Chapter 251


    Chapter Two Hundred Fifty-One


    Sephie


    “But why though? She has all the money she could ever want from him. Her family as well. Didn’t


    Mando say she’s from a wealthy family? That doesn’t make sense,” I said.


    They all thought for a moment, then Viktor stood up. “I have an idea,” he said. “But I need aputer


    so we have to go


    downstairs.”


    I jumped up from the couch. “Permission slips signed. We’re going on a field trip! Everybody make sure


    you grab your buddy’s hand and stay with the group.”


    They were all stillughing at my caffeine-fueled absurdity when we walked off the elevator. The office


    was still busy, even though it was getting to beter in the day. Adrik’s office door was closed, so I


    knew he was in a meeting. Stephen was waiting outside his office and gave us all a curious look as we


    walked off the elevator.


    I looked to Viktor. “I’ll go fill Stephen in. You guys go do whatever the he ll it is you’re about to do,” I


    said. “Just don’t lose your buddy. I’m trusting you guys to be mature on this field trip. Remember, look


    with your eyes, not your hands,” I said, pointing to my eyes and then to all of them.


    They all shook their heads as they walked toward their desks. They each kept a desk on the floor. It


    made taking care of their individual responsibilities easier. Stephen’s devilish grin greeted me. “Why do


    I have a feeling whatever you’re about to tell me is going to make me very happy?”


    “Because you’re a vampire and you likely read my mind as I was walking over here. Get. Out. Of. My.


    Head,” I said, smacking his shoulder with each word.


    “What did you guys find?” he asked in Russian, since there were still plenty of people milling around


    the office.


    It’s


    “Well, she’s a coke addict, so there’s that. Honestly, I don’t feel as ted as I was hoping I was going to


    feel about that one. just sad, really.” I looked down at the floor for a moment, thinking about how empty


    she was to turn to drugs to try and fill whatever void she was feeling in her life. Stephen cleared his


    throat quietly, snapping me back to reality. “Anyway, moving on. She also slipped her dealer a note with


    the money. We’re trying to figure out what the hel l it means, but we think she’s nning on robbing


    Armando’s house.”


    “Doesn’t shee from money?” Stephen asked. His brow furrowed like it always did when he was


    deep in thought.


    “That’s the confusing part. Viktor said he had an idea, which is why we’re taking a field trip down here.


    I’m not sure what he’s thinking. We also might need to talk to Keith about thister. She was weirdly


    specific on locations. We think she’s talking about Mando’s house, but the guys said it’s been a while


    since they were there and don’t really remember theyout,” I said.


    Stephen’s watch beeped once. He looked at it, then looked at me. “Meeting is almost over, but I’ll be


    back.”


    “Does he have anything directly after this one? Can I surprise him?” I asked.


    Before he opened the door, he smiled at me. “That would be exactly what he needs today,” he said


    quietly.


    I moved a few steps away from the door, in case Adrik followed the person he was meeting with to the


    door. I waited until Stephen walked out with the person and walked past me. I heard the door to Adrik’s


    private bathroom open and close, 50 I knew I could sneak into his office without him seeing me. I


    walked in quickly, shutting the door behind me and sat down in his chair as quietly as I could. For once,


    the chair didn’t squeak. I propped my legs up on his desk and crossed my arms, waiting for him to


    come out of the bathroom.


    I nced at the few papers oh his desk, as I heard the water in the sinke on. They were rough


    sketches, different variations on the same theme. I couldn’t tell what it was, but my attention was


    directed at the door to the bathroom as I heard the water turn off.


    He opened the door, not exactly paying attention. He lookedpletely lost in thought and somewhat


    stressed. His gaze lifted as he took steps toward his desk andnded on me. He stopped in his tracks,


    his wide smile across his face. He just pointed to me and then pointed to the floor in front of him.


    I jumped out of his chair and ran to him, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around him. I


    couldn’t help the squeal that came out when he caught me. He held me tightly, his face buried in my


    neck. “You have no idea how much I needed this, solnishko,” he said, inhaling deeply. I felt his body


    rx as I hugged him tighter, running my hand through the back of his hair.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “Anything wrong or just a long day?” I asked.


    “Just a long day. I’m exhausted. I don’t know how you have so much energy right now. I think you su


    cked all my energy out this morning,” he said. I could feel his smile against my neck as he kissed my


    neck sweetly.


