Chapter 46
CURITIBA PARANá
Adria wandered through the vast estate, trying to find one of the kitchens. She’d never encountered anything like Xander’s home—its lavish decor was almost overwhelming. After a few wrong turns, the warm aroma of breakfast finally guided her the right way.
She stepped into a bright sunlit kitchen, where Xander sat at the giant island, sipping coffee. He stood as she appeared.
“I could have had someone bring you tea,” he offered.
On the back wall was a heaping buffet. A cornucopia of breakfast foods. Adria dished herself a waffle. “Please,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “Black tea with sugar?”
“And a splash of milk,” she added.
Xander rang a small bell, and a servant appeared at once, noted his request, and vanished. Soon Adria held a warm mug and was perched on a stool.
“It feels odd sitting across from you,” Xander admitted.
She sipped her tea. “Tell me about it. You’ve always been just an ‘x’ on my screen.”
He laughed. “I suppose I should be grateful I at least knew your face.”
Her mug paused halfway to her lips. “You’ve seen me?”
“Quite a bit,” he said, refilling his cup. “Your mother used to send me to check on you.”
Adria spun the spoon in her tea, swirling the dark liquid.
“Why didn’t you ever just stop by?”
Xander paused, looking at her. “That would have been against the rules, my dear.”
Adria didn’t need to ask whose rules he was talking about.
“How long have you two been together?”
Xander opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a soft voice floated in.
“What’s happening in here?”
Her mother appeared in the doorway and Xander stood.
“I was just telling Adria how strange it is finally having her here,” he said.
Her mother tucked a strand of hair behind Adria’s ear and kissed her forehead. Adria felt like a child again—family intact, mornings filled with waffles and laughter.
“I don’t think it’s strange at all,” she said, snapping her fingers, bringing a butler to refill her coffee. “I think it’s wonderful.”
Xander nodded. “Of course, darling. If you ladies would excuse me, I have some work to attend to.”
Her mother served herself bacon and eggs, then sat across from Adria.
“What is it Xander does down here, exactly?” Adria asked, taking a bite of her waffle.
Her mother pushed the bacon to the far side of her plate. Parsing the items so each had its own quadrant. “He is head of the Sombras da Selva. A large organization down here, encompassing all of Brazil and most of Argentina.”
Adria’s eyes widened. “That’s quite the accomplishment.”
The Nine were aware of the Sombras de Selva and their power. What they were not privy to was the name of their leader. So far, the gang had stayed out of the Nine’s affairs and hadn’t drawn any undue attention their way. Now Adria knew why.
“Xander works hard,” her mother said. “And he has me.”
Adria gave her mother a smile.
“Work is something we all should be doing. You slept half the day away and now we are getting a late start on things,” her mother said, pushing her plate away with only a few bites of food taken.
The sun hit her mother’s hair and Adria remembered the mornings where the two of them would sit on the sundeck watching the sunset. A grin spread across Adria’s face. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Her mother smiled softly. “Let’s talk about tomorrow, not yesterday.”
“But the past feels so close,” Adria said, brushing her mother’s hand. “This ring, your necklace, your scent—it brings it all back.”
Her mother laughed gently. “Adria, don’t be silly. You barely remember me.”
Adria decisively shook her head. “I worried about forgetting you every day. But I never could.”
“More coffee?” Sophia offered.
“Just tea,” Adria replied.
Her mother’s lips pressed together as if tea annoyed her. Adria continued, “You used to drink tea, too.”
“People change,” her mother mused.
Adria gestured at her mother’s choice in breakfast. “But Saturday breakfasts stayed the same. You always loved waffles.”
Sophia’s expression darkened. “That was the one day your father refused to work.”
Adria gripped the counter, not wanting Ivan to invade her memories.
“I had a dream about you last night,” Adria said.
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Adria said. “You were making breakfast, and Alexey was dying in the pantry.”
Adria laughed at the silliness of it. “Dreams are so interesting. I mean, you, I get, but why in the world would I be dreaming of Alexey? Whatever happened to him anyway?”
Sophia finished her coffee and waved away the waiting servant. “I don’t remember Alexey.”
Adria blinked. “You don’t? He made all our meals—cookies, p?o de queijo, even cuscuz.”
Sophia snapped, “It was a long time ago. I said I don’t remember.”
Adria’s mouth fell open.
Her mother’s voice softened. “Let’s focus on what matters.”
Adria bit her bacon, hurt. Her mother leaned forward. “Did Bryson talk to you after dinner?”
“No, actually. He went for a walk instead.”
Now that Adria thought about it, she didn’t even remember him coming to bed.
“Figures,” her mother said.
“What does that mean?” Adria said.
“He wants to pretend he doesn’t know about his father’s dealings. It’s admirable really. Protecting family like that. But for your position to turn favorable, you’re going to need to maneuver his cooperation.”
Adria’s chewing slowed. “If Bryson says he doesn’t know, I believe him.”
Her mother gave her a patronizing look. “Trust is a delicate thing, my dear.”
“I’m aware,” Adria said. “But Bryson has just as much to lose in this as I do.”
“I doubt that very much,” her mother said.
Anger simmered in Adria’s middle. She didn’t like the direction this was going.
“Where have you been?” Adria said, her voice smaller than she would have liked.
Her mother turned, putting both her hands together.
She hit Adria with a warm stare. “My sweet little Adria, I cannot believe how well you have done. I never in a million years thought you would build such a life for yourself. You are stronger than I ever could have hoped for. Please know I missed you every day.”
Adria said, tears filling in her eyes, “Why didn’t you call?”
Her mother ran a finger along her cheek. “It was too risky, love. Your safety was always my number one priority. If you knew the truth, knew I was living with Xander, your safety would have been at risk.”
Adria leaned into her mother’s hand, enjoying the touch. Memories of the two of them kept running through her mind.
Craft days on the kitchen table. Making Feijoada, taking long walks around the grounds. Leaning on her mother as she learned to swim. Adria didn’t realize how much she had missed about her until now.
Sophia continued, “Which is why we need to catch Callen and Alessandro red handed. With proof, you can cast doubt. Secure safety not only for yourself but for your newfound beaus and myself.”
Adria wanted to push. She wanted to ask her mother more questions, but she also didn’t want to ruin the moment. She and her mother had lost so much time and Adria didn’t want to be the reason they wasted any more.
Nodding she said, “I understand.”
“Talk to Bryson. Maybe there are things he knows that could help. Or maybe there are things he knows that he doesn’t realize could help.”