Chapter 14 #2
Bianca watches this exchange with interest. Like we're laboratory specimens, and as much as I want to stab Adrian with my fork, I get that he doesn't want to fight in front of his mother.
After all, Bianca is a shark, and I can see that she smells blood in the water.
"Adrian is right. A Nero wife doesn't work.
She manages the household. Supports her husband. Raises the children."
"With all due respect," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, "I didn't ask to be a Nero wife, and I'm not really the traditional type."
I long to point out that she is the head of the mafia, but Adrian's fingers are tightening around my kneecap.
"And yet here you are." Bianca's smile doesn't reach her eyes. "Choices have consequences, my dear. You made yours when you decided to have unprotected sex."
Gemma starts coughing, choking on her coffee. "Jesus, Mom."
"Mother," Luc says, his tone light but firm. "Perhaps we could ease Seraphina into family expectations rather than drowning her on day one?"
"Luc is right," Gemma adds. "She just got married yesterday. Give her time to adjust." She takes another sip of her coffee. "Besides, it's 2025. Women can do it all." She blinks innocently. "Like you."
I give her a small smile, appreciating her attempt to help me.
From the way Adrian is glaring and Bianca's lips thin, I don't think the two of them agree.
"Neither Adrian nor I are trying to be cruel," she says, her tone full of condescension.
"But understand, Seraphina, that being a Nero comes with responsibilities.
Expectations. You will attend family functions.
You will present yourself appropriately.
You will do nothing to embarrass this family.
" She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"You can still do your manuscript restorations.
I'm sure Adrian told you that we have a seat on the Met board. "
"He did."
"Fantastic."
I hate how she acts like the matter is settled. "And if I don't?"
"Then you'll find your life here very difficult indeed." Bianca stands. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to. Adrian, a word. My office."
It's a command, not a request, and Adrian listens.
"I'll be back in a moment."
The moment they leave, it's like the air in the room shifts. Gemma's shoulders slump slightly, and even Luc appears calmer.
"Don't let Mother get to you," he says. "She does this to everyone. Tests them. Sees if they'll break."
"I feel like I'm already broken," I admit. I press a cool glass of water to my temple. My head is throbbing.
"You're not." Gemma's voice is gentle. "You're just adjusting. It gets easier."
"Does it?"
Neither of them answers, but the look they exchange tells me everything. I sink down in my seat, the bite of toast I consumed trying to make its way back up my throat.
Adrian is gone for twenty minutes. When he returns, he looks irritated.
"Did you eat?" he asks, looking at my plate.
I know he is trying to check on me, likely because of the baby, but the question is infantilizing. "I'm more than capable of following my hunger cues, Adrian."
I expect him to snap back. Hell, I kind of want him to. It would make me feel better to have it out. Instead, he releases a heavy breath. "If you're done, I'd like to talk."
"Fine." I get up and follow him back to our rooms.
The moment the door closes, I turn on him.
"You can't make me quit my job," I say.
"You need to understand that you're pregnant and a target. A double target." He moves to pour himself a drink despite it being early in the morning. "Not only can I not ensure your safety at the bookstore, but what about the chemicals?"
He has a small point, though I don't plan to concede that. There are ways to be protective. Most people can't just quit their jobs.
"Please, Adrian," I say. I'm ready to get on my knees. "That bookshop is all I have left."
"You have me now."
"That's not the same thing." My voice breaks slightly. "That job is mine. Something I built. Something I'm good at. You can't just take it away."
He turns to look at me. Studies me for a long moment. "You really care about it."
"Yes."
"More than money? Security? Protection?"
"It's not about money. It's about purpose. About having something that's mine." I take a step closer. "Please. Don't take this from me."
Something flickers in his expression. Not quite sympathy. But close.
"We can discuss it," he says finally.
Hope flares, and I hate that that little concession makes me feel excited. "Really?"
"On one condition."
Of course. There's always a condition.
"What?"
He sets down his drink. Moves toward me. His hand comes up to cup my jaw, tilting my face to look at him.
"You give me what I want first."
My stomach flips. "What do you want?"
His thumb traces my bottom lip. "A kiss."
The words send heat through me despite myself. "Adrian—"
"That's my price, Seraphina. Just a kiss."
It's manipulation. Extortion.
It's also not as bad as what he could ask for.
I should refuse. Should tell him to go to hell.
