Page 114 of Blood & Lace
"Yes." I didn't make a single move to step further into his place. The fact that I was there could blow up in my face.
"You're here because of Louis, right?"
I nodded. "I need your help."
Adam stared at me for a long as if contemplating what he should do. "What do you need me to do?"
"Come to dinner at my parents’ house."
Adam's eyes widened. "What?"
My plan, if you could even call it one, was simple. Get Adam over for dinner. Onyx finds out and has no choice but to show up. I woo him, andbam! Back to being married. There was probably some hole in the plan, but it was mine, and it was all I had.
"Please, Adam. I love Onyx, and I messed up. I know that, but I'm not ready to give up on us."
"Wait, wait." Adam's hands were up. "You two broke up?" He pressed his fingers to his temple. "Is that why he looked like that?"
"Like what?" Worry twisted my stomach into knots. Was Onyx okay? It killed me not watching over him, making sure he got enough sleep. Or ate a balanced breakfast. "Adam!" I hadn't meant to yell.
He jumped back, and I took a step away, giving him space. "Sorry. Is Onyx—How is he?"
Adam scratched at his neck, leaving behind red lines on his pale skin. "He's… cold?" He grunted as if he wasn’t sure how to explain it. "Distracted and indifferent. He was over the other day, but he forgot half of the stuff and then got frustrated and stormed out." Adam chewed his lip, hesitation written all over his face. “I feel like I'm tattling, but he was pretty drunk.”
Bella, I’m so sorry.
I wanted so desperately to go to him. Make sure he was okay.
"You two are married, you can't just break up," Adam said, cutting through my wavering thoughts.
"He served me divorce papers."
"What, why?" Adam looked confused and angry. "Don't tell me because he found your shirt at my place. I told him all you did was cook and ask for French lessons."
All I could do was nod.
"Petit frère idiot. Il a tout et il va tout gâcher, et pour quoi ?"
"It was my fault." I swallowed, and it felt like razor blades slid down my throat. Not because I had to admit that I messed up, but because I was reminded of the severity of what I'd done to Onyx. "I broke his trust. You were the one person he wanted to keep safe. The one line he begged me not to cross, and I didn't listen." I cleared my throat. "I know it seems stupid to come backif it pissed him off, but you're all I have in order to get him back." I met his gaze once more. "But if this is too much, you don't have to come."
Adam stood there in silence for a few more seconds. "You love my brother?"
For the second time today, someone questioned my love for Onyx, and it gave me pause. My love for him should have never been something someone had to wonder about. It should be an undeniable fact.
"With every fiber of my being."
Adam's shoulders seemed to relax the longer he stared at me. "Okay, let's go piss your husband off." He grabbed some shoes, slipping them on. "Can your mom cook?"
"Who do you think I learned from?"
Adam groaned. "I hope I can take some to-go boxes." He looked back at his place as if he had second thoughts about leaving.
I sent a text to Emir, letting him know a little bit about Adam. Maybe he’d have something to help him if he decided to still come. I waited patiently for him to grab what he needed before we made our way to my car. I nodded at the familiar guy standing outside.
"You know him?" Adam questioned.
"Yeah, we put protection on you." I knocked his shoulder. "You're family."
Adam stumbled a bit but caught himself. "You sound like you're in the mafia." He chuckled to himself and slipped into the passenger seat. "How far are we going?"
