Chapter 22
Adrien
A week later
A s I step off the plane, I am hit with a wave of heat and humidity. I can feel the sweat soaking through the bandages wrapped around my torso. I grit my teeth and adjust my jacket, shielding the injury from prying eyes.
The airport is chaos—crowds of tourists, announcements blaring in languages I don’t understand, and the faint scent of exhaust and tropical flowers mixing in the air.
I exit the airport, eager to meet up with Daniel and finalize the deal that will get me out of here and back into Tiffany’s arms.
It’s been a while since I’ve been physically involved in a business deal like this, but there’s too much at stake to leave it to anyone else.
The traffic in Mexico City is horrendous. After what feels like hours of driving through chaotic streets, my security detail and I arrive at our meeting spot.
Daniel is waiting for us. His expression is unreadable but his stance is tense. He’s dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans, his hands clasped in front of him.
Our eyes meet, and we share an unspoken agreement—to address the elephant in the room later when we have privacy. Right now, there are more pressing matters at hand.
“Everything is going according to plan,” Daniel reports, scanning the group of men surrounding us. “Silva has agreed to meet with us.”
“Excellent. Let’s make this quick. I have no desire to linger here any longer than necessary.”
The bustling streets of Mexico City overwhelm my senses as Daniel and I navigate through the crowded sidewalks. The air is thick with the scent of street food and exhaust fumes, while vendors loudly advertise their products alongside impatient honking cars.
“We’re getting close,” I say to Daniel, scanning the rundown buildings lining the narrow street we’re on. A sharp pain flares at my side as my hand brushes against the concealed weapon on my hip.
“Are you sure about this, Adrien? Silva isn’t known for playing fair.”
I offer a wry smile. “When has that ever stopped us?”
As we approach our destination—an old building with peeling paint and boarded-up windows—my instincts kick into overdrive. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I can practically taste the danger in the air.
“Someone is watching us,” I mutter to Daniel, my eyes scanning the surrounding buildings.
He nods imperceptibly. “I noticed. At least two snipers on the rooftops. Probably more that we can’t see.”
“As expected. Let’s not keep our host waiting.”
“You lead, I follow. Always have, always will.”
We enter the dilapidated building; the floorboards creaking ominously under our feet. The interior is dimly lit, with peeling wallpaper and a musty smell permeating the air. At the end of a long hallway, a burly man in a suit motions for us to follow him.
He leads us to a room where Rafael Silva lounges in a threadbare armchair like it’s a throne, looking every bit the crime lord he is. His goons flank him, their eyes boring into me with open hostility. I count four of them, each built like a brick wall and probably just as intelligent. They shift uneasily, hands hovering near concealed weapons.
I stride forward, my footsteps echoing in the tense silence. Silva’s face breaks into a predatory smile.
“Ah, Mr. Leroy,” Silva says, his voice gravelly. “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting.”
I force a polite smile. “Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice.”
Silva waves his hand dismissively. “Please, sit. We have much to discuss.”
I take a seat across from Silva, maintaining eye contact. Daniel remains standing behind me, a silent but reassuring presence.
“I’ll cut to the chase.” I lean forward. “I’m here about the five shipments that were arranged by Dean Carter before his untimely demise.”
“Ah, yes, poor Dean. Such a shame what happened to him.” His tone suggests he knows more than he’s letting on. “And what exactly is your interest in these shipments, Mr. Leroy?”
“I’ve taken over Dean’s business interests. I’m here to ensure our agreement is honored.”
Silva chuckles, a harsh sound that sets my teeth on edge. “How noble of you. But you see, Mr. Leroy, Dean and I had a very specific arrangement. One that I’m not sure you’re prepared to uphold.”
I feel Daniel tense behind me, but I keep my expression neutral. “I assure you, Mr. Silva, I’m prepared to honor any reasonable agreements Dean made.”
“Reasonable?” Silva’s smile turns cold. “In our line of work, Mr. Leroy, reasonable is a matter of perspective. Dean promised me not just the shipments but also a significant stake in Carter Corporation. A way to... legitimize certain aspects of my business, you might say.”