After all, I'm a feminist, and I don't need to trade things to keep my job, and yet, all he's asking for is a kiss. We've done worse. Hell, that's why I'm in this situation.
And yet…I do not want him to win. Because I know that is what he is trying to do. Win. Dominate.
The ringing of his phone interrupts my inner tirade.
"What?" Adrian snaps.
I watch his expression change. Darken.
"When?" A pause. "How badly?" Another pause. "Restrain him. I'm on my way."
He hangs up.
"What happened?" I ask.
"Your brother." Adrian's voice is cold. "He tried to escape. They had to restrain him. He's demanding to see you."
My heart lurches. "Is he hurt?"
"I don't care if he's hurt, Sera."
"I want to see him."
"No."
"Adrian—" I'm about to lose it. This is all too much.
"I said no, Seraphina." He's already moving toward the door. "I need to deal with this."
"I'm coming with you."
"Absolutely not. I'm not putting you in danger."
"He's my brother." I move to block his path. "You promised I could see him."
"You saw him on video. That counts."
"That was before." My voice rises. "Please. Let me see him. Let me talk to him."
"No."
"Then I'll go to the police."
The words hang between us. Adrian goes very still.
"What did you say?"
"I'll go to the police." My heart is pounding but I force myself to hold his gaze. "I'll tell them everything. The kidnapping. The forced marriage. Dimitri's murder."
His eyes go dark, and he tenses. For a minute, I worry I played my hand too soon.
Then he laughs.
It's not a pleasant sound.
"You think the police scare me?" He steps closer, backing me against the wall. "You think they'll believe you over me? Over the Nero family?"
"I'll try. I'll go to the press. I'll cause a fucking scene."
"Try." His hand comes up to wrap around my throat. Not squeezing. Just resting there. A threat. "And watch how quickly your brother dies. How quickly anyone you've ever cared about disappears. You might think there's nothing I can do to hurt you, but I'd love to show you how wrong you are."
Tears burn my eyes. "Please. I just want to see him."
Something in my voice must reach him because his grip loosens.
"Fine," he says quietly. "Leo will take you. I need to take care of something. But I'm warning you right now, Seraphina. If your brother has done anything to betray this family, I will kill him. And you won't stop me."
"He hasn't—"
"We'll see." He releases me. "Wait here. I'll send Leo."
He leaves.
I sink onto the bed, my legs shaking.
I just threatened Adrian Nero.
And somehow, impossibly, I won.
Leo arrives ten minutes later. I've barely met the man, but I like him. He's calm and stoic, and less terrifying than Adrian, whose anger feels like an inferno.
I'm under no illusions about how dangerous he likely is, and yet, I feel less anxious in his presence than Adrian's.
"Don't make me regret this, Sera."
I don't answer as I follow Leo out of the house.
The car ride is silent. Leo doesn't try to make conversation. Just drives through Manhattan with the kind of efficiency that suggests he's done this a thousand times.
We end up in Queens. A nondescript building that looks like an apartment building but probably isn't.
Leo parks and turns to me. "Stay close. Do what I tell you. Understood?"
"Yes." I nod. I place a hand on my stomach. "I'm not interested in doing anything to put myself in danger. I just want to see my brother."
"Good." He gets out, coming around to open my door. "Your brother is on the third floor. We'll take the elevator up, and you'll stay behind me."
I nod.
The building is nicer inside than out. It looks more like a hotel than a place where you'd keep prisoners. I try not to laugh as I think about how the Neros even keep their prisoners in high-end accommodations.
When we arrive at the door, Leo glares at me. "Ten minutes," he says sternly.
I step inside, unsure of what to expect.
Gabe is sitting on a couch, his hands zip-tied in front of him. He looks worse than last night. His lip is split and bleeding, and his other eye is swollen.
But he's alive, and considering what I've learned, that's a small miracle.
"Sera." His voice breaks. "Oh, thank God."
I move toward him but one of the guards inside the room stops me.
"No touching."
"What is this, prison?" I snap.
He doesn't budge, and his eyes go to the door. I clench my fingers into fists in frustration as I hold back a scream of irritation. He's contemplating calling Leo in, and I know if he does, my time here is over.
I stop a few feet away. Looking at my little brother. The kid I raised after our parents died. The one I've been cleaning up after for years.
The one who got me into this mess.
Anger flares in my chest, and despite how shitty he looks, I feel myself growing cold.
"Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" He gestures with his bound hands. "They're treating me like a prisoner."
"You tried to escape."