Chapter 22
Brax
My pulse charges through me like it's trying to split my ribs apart. I slam the SUV door outside Adrian's building and stomp toward the entrance.
Adrian has no right to summon me like he's Liam, but there's no way I'm risking him showing up at Valentina's door. And our talk is long overdue.
I don't check in at security, and they don't attempt to stop me. I get into the elevator, press my palm on the screen, and it rises quickly to the penthouse. I step out into the lobby, past the open door, and come face-to-face with Adrian and Blue.
The air instantly sharpens. Adrian stands near the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, hands behind his back like he's preparing for a firing squad.
Blue sits on the couch, clutching her elbow, her face pale. A long red scratch trails up her forearm.
The hairs on my neck rise.
What the fuck is she up to now?
She catches my gaze, and a tiny smirk appears.
Adrian lunges toward me. His Russian accent is thicker than normal. He snarls, "We've got a problem, and you're lucky I'm letting you breathe right now!"
My self-control snaps. I seethe, "Oh, we definitely have a problem!"
Adrian moves toward me, and Blue jumps off the sofa. She slips between us. "Dad, don't do something stupid."
"Get out of my way," he warns her, his icy-blue eyes balls of rage.
She steps backward against me. "More violence doesn't solve anything!"
I take three steps to the left. I warn, "Don't touch me!"
She sucks in a wet, trembling breath and stumbles.
Adrian's scowl turns hotter. He grabs Blue and snarls, "Your wife slit my daughter's arm."
I jerk my head backward.
No way.
Maybe.
No. She would have told me.
I point at Blue. "She's lying."
Her voice turns to sweet victim-mode. "Brax, I didn't do anything, I swear. She—she saw me on the street and just lost it. She pulled out her pocket knife, and before I recognized who she was, she slit my arm!"
"Bullshit," I spit.
Blue flinches dramatically.
Adrian roars, "Look at the blood! She's going to have a scar!!" He holds her arm toward me.
I step forward, chest expanding with heat. "Valentina didn't touch her. But let me tell you what your daughter's been up to."
"What's that?" Adrian hisses.
"I've done nothing, Dad!" Blue claims.
I sarcastically chuckle.
Adrian booms, "You find this funny?"
I stop laughing. "Not at all. And what's really not funny is that your daughter's been stalking me for months. She's broken into my place several times, and today she had the nerve to break into Valentina's!"
Blue gasps, shoulders trembling. "You're lying." She turns toward Adrian. "He's lying, Dad. He's just covering for that...that Abruzzo wife of his!"
I point at her, snipping, "You need help, Blue. You're delusional."
"Watch your mouth," Adrian orders.
"Are you not hearing what I'm telling you? She's stalking us!" I say louder than I should.
His eyes narrow. He glances at Blue, then back at me.
I continue, "She's followed me to the gym. She lurks outside my place. She breaks into our homes. What more do you need to know to get her some help?"
"I don't need help, Brax! She's poisoning your mind!" Blue claims.
"More delusional crap," I declare.
Adrian's jaw clenches.
"H-how can you be so mean?" Blue asks, tears spilling over her eyes.
I step toward Adrian. "Think about it. How many years have you warned me to stay away from your daughter, and how many times have I told you I've never considered touching her and never will?"
He doesn't say anything.
"This sick crush she has on me isn't little anymore. She's got mental problems. You need to help her," I reiterate.
Blue puts her hand on my arm. "Brax! Don't say stuff like that."
I shrug out of it. "Don't touch me!"
Adrian barks, "Blue, leave. Now."
She gapes at him.
"I said now," he orders.
A wounded expression floods her face. She gives me a final look and sulks out of the room.
Adrian prowls closer, shoulders squared, anger radiating off him in controlled pulses. "What have you done with my daughter?"
I close my fists at my side. "Jesus Christ, Adrian. How many times do I have to go over this with you?"
Adrian thunders, "My daughter's arm is cut!"
"She obviously cut herself for this little stunt she planned in case Valentina and I decided to press charges!" I roar.
"Press charges," Adrian growls.
"That's what happens to adults who break into other people's homes," I point out.
His cheeks turn maroon. He grits through his teeth, "Traitor! You come into my home and threaten my daughter with the cops?"
I take several deep breaths and lower my tone. "No. You know I would never involve cops in anything."
"But that Abruzzo wife of yours would?" he says with disdain in his tone.
"Watch your mouth when you speak of my wife," I warn.
Tense silence fills the air.
I try again. "Adrian, Blue has serious issues going on. She crossed the line today by breaking into my wife's home. This has gone on way too long anyway."
"And why don't you fill me in a little more about what's gone on between you two?" he accuses.
I explode, "I haven't touched her. I've never laid a finger on her and never crossed a line. I've done everything I can to convince her to end this crush she has on me, which now is a full-blown obsession."
Adrian scoffs. "You expect me to believe that? When she looks at you with stars in her eyes?"
It's a punch straight to my spine. I declare, "That's not my fault."
"Isn't it?"
"No. It's not," I insist.
He growls, "You'd better get your wife in line. If she touches my daughter ever again—"
"Don't you dare threaten my wife! You keep your crazy daughter away from what's mine, and that includes my wife!" I shout.
"Her survival rate only goes up if she doesn't touch my family again!" he counters.
"That scratch was self-inflicted. Valentina didn't do that," I insist, but the back of my mind wonders if she left it out.
No. Blue is delusional and did it to herself.
Adrian circles me like he's ready to strike. "You're blind where she's concerned. And blindness creates catastrophe. If I must intervene to rectify this—"
I grab him by the shirt and push him against the wall. "Threaten my wife again, and you'll have a catastrophe on your hands."