    “I’m on my third cup of coffee today. That’s how. It’s fake energy. I’m still not entirely sure what we did


    this morning, but it took a lot out of both of us, I think.”


    “Worth it,” he said, leaning back to look at me. His handsome smile pulling at my chest.


    “I could not agree more,” I said, unwrapping myself from him so he wouldn’t be forced to hold me up.


    “And also, I’ll go get you some coffee before your next meeting.”


    He leaned down and kissed me, his hand on my cheek. His thumb rubbing across my cheek lightly as


    his lips were on mine. He could make my knees go weak with his kisses, and he did regrly. I think he


    enjoyed it. But the sweet, tender kisses almost always caught me off-guard and made my insides melt


    completely. I couldn’t help but moan quietly as I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.


    “I just love you, Adrik,” I said. “Now, let me go get you coffee before your next meeting. How much time


    do I have?” I asked. He looked at his watch. “Ten minutes,” he said,ughing at me.


    “I can do it in seven,” I said, turning to quickly walk out.


    Misha was almost to Adrik’s office door when I opened the door. “Gazelle, I was justing to get you.


    You need to see what we found,” he said.


    I grabbed his arm, pulling him with me. I knew Adrik wouldn’t be happy about me going anywhere by


    myself, so since Misha was the closest one, he got nominated toe with me. I also still refused to


    keep track of a key fob to the elevator, so 1 needed one of the guys to operate it. “Um, where are we


    going?” he asked as we got on the elevator.


    “To get more coffee before his next meeting. I’m on my third cup today and I’m still exhausted. He


    hasn’t had any since this morning, so he’s dying. I only have seven minutes to make this happen.


    Really, ten, but I’m an overachiever and I told him I could do it in seven,” I said.


    Misha justughed at me. The doors opened and I practically ran into the penthouse. Luckily, Adrik had


    a top-of-the-line coffee machine that made it quickly, so I was hopeful I could make this happen. Misha


    filled me in on what they’d found as I waited.


    “Viktor decided to look up na’s family In Italy. I didn’t even know he knew her family name, but I


    shouldn’t be surprised. He knows everything. About everyone. Anyway, her family was wealthy,” he


    said. He paused for a moment, a grin on his face.


    “Was? As in past tense?”


    He nodded. “They’ve hit hard times recently. Apparently Giana’s father is not the businessman her


    grandfather was. It looks like bad investments, even more st upid investments, and generally wasteful


    spending have significantly depleted their fortune.”


    “That exins why Giana needs a job,” I said. Misha looked at me, a confused look on his face. “Giana


    told me when her and Armando first got here that she needs this job. It was before I knew she came


    from a wealthy family, so I didn’t think anything of it.” I chewed on my bottom lip as I poured coffee into


    two thermoses. Might as well make it four cups of coffee today, since it looks like it’s going to be an


    extra long day. I finished making Adrik’s coffee just how he liked it, as well as mine and walked toward


    the door. Misha opened the door for me. We were both still deep in thought as we waited for the


    elevator.


    Once on the elevator, with the doors closed, I said, “I wonder if she’s nning on robbing him for


    herself or for her family? It still doesn’t really make sense. I mean, all site would have to do is talk to


    Armando and tell him that her family is in trouble. He’s so stinking nice that he would help them. Why is


    she choosing to go this route?”


    “I’m not sure about that one, either. There’s probably more that we haven’t found yet,” Misha said.


    “I’ll be over in a minute, once I drop this off,” I said, walking toward Adrik’s office. Misha walked back


    toward the other three guys. Stephen had just walked out of his office as I got to the door. “Shi t, is his


    meeting already here?” I asked.


    Stephenughed. “Yes, but he’s early. You can still go in, he won’t care.”


    I sighed, thinking I took longer than seven minutes. “Hold this. I’ll be right back.” I handed my coffee to


    Stephen and walked. into the office.


    Adrik smiled at me, looking at his watch. “Six and a half minutes,” he said in Russian.


    “Really? I thought for sure I took longer since your meeting was already here,” I said, ncing at the


    man who had taken a seat. in front of Adrik’s desk. Adrik stood up, walking to me. He dly took the


    coffee from me, kissing my forehead. “Thank you, solnishko. You’re a lifesaver.” I grinned at him,


    excusing myself quickly so he could get on with his meeting.