause—the trains aren’t checked, we just ensure their safe passage through borders. Except the police in Germany stopped that train. Someone had tipped them off. The German police found people locked in the train, in the cargo cars, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. They started asking questions—of course, I had no answers.”

My stomach tightens with nausea. I hear his words, but they don’t fully register.

“Your uncle made me a scapegoat.” Adrien’s eyes are hard. “And that, Tiffany, is unforgivable. He put my business, everything I’ve worked for, at risk.”

“What did you do? To get out of it?”

“I had to make a deal with people who, frankly, I didn’t want to associate with, who I’d rather not owe anything to. They’re dangerous and they can’t be trusted. They’re very good at what they do, though, and they helped me get out of the mess, but now I owe them a great deal.”

My head is spinning with this new information—my uncle and Adrien are involved in shady dealings, and I’m caught in the middle of it all.

Flashes of the past come rushing back to me, memories of the days following my parents’ tragic death. My uncle Dean had moved into our family’s manor on Carter to take care of us. I can still hear the cries and screams that would fill the halls at night, full of pain and terror. The hushed whispers of secrets and forbidden activities that permeated the air.

At the time, my sister Olivia thought I was just making everything up as a coping mechanism for my grief. But now, as I sit here and listen to Adrien’s confession, it all becomes clear. Those nights were not just a product of my imagination; they were a result of the criminal empire thriving within the walls of my uncle’s mansion.

Monsters, those were real too. They still live among us, hidden behind polished smiles and genteel manners. And Adrien, sitting in front of me, is entangled in this dark web of deceit.

The truth is harsh and bitter, yet strangely liberating. I’ve spent my entire life sheltered from the darkness that lived within my family and all around me, but now it’s staring me right in the face.

I meet Adrien’s eyes. “So... what now?”

He pauses, his eyes betraying a flicker of emotion that I can’t quite decipher. “Now, I have to figure out how to deal with your uncle. He’s caused me more trouble than I’m willing to forgive, and I refuse to let him get away with it. Are you willing to help me, Tiffany?”

While I’m still unsure of the details, I want no part in this twisted game. Adrien will use me as a mere tool to achieve his goals, manipulating me along the way. But do I have any other choice? I am nothing but a bystander, an insignificant figure in the power struggle between Adrien and my uncle. I know nothing about my family’s under-the-table dealings.

“What exactly do you want from me?”

Adrien leans in closer, his eyes intense and unwavering. “You’re going to tell me everything you know about your uncle, including his habits, his moves, his contacts. To close his human trafficking ring, first I need to figure out where all the operations are being run, and your uncle is the key to that. Can you do that for me, Tiffany?”

I stare at Adrien in disbelief. He wants me to spy on my own family. My uncle, who has been my only remaining family since my parents’ death? How am I supposed to betray him and hand over information about my flesh and blood?

“Do you know what your uncle is doing to all those innocent people he’s trafficking? The lives he’s ruining?” Adrien’s voice is low, but his words cut through me like a knife. “He’s not just involved in illegal activities; he’s destroying lives, tearing families apart, and causing irreparable harm. I understand this is a hard request. But don’t you want to protect yourself and your sister? Make sure that nothing bad happens to you or anyone else in your family? If we don’t stop him, he will destroy more innocent lives.”

My entire life, I’ve been taught to put family first and be loyal no matter what. But at this moment, that loyalty feels like shackles, chaining me to a sinking ship. If I continue to protect my uncle, I am only enabling his criminal activities and endangering myself and Olivia.

“What about me and my sister?”

“I will make sure you and Olivia are safe and not dragged into this mess any further,” Adrien promises. “I have resources and connections that can ensure your protection. But we need to act swiftly and decisively. Think about it, Tiffany, and make the right choice.”

With that, Adrien stands up and strides towards the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts swirling like a tumultuous storm.

That night, as the moonlight filters through my window, I stare at the ceiling and think about those poor women trapped in darkness, their cries unheard and their suffering unseen in the manor’s underground passages Olivia and I used to sneak into before Dean moved in. I think about the secrets hidden beneath the opulent facade of our family’s manor. The parties thrown in the glittering ballrooms, the whispered deals struck in shadowy corners.

If I don’t act, if I don’t do something to stop my uncle, the cycle of cruelty and exploitation will continue unchecked and the monsters will keep thriving in the shadows, preying on the vulnerable. Adrien’s words echo in my mind, urging me to make a choice—a choice that could change everything.

As the sun creeps over the horizon, casting a golden hue over the manor, I know what I have to do.