Tess didn't let me wallow. The second my door slammed, she slipped in after me, huffing like she'd run a marathon.
"Don't even think about pulling the dramatic silent treatment," she warned, pointing at me like I was a kid caught sneaking candy. "You're not locking yourself in here and crying while I pretend everything's peachy. Not on my watch."
I sat on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around my stomach. "I just... I can't deal with this right now, Tess."
"You think I can?!" She threw her arms up. "I Googled 'Adele family' last night and now I can't even hear the name Adele without expecting some guy named Vito to show up with cement shoes. You're my girl, Gina. If you're in danger, so am I. But dammit... you needed to know."
Her voice cracked, the fight draining out of her. She wasn't just scared for herself. She was scared for me too.
Before I could answer, Harrington's voice boomed down the hall.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in! Or rather, who I dragged in. Leader of the Adele family, fresh from the lobby! Adrian, you planning on telling anyone your grandfather-in-law-to-be was downstairs, or do I just have perfect timing?"
Tess and I froze.
"Oh, hell no," Tess whispered.
My pulse spiked. "What's he like?" I rasped.
Tess blew out a laugh. "Cool. Calm. Collected. Like a poker player who always wins. Honestly? Dangerous mix. Not me. I sweat just trying to keep a straight face at Uno."
A sharp knock rattled the door.
"Miss Gina, Miss Tess," the butler called. "Mr. Adriano requests your presence."
Tess cracked the door and shot me a look. I was still perched on the bed, pouting like a kid about to be forced into church.
"I don't want to go," I muttered.
"You can't avoid this, babe," Tess said. "Especially not mob granddaddy. And Adrian, say what you want, he's kept his word. We might as well hear him out. Also, reminder? We're in his penthouse. He could toss us out faster than I can kill a bottle of rosé."
I groaned but followed her out.
The living room crackled with tension.
"She's scared, Adrian!" Tess snapped, pointing at me like I wasn't standing right there. "Gina is terrified, and so am I! We're just normal girls... no mob ties, no mafia drama!"
Adrian's gaze sliced through her. "She is not normal. She never was. And as for you..." his voice dripped with disdain "...you're in it now. There's no walking back. You might as well find a job in the corporation."
Tess's jaw dropped. "Oh my God, you're clinically insane."
Harrington lounged against the bar, smirking. "Relax, blondie. He's joking."
"Joking?" Tess barked. "He doesn't even know how to spell the word joking!"
Adrian's lips twitched, almost a smirk. "Well actually, I don't think you'd survive in this world... there's no role here that doesn't require silence. And that, Miss Tess, is something you lack entirely."
I froze.
Adrian. Had just made a joke.
But then his eyes slid to me, and the chill returned.
"It was never my place to tell you anything, Gina. I was asked to protect you. That's what I did. If you're upset, direct it where it belongs. Not at me."
My fists clenched.
"I didn't have to involve myself. Didn't have to compromise my enterprise. But I did. For you. For a woman carrying another man's child. For someone who has disrupted the balance of my city." His jaw flexed, voice razor sharp. "The least you could do now is show appreciation. Stop throwing tantrums. It's unbecoming."
The words gutted me. Even Harrington looked rattled.
"You had me trapped," I shot back, voice breaking. "There was never a choice."
Adrian stepped closer, calm and cruel. "No. You had options. You could've gone back to Marcus, blind and blissful. You could've waited for employment like every other graduate. But you didn't. You called the number on my card. You walked into my world."
"That's not fair!" I said.
"Oh, but it is." His voice cracked like a whip. "You couldn't even leave Marcus clean. You begged him for money. You clung when you should've let go. You keep choosing with your heart, not your mind. And if you're going to be a mother, that's reckless."
I felt the slap of it in my chest.
"Don't bring my child into this..."
"Why not?" His tone was lethal. "You think I'm here to indulge your moods? To let you scold me like a nurse wagging her finger? All I owe you is protection. And still, I did more."
His eyes locked on mine.
"For a moment, I was drawn to you. Because you're beautiful. Because I like a challenge. But don't mistake my weakness for permission. Don't mistake curiosity for tolerance. Disrespect me again, and you'll regret it."
The silence was suffocating.
Tess finally snapped. "Enough. She's not your soldier to command around!"
His head turned, eyes slicing through her. "Careful. This isn't your fight. You don't get to speak for her. Or to me."
Tess froze.
Adrian turned back to me, his voice smooth, venom wrapped in silk. "And you, Gina... you've mistaken me for some man you can spar with. That was my mistake. I let you believe it."
Then he straightened, dismissing us. "Both of you, get dressed. Look presentable. Your grandfather doesn't entertain carelessness. Sweats and an updo won't impress him."
He strode out, Harrington scrambling after him. "For the record," Harrington muttered on his way out, "that was terrifying and impressive. Bravo."
The door clicked shut.
My eyes burned. The tears spilled.
Tess reached for me, but I shook my head. "He's right," I whispered.
Her face twisted. "Excuse me?"
"Adrian's right. He owes me nothing."
The heartbreak on Tess's face nearly undid me. But I turned away, heading for my room.
The shower didn't wash away his words, but it steadied me. I pulled on a navy dress, sleek heels, hair twisted into an elegant updo.
When I stepped out, Tess was waiting in her own dress, lipstick sharp and red like armor.
We hugged, holding on a little longer than usual.
Then we both exhaled, squared our shoulders, and walked toward the door.
Downstairs, our fate waited.