Chapter 14 - The Night the Moretti Family Came Home
Adrian didn't shout when he heard his mother was in danger.
He simply closed his eyes.
Then took one deep breath.
"Tell Harris everything."
Federal agents and local police were already moving toward the facility.
Adrian wanted to go.
Of course he did.
But this time, he didn't try to solve the problem with force.
He stayed where investigators instructed him to remain.
And I stayed beside him.
We waited inside a secured police building.
Ethan had been brought there for protection.
When he saw me, he hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.
"Mara!"
I wrapped my arms around him.
"You're okay."
He pulled back.
"Are you crying?"
"Yes."
He grinned weakly.
"That's embarrassing."
I laughed through tears.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
Isabella.
His sister.
Alive.
"Adrian?"
His entire face changed.
"Bella?"
A sob came through the speaker.
"I'm sorry."
He closed his eyes.
"No. Don't apologize."
"I wanted to come home."
His voice broke.
"I know."
"I tried so hard."
"I know, sweetheart."
For a moment, nobody in the room moved.
Then Adrian whispered, "I thought I'd lost you."
Isabella began crying.
"You haven't."
He pressed his hand against his eyes.
"Where's Mom?"
"She stayed behind to copy the final records. I tried to stop her."
Adrian looked toward the ceiling.
"Please let her be okay."
Then the call ended.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
I watched Adrian pace.
I wanted to say something comforting.
But there were no words that could make the waiting easier.
So I stood beside him.
Held his hand.
And let him know he wasn't alone.
Finally, Detective Harris entered.
Adrian stopped breathing.
"Tell me."
Harris nodded.
"Charles Sterling is in custody."
Adrian swayed slightly.
"And my mother?"
Harris smiled.
"She's alive."
I covered my mouth.
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Thank God."
Harris continued.
"Officers evacuated her before the building was damaged. She has minor injuries, but she's conscious."
Adrian sank into a chair.
For the first time since I'd met him, he looked completely overwhelmed.
I knelt beside him.
He pulled me into his arms.
And cried.
Not quietly.
Not carefully.
He cried like a man who had spent eighteen years holding back grief.
I held him.
And for once, nobody asked him to be strong.
The next morning, Isabella arrived.
Adrian met her in the hospital hallway.
They ran toward each other.
He lifted her into his arms.
She laughed and cried against his shoulder.
Then the doors opened again.
A nurse pushed a wheelchair toward us.
An older woman sat inside.
Silver hair.
Scar near her eyebrow.
Adrian stared.
"Mom?"
She covered her mouth.
"My boy."
He fell to his knees beside her.
And she held his face in her hands.
"I never stopped looking for a way home."
He cried.
"I thought you were dead."
"I know."
She kissed his forehead.
"I'm so sorry."
Watching them, I thought about my father.
About the years we'd lost.
About everything powerful people had stolen from ordinary families.
And for the first time, I understood why he'd risked his life.
Because sometimes protecting people means fighting for a future you'll never get to see.
Later, Adrian found me alone near the hospital windows.
"Mara?"
I turned.
He approached slowly.
"I need to tell you something."
My heart tightened.
"What?"
He took my hands.
"I've spent most of my life believing love was weakness."
I swallowed.
"And now?"
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Now I think it's the only thing worth protecting."
I felt tears gathering.
He touched my cheek.
"I don't want you pretending to be my girlfriend anymore."
My stomach dropped.
"Oh."
He smiled gently.
"I want you to be my girlfriend for real."
I stared.
"Adrian..."
"No contracts. No money. No pretending."
He took a breath.
"Just you and me."
I laughed through tears.
"You're really asking me out?"
He nodded.
"Properly."
I pretended to think.
"Will there be food?"
He laughed.
"Anything you want."
"Will there be armed men rushing into restaurants?"
"Not if I can help it."
I smiled.
"Then yes."
He leaned closer.
And kissed me.
This time, nobody paid me.
Nobody dared me.
Nobody laughed.
I kissed him because I wanted to.
And when we separated, Adrian whispered, "There's one more thing."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
He reached into his pocket.
And placed a small velvet box in my hand.
My breath caught.
But when I opened it, there wasn't a ring.
There was a key.
I looked up.
"What's this?"
Adrian smiled.
"A promise."
"To what?"
May you like
He took my hand.
"To the life we're going to build next."