He wraps his hand around my neck, squeezes, and pushes me backward.
I move my hands to his neck and do the same.
Skylar storms in, hair tied up, cheeks flushed, eyes blazing. "What is going on in here?"
Adrian and I don't take our glares off each other, both of us choking.
Skylar pushes her tiny body between us. "Enough!"
Blue shrieks, "Oh my God! Dad, let Brax go!" She shifts in front of Skylar and pushes her body against mine.
I release Adrian and pry his hands off my neck, then jump backward. I catch my breath and point at Blue. "Don't you dare touch me!"
"Adrian! What is going on?" Skylar demands again.
Adrian points at me. "His Abruzzo wife sliced Blue's arm!"
"What?" Skylar's eyes widen. She grabs Blue's arm, and the color drains from her face.
I insist, "Valentina did no such thing. Blue broke into her house and has been stalking us. She's broken into mine several times over the last few months."
Skylar gapes at me.
"It's true," I add.
She slowly looks at Blue.
"His wife is making things up. You know how Abruzzos are. Look at my arm." Her eyes fill with tears.
"Cut the act," I mutter.
"Don't you speak to my daughter," Adrian warns.
"Your daughter needs help," I repeat.
Skylar's eyes widen. "Help? What do you mean help?"
Adrian shoots me a death glare. "He's lying. Don't listen to such nonsense."
I bark a humorless laugh. "Skylar, please listen since your husband won't. Blue is stalking me and now my wife. She follows us, breaks into our homes, and blows up my phone even though I won't answer. I can show you the text messages."
Blue gasps.
Skylar looks at her in horror.
"He-he's lying," she weakly claims.
Adrian puts his stake deeper in the ground. "He is. If this were happening, he would have told us."
"I didn't want to embarrass her. Or you or Skylar. I thought it was just a stupid crush that would pass," I confess.
Skylar's hand flies to her mouth. Her eyes soften into worry. "Oh God."
Adrian's expression darkens further. "Printsessa, you're not buying this?"
Skylar looks between Blue and Adrian. Then she looks at me.
"I'm not lying," I softly repeat, begging her to believe me.
Adrian spits venom. "Your wife—"
"She's not the one sneaking around people's apartments."
"Valentina Abruzzo—"
"Enough!" Skylar turns toward Adrian.
Surprise fills his expression. He doesn't move.
Skylar's lips tremble. She orders, "Don't you dare say another word about his wife."
Adrian's eyes widen.
Her voice shakes. "Brax has never lied to us. If this is true, Blue needs a doctor."
"What? Mom!" Blue cries out.
Skylar spins on her. She grabs her arm. "How did you do this?"
Blue's mouth hangs open.
"Skylar!" Adrian scolds.
Her eyes well. She shakes her head at Adrian. Worry, fear, and sadness fill her voice. "These are serious accusations."
Adrian scoffs, "Yes. Accusations being the keyword."
I shake my head at him. "Why would I lie about this?"
"To cover for that snake of a wife you have!"
"Adrian! Stop it!" Skylar fires.
He breathes hard, staring at her.
"You are too blinded by pride," she softly states.
"Mom! Brax is lying!" Blue tries again.
I scoff. "Believe whatever you want, but I'm done dealing with it quietly. Keep your daughter away from me and from Valentina."
Skylar nods, earning a glare from her husband. Still, she says, "Brax, I'm so sorry."
My heart hurts. The Ivanovs have always been good friends with the O'Malleys, and Skylar has always been sweet to me. Adrian only started giving me shit once Blue got her crush on me.
I don't say anything. I nod.
Skylar puts her hand on my arm. "I'll walk you out."
I give Adrian one final look, ignore Blue, and move toward the exit. I press the elevator button.
Skylar quietly says, "I'm very sorry for what our daughter has done. Please tell your wife we are sorry as well."
I release an agitated breath. "Get her help, Skylar. Seriously. She's delusional. I tried everything to get her to stop on her own, but she won't leave me alone. Now she's going after Valentina. I won't have it."
A mother's heartbreak flickers in her gaze, mixing with fear.
I add, "Just like Adrian needs to protect his family, I need to protect mine."
She blinks hard and nods. "I understand. I'll handle it."
"Thank you." I step on the elevator and pull out my phone. I dial my wife.
She answers on the second ring, breathless. "Hey. You okay?"
"Did you scratch Blue?" I ask.
Silence sharpens.
My gut drops. "Did you?"
"What in God's name are you asking me?" she spouts.
"I'm asking you if you took your pocket knife and sliced her arm open." I close my eyes and lean against the wall.
Her tone stiffens. "No. Brax, what kind of question is that?"
"Just answer me straight."
Each word comes out clipped with restrained anger. "Are you serious right now?"
"I need to know."
"Of course I didn't. If you don't believe me, talk to security."
Relief fills me, but I still reconfirm. "You swear?"
She gasps, offended in a way that hits me straight in the chest. "I can't believe you're asking me this again. After everything I told you about her chasing me around? After every time I warned you? Wow."
"Valentina—"
"No. You got your answer. Talk to security since you don't believe me." Her voice cracks with fury. The line clicks dead.
The elevator keeps descending, but everything inside me sinks faster.
By the time the doors open, the entire situation haunts me. Adrian's accusations, Blue's lies, and the fact that Valentina hung up with ice in her voice instead of warmth, all give me a pounding headache.
I step out onto the sidewalk, shove a hand into my hair, and let the cold hit my face like punishment.
Everything is falling apart.
And I'm the idiot standing in the middle of the wreckage with no damn clue how to fix any of it.