My mind races. This is more complicated than I anticipated.
“What did Dean promise you?”
“A seat on the board. Voting rights. A way to clean my money through legitimate business channels.”
“Dean is dead,” I remind him coolly. “Those promises died with him.”
“Promises were made, Mr. Leroy. And I expect them to be honored. By you, or by the lovely Miss Carter.”
My jaw clenches involuntarily at the mention of Tiffany. “What Dean promised and what I’m willing to deliver are two different things. But I’m open to negotiation.”
“Go on.”
“I’m offering my expertise and connections to help establish your influence in North America. My network spans the continent, and I’m willing to open those doors for you.”
Daniel shifts behind me. Silva notices, his eyes flickering to Daniel before returning to me.
“Interesting proposition,” he murmurs. “But I’ll need more than just your word.”
“What about a wife?”
Silva raises an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “What exactly are you proposing, Mr. Leroy?”
“An alliance. Moroni’s daughter is young and well-connected. A strategic marriage would solidify your position.”
His weakness is power, and achieving it requires a wife.
Daniel’s sharp intake of breath behind me is the only indication of his surprise. I can feel his eyes boring into the back of my head, but I don’t turn around. My focus remains on Silva.
“Moroni’s daughter?” he repeats, his tone a mix of skepticism and intrigue. “That’s a bold offer, Leroy. But why would Moroni agree to such an arrangement?”
“Because it’s mutually beneficial. You get legitimacy, political connections, and a pathway into networks currently close to you. The Moroni family gains strategic positioning through your international operations.”
I can almost feel Daniel’s unease. He knows, as well as I do, that this is a high-stakes negotiation where one wrong word could mean our death.
“And what do you get out of this arrangement, Leroy?”
“What I get is the assurance that my business interests—and the interests of those I care about—are protected. I’m not here to start a war, Silva. I’m here to clean up the mess Dean left behind. If we can come to an arrangement that benefits both of us, then everyone walks away satisfied.”
A dangerous glint enters Silva’s eyes. “You’re asking a lot.”
“I’m offering a lot. Access to North American markets, political influence, and a strategic marriage that elevates your family’s status. All you have to do is walk away from Dean Carter’s unfinished business.”
The silence stretches. Silva’s goons remain motionless, their hands hovering near their weapons. Daniel’s presence behind me is steady.
“You’re a cold-blooded strategist, Leroy. I like that,” he says finally. “But how do I know you can deliver on these promises?”
“Because I always deliver. My reputation speaks for itself.”
His laugh is sharp. “Reputation can be bought and sold, just like anything else in our world.”
“Not mine. I’ve built my empire on trust and strategic alliances. The Moroni family knows this. They’ll see the benefit in this arrangement.”
“Fine,” Silva says with a flick of his hand. “I can see the potential in your offer, and I’m willing to agree to your terms. But if the arrangement falls through, all bets are off. I’ll come for you, for the Carter girl, for everything you hold dear.”
I nod, keeping my expression neutral even as relief floods through me. “I’ll have your meeting with Umberto scheduled for next week. Then we’ll finalize the details.”
He stands, signaling the end of our meeting. “I look forward to our new partnership, Mr. Leroy. Don’t make me regret it.”
As Daniel and I exit the building, the oppressive heat of Mexico City hits us once again. We walk in tense silence for several blocks, putting distance between us and Silva’s men before Daniel finally speaks.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” he hisses, grabbing my arm and pulling me into a narrow alley. “Offering up Moroni’s daughter like that? Do you have any idea what kind of shitstorm you’ve just unleashed?”
“It was a calculated risk. One that paid off.”
“And what happens when the Moroni find out you’ve promised their daughter to a psychopath like Silva? Did you even think that far ahead?”
“Of course I did,” I say, the stitches on my side pulsing with pain. “Who do you think agreed to marry his daughter off to this psychopath? Umberto cares only about power and influence. He sees this as an opportunity to expand the family’s reach.”
Daniel’s eyes widen in disbelief. “You’ve already talked to Umberto Moroni about this? When?”
