4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
ARGENT
* PRESENT DAY *
S aying that Adrian is pissed at me would be an understatement. His anger manifested in brutal blows, leaving me with a throbbing black eye, which now matches the scars from the car accident.
The memory of that day still haunts me, vividly imprinted in my mind. I was so close to death yet, without Starlet feels like an endless torment, but as long as I was breathing, I wouldn’t stop searching until I found her .
It’s been almost a week since the whole ordeal with Adrian went down and we haven’t spoken since. So, I asked him to meet me at the diner in hopes he could just give me a chance to explain. Whether he decides to show, well, that remains to be seen. Stepping through the doors, a wave of dread engulfs me. The absence of Starlet is palpable, casting a dullness over the once vibrant atmosphere.
And just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse, a surge of rage courses through me as I spot Zavier at the counter. I struggle to contain myself. I’ll rip his head right off his shoulders right here.
Zavier glances my way as he prepares to leave, our eyes locking in a moment of intense confrontation. Seizing the opportunity, I seize his collar, yanking him towards me, my voice dripping with contempt. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I hiss, my anger simmering beneath the surface.
With nervous laughter, Zavier stammers, “Um, just grabbing something to eat.”
Very fucking funny.
“I know you have something to do with it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. ”
“I fucking promise you,” I seethe, my voice laced with anger, “when I find out what you did—“
“That’s enough, boys,” Bobby interrupts sternly, his authoritative voice cutting through the tension in the room. I shoot a glance at Bobby, feeling a surge of frustration.
Forcefully shoving Zavier away, I feel a mix of rage and desperation. He turns to leave, but I can’t help but notice the smug look plastered on his face before he rushes out the door. I desperately want to cut that infuriating smirk off his face.
“My apologies, Bobby,” I say, mustering a sincere smile, my heart still pounding from the confrontation. I make my way to an empty booth, desperate for a moment of solace.
Just as I sit down, Adrian walks in, his presence bringing a sense of relief. He sits across from me, a playful glint in his eyes.
“I had the morgue on speed dial while witnessing that,” he jokes, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere. A slight smile pulls at my lips before clearing my throat, “I’m sorry about the whole fucked up situation.” I say, my voice low as I gaze at him, waiting for him to make the next move.
Hopefully, it will not involve his fists.
“I just need you to shed some light on everything,” he rambles, confusion evident in his voice.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to confess everything to him. The type of business I’m involved in and why I came back to Chicago after so many years of avoiding the damn place. I know I trust him—he’s like the brother I never had.
After putting all my cards on the table, I sit back in my seat, waiting for him to say something. But he’s quiet for a while, not sure what’s going through his mind by the expression on his face. He finally looks at me, an expression of empathy on his face. “Why didn’t you just tell me what’s been going on, bro?”
“My business can attract dangerous situations and I wasn’t going to involve you in that—Chloe would cut off my balls and feed them to me.” A chuckle rumbles through his chest that has a smile pulling at my lips.
“Okay, fair—but what about Starlet? How did it spiral out of control?” He asked, leaning with his elbows on the table .
“I have no fucking idea,” I say with a chuckle. “But one thing is for sure, since the day I laid my eyes on her—I knew nothing would ever be the same again,”
Our conversation is interrupted by the new waitress, and I don’t miss the way Adrian’s eyes scan her from head to toe.
“Is there anything I can get you, gentlemen?” The soft, raspy sound of her voice reminds me of Starlet.
Swallowing hard, I direct my attention to her. “Just two coffees, please.” Smiling, she turns and leaves, and I playfully punch Adrian’s shoulder.
“Ow, what the fuck?” He hisses with a frown, rubbing his shoulder.
“Keep it in your pants, big boy. She doesn’t even look old enough to drink yet.”
Shaking his head, he leans back into the plush seat, the leather creaking softly under his weight. “Is there any specific reason you haven’t tried to kill Zavier yet—apparently, you’re a pro at that,” he states, crossing his arms over his chest. I furrow my brow, frowning at his words.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, the low hum of the cafe blending with the murmurs of other patrons .
“Chloe told me what you did to Caden—that’s fucking brutal, brother,” he admits, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, barely concealed. A deep chuckle reverberates through my chest as I play the memory back in my mind. I can still vividly recall the sensation of my knife sinking into his flesh, the metallic tang of blood filling the air. Just the thought of it quickens my heartbeat, the rhythm pounding in my ears.
“Yeah…well, I made a promise to Starlet that I wouldn’t touch him, and besides, he knows what happened to her. If I kill him, we’re never going to find her,” I explain, the words hanging in the air. He stays silent for a moment, contemplating, before he leans towards me, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Let me help you.” I know exactly what he is insinuating. He wants to assist on a more dangerous level, diving into the shadows with me.
“Chloe is going to kill us both—you know that, right?” I warn.
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” he counters confidently, but before I can protest further, our coffee is placed gently on the table. Lifting my gaze towards the new waitress, I can’t help but notice her extraordinary eyes. Her mismatched eyes, one blue and one green, sparkled with cheerfulness as they met mine. She looks so familiar. And when I glance at Adrian, I can see that he is thinking the same thing.
“Hey, um, you look really familiar,” he interjects, his voice cutting through the ambient chatter of the cafe. I turn towards him, drawn in by his words. The soft murmur of conversations in the background fills the air.
“Oh, yeah, my brother goes to school with your sister. You’re Adrian, right?” she replies, her voice gentle and soothing. As Adrian and I lock eyes, a spark of recognition ignites within us.
“Wait, you’re Benji’s sister? Sage, right?” he exclaims, a mix of surprise and nostalgia coloring his words. She nods, her eyes filled with empathy. “I’m so sorry about Starlet. I know you all were close.”
“Oh, thank you,” Adrian manages to say, his voice laced with gratitude, “You look good, by the way.” He says, his cheeks turning a shade of crimson, and I can’t help but suppress a laugh as I take a sip of my coffee, feeling its warmth against my lips. She offers us a warm smile before gracefully walking away.
“Wow, so that’s what third wheeling feels like,” I tease, a mischievous smirk playing on my lips. Adrian rolls his eyes, clearly flustered by the encounter.
“Shut up. So, what are we going to do now, captain?”
“Finish up,” I declare, swiftly downing the remaining coffee in my cup. The clinking of ceramic against the saucer punctuates the moment. I toss a few dollars onto the table, their paper texture brushing against my fingertips. “We need to meet up with Demitri and Aiden.”
Adrian looks puzzled. “Who the hell is Aiden?” he asks, his curiosity evident in his expression. I smile at him, adjusting my sleeves with a sense of anticipation.
“Oh, you’ll see.”