Page 62 of Care: Part 1

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Care for Risks

Days passed, and Adrik was not functioning in his typical manner. Anton was speaking to him, but he wasn't even striving to understand a single word. He usually loved to pay attention and store as much information as he could in his brain. Instead, his mind always trailed right back to the blue-eyed beauty.

Everything reminded him of Avelina. Even his desk left him to reminisce about her. He hated when Avelina sat on top of his desk instead of a chair. Now, it was something that he had already began to miss.

"Freedom to speak freely, sir?" Anton questioned his boss, leaving Adrik glanced at Anton frustratedly.

"Sure," Adrik stated.

"You just have to give her time.”

"I do not understand how I can give someone time. It is beyond my control. Time is indefinite that cannot be controlled or given away by neither you nor me," Adrik explained.

Anton let out a sigh in response.

"What I meant is that you have to be patient. Based on the short amount of time that I've known Avelina, I can honestly tell you that she will come back," Anton expressed.

Adrik grasped an understanding of what Anton was trying to say. He could even feel hope beginning to splurge into his soul. His need for Avelina only grew within the past few days. He missed her.

Memories danced around in his thoughts. Natasha was always there for him when he was younger. The love he had for her was tremendous, but it didn’t overpower how much he loved Avelina.

"I only wanted to protect Natasha just like Natasha had protected me my entire life," Adrik said.

"Have you talked to Natasha?"

"Not recently. The last time I had spoken to Natasha was after the wedding to tell her what the man had said,” he answered.

Anton's brows pulled together.

"What man?"

"The man who stabbed me. He told me something before I shot him," Adrik stated.

He thought back to the wedding when one of Vincent’s men had thrust a knife into his side. It was unexpected, but he should have known Vincent would attempt to strike eventually.

"What did he say to you?" Anton asked.

"He told me that if I did not give up Natasha's location to Vincent, then Vincent would come back to kill me, and I do not particularly enjoy being threatened,” Adrik seethed out behind clenched fists.

"So, you told Natasha. What did she say?"

"She wants to come out of hiding. Natasha has mentioned plenty of times that she did not want to be the cause of Avelina hating me. On that day of the wedding, Natasha said that if Vincent found and killed her, that it would be okay because she felt it was what she deserved. I have not heard from her after that. I am not aware of where she is.”

Anton's brows had risen as his worry took over his facial expressions.

"We should go look for her," Anton declared, standing up from his seat and beginning to storm out of Adrik's office.

"No.”

"Sir-"

"Vincent's men are always watching us just like my men are always watching him. If we go to look for my sister, he will know where she is. It is not a risk that I am willing to take. Go home," Adrik demanded.

Anton's shoulders fell. Without another word, he stormed out of Adrik’s office.

After Anton had left, Adrik was left alone with his perplexing thoughts. Not only was he worried about his sister, but he was also missing Avelina. He grew the sudden urge to text Avelina—just to bid her hello.