“A few days ago,” I admit, recalling the encounter with Umberto’s security team that had left me with a knife wound. Next time, I’ll have to be more careful not to surprise them. “We knew Silva would need a significant incentive to back off from Carter Corporation. The Moroni alliance was the best card I had to play.”
Daniel runs a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to process this information. “Jesus Christ, Adrien. You’re playing a dangerous game here.”
“It’s the only game that matters right now. Tiffany’s safety is my top priority. Everything else is secondary.”
“You really care about her, don’t you? This isn’t just about business anymore.”
I nod.
Daniel sighs heavily. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Because if this goes sideways, we’re all fucked.”
“It won’t,” I assure him before stepping out of the alley and into the bustling street. I adjust my suit jacket, wincing slightly as the movement pulls at the wound Umberto’s men left me with.
We walk briskly back to our hotel, both of us on high alert for any signs of surveillance or trouble. The crowded streets provide some cover, but I know better than to let my guard down completely.
Once we’re safely inside my suite, I pour each a generous glass of whiskey. Daniel accepts his with a nod of thanks, downing half of it in one gulp.
“How have you been?” I ask, removing my jacket and tossing it onto the plush armchair in the corner of the room.
Daniel’s posture stiffens. “Is that how things are going to be going forward? Are you going to pretend that these past few months did not happen? That you didn’t leave me for rabid dogs for the first pretty face that caught your eye?”
“She was never just a pretty face for me, and you let her go, even though you knew how much she meant to me. You made a decision without considering the consequences, Daniel.”
Daniel’s gaze hardens, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “You were blinded by your emotions. You let your feelings for her cloud your judgment and look where that got us.”
“Don’t you dare try to play the martyr here,” I growl, taking a step closer to him. “You made a choice without consulting me. You had no right. We were a team, supposed to have each other’s backs. And you went behind mine.”
“I was trying to protect you, Adrien. Can’t you see that? You were risking everything for her, for a woman who was nothing but trouble.” Daniel shakes his head in disbelief. “And what if Silva hadn’t agreed to your terms back there? What then? Would you have risked everything to protect this girl?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it puts everything we’ve worked for at risk?”
“Even then.”
I would do anything for Tiffany’s safety, go to any lengths necessary to ensure she was out of harm’s way. And if that meant putting my own life at risk, then so be it.
“You’ve changed.”
“I have. And I want you to know that if you decide to stay and help, I won’t be dealing in these circles for much longer. Once Tiffany is safe and we’ve tied up loose ends, I’m out.”
“You’re serious about this, aren’t you? You’re willing to walk away from everything you’ve built?”
“I am. This life... It’s not what I want anymore. I’ve seen what it does to people, how it corrupts and destroys. I want something different for myself. For Tiffany.”
“And what about the rest of us? The people who’ve put their trust in you, who’ve risked everything for you?”
“I’m not abandoning anyone. I’ll make sure everyone is taken care of and set up with legitimate business opportunities if they want them. But I can’t keep living this life, Daniel. It’s slowly killing me.”
Daniel studies me. “You really love her, don’t you? This isn’t just some passing infatuation.”
“I do. More than I’ve ever loved anyone. She makes me want to be better, to do better.”
“I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.” He pauses, then adds, “And I’m sorry. For going behind your back with Tiffany. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I should have trusted you.”
A weight lifts off my shoulders at Daniel’s words. The tension between us eases slightly as I nod in acknowledgment of his apology.
“I know you were trying to protect me. But I need you to trust me moving forward. Can you do that?”
Daniel takes a long sip of his whiskey before answering. “I can try. But Adrien, you have to understand—this life, this world we’ve built, it’s all I’ve known for so long. The thought of walking away from it...”
“I’m not asking you to give it all up overnight. But you must be open to the possibility of change. For both our sakes.”
“Fine. But if you get in over your head and can’t deliver on your promises, I won’t hesitate to walk away. I’ve stuck my neck out for you too many times already.”
“You’d have every right to. But I won’t let you down.”