Page 83 of Ruthless Dream

“I know Adeline would love to see you.”

Adeline who barely texts me these days? A burning knot forms in my stomach at the chance of seeing my girl in person. Of touching and holding her. Saturday can’t come soon enough.

“I would like that,” I reply. “Thank you. Can I bring anything?”

Gia tsks. “Of course not. Just bring yourself. I could send a car?”

“No, it’s fine.” They live outside the city, but I can make my own way there. We are still from different syndicates, after all.

Gia riddles off a pleasant goodbye. When I end the call, the first thing I see when I look up is the impressed smirk on Uncle Cormac’s face.

“Well done.” He congratulates me like I’ve done something worthwhile. “An invitation to Boris Akatov’s family home.”

The houses in the neighborhood are all million-dollar monstrosities, and the Akatov’s doesn’t disappoint.

There’s a charm to it, though. Pots of flowers on the front porch along with fall decorations. It’s mid-afternoon because Gia texted me yesterday to say I was welcome to arrive early. She sounded sure that Adeline would want to see me.

It’s Gia at the door who greets me. “You didn’t have to do that,” she says when I hand her a bottle of wine. I doubt it’s nicer than anything she’s got down in her cellar, but I wasn’t going to arrive empty handed.

“She’s upstairs.” Gia points. “Let me know if you need anything.”

I thank her and then carefully climb the stairs. There is a worn in aspect to the home. A library book on a table in the hallway. A frame along the stairwell that’s slightly crooked as if people keep bumping into it. The coloring is warm, the scent of clovers soft.

I don’t want to touch anything. To accidentally disturb something. Maybe it was the way Uncle Cormac had looked at me after I got off the phone. I’m not supposed to be here. I’m surprised Gia is letting me walk around without an escort.

Once I’m upstairs, there’s a long stretch of hall. More family photos line the walls. There’s a guest bathroom and a door to a bedroom.

A door swings open. Adeline’s sister, Lennie, startles in the doorway.

I’m reminded of finding her in the courtyard, the way we’d both jumped when we spotted one another.

“Sorry,” I say automatically, preparing to have upset an Akatov.

Her eyes remain wide, but she points down the hall. “It’s that one.”

Her door shuts softly, the mouse not making any noise. When I peek into the half-cracked door she indicated, I spot Adeline on her bed, surrounded by pillows. She’s got her laptop open, and she sings to herself, her head bobbing.

I bite back a smile, relief and happiness coursing through my chest at the sight of her. I push the door open, and she glances up before doing a double take.

She scrambles out of the bed. “What are you doing here?”

Her fingers curl into my shirt, pulling me all the way into her room. I gently untangle her grip, not wanting my button-down ruined before dinner.

Adeline sticks her head out the door, checking the hallway. “What? How did you—oh, my God, did the Guards not?”

My hand cups her cheek, pulling her to me. Her lips crash into mine, her body sagging into me.

“No!” She jumps back, glancing out the hallway.

I can’t stop my laugh. “I’m a man capable of many things, but I didn’t break in here.”

Confusion creases her face. “What?”

“Your mam invited me.” I pull her back to me, wrapping her in a hug. She slides her arms around me, and I lean into the feeling of her body against mine.

“Really?” she asks against my chest. “Wait, she called you?”

“Yes, now explain how this important trait wasn’t passed down to you?”