Chapter 29

Adrian’s POV

Fixing my cufflinks, I exited the house with Barrett trailing a step behind me.

My chest tightened at the thought of leaving my wife behind again—alone for another night. Perhaps, by the time I returned, she would have changed her mind.

A faint smile gives at my lips at the possibility, even thought it was unlikely with her stubborn self.

As we approached the car, I felt the familiar shift of myself slipping into the cold mask I was known for.

In no time, we arrived at the warehouse. Colton hurried to my side the moment I stepped out of the car, filling me in on everything before I’d even straightened my jacket.

Apparently some men had shown up claiming authority over shipments at the port. They had interrupted every movement and made it impossible for my workers to load.

I already knew who was behind it. It had the fingerprints of my rivals’ work all over it. To think they’d send thugs to my warehouse.

Wrong fucking move.

I took off my jacket and handed it to Colton, along with my cufflinks and tie. Sleeves rolled up, I moved with purpose. I had a few people to straighten out.

Barrett flanked my right, my baton already in his hand. I took it from him and walked into the warehouse. He had his own in his other hand, his gaze hard, he meant business as I did.

Inside, the remaining workers sat huddled in clusters, voices low, concern written across every face. The other side had sticks and planks in hand, pointing and waiting for my people to make a move.

Only that they wouldn’t. They immediately caught sight of me approaching, their faces turned into relief.

“Boss!” The chant rose up, their voices lifting as I walked in.

I stepped to the front, placing myself between both sides, baton hanging loosely behind my back.

“Gentlemen,” I called, pulling their attention toward me. “You have exactly one minute to leave — graciously — or you may never get the opportunity ever again.”

They chuckled, glancing at each other in amusement.

I didn’t smile back. I didn’t think I’d made a joke.

The hard way it is then.

After what breezed by in a few minutes, a bloody baton after. The matter was settled. My workers resumed, and bodies were dragged away — dead or alive, I couldn’t tell.

I strode out, dusting off my shirt, thankfully, not a single drop of blood on it. After years of dealing with shit like this, I’d become a professional at staying clean. Bloodied shirt was a drag to clean out.

Besides, I wouldn’t want Brianna to find my bloody clothes. I already stood on shaky ground in the trust department. Who knows what atrocities her mind would conjure at the sight of it?

I’d cleaned up the case at the warehouse, and so it was finally time to head back home to my wife.

A slow curve pulled at my lips as I thought of her. I thought of going home to her, cuddling her in bed.

Then I remembered, I’d been banished from her presence.

With a deep sigh, I ordered, “Inform the men back at the house to release her.” Barrett nodded as he took out his phone to pass my order.

I hadn’t gotten what I needed but for my wife’s sake, I’d let her go. I hadn’t gotten plenty of ways to get my lick back.

As we reached the car, Barrett moving ahead to open the door, I paused.

“Wait.”

He stopped instantly.

I suddenly got hit by a brilliant idea. This one even far more entertaining than my original plan.

‘Why not deliver Emily to her father myself?’

I had a bone or two to pick with that spineless man. Even more so now that he had dared interfere with the fragile peace I was beginning to enjoy at home with my wife.

“Change of plans,” I said calmly. “We’re stopping by her father’s house. I’ll return Emily personally.”

The only downside was not getting home faster to my wife, but it was all for her sake at the end of the day.

Barrett glanced at his screen, then nodded once. “Understood, sir.”

“I’d love to see the look on his face when I brought back his little daughter.”

Barrett only nodded in response as I got into the car. He wasn’t a stranger to my strange antics.

A sadistic smile creeped up on my face at the thought of it.

*Oh, this was going to be so fun.*

The drive to the Stewart mansion was long, though it felt shorter than it should have. That was because I spent most off time watching my wife through my tablet screen.

I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t help myself. I had cameras set up throughout the house — not because of her. They had been there long before she ever arrived, but boy was I glad for them now.

It meant that I could feel safe, in control and all seeing. It also meant that I could watch my wife whenever I pleased.

I pressed a finger to my lips, watching the screen with the quiet focus of a man seeing exactly what he wanted to see.

I leaned back against the seat as the footage shifted between angles. She was still there — in her bedroom, lying on her stomach without a care, legs raised and swaying lazily in the air, a book open in her hands.

The flash of her phone screen caught my eye. She kept turning it on and off, her attention drifting from the book every few minutes.

Was she expecting a call?

Do I text her or call her?

My thumb paused briefly over the screen for a few times. My heart warmed slightly cutting through the cold exterior I’d worn minutes ago, at the thought of her missing me too or worrying about me.

I missed her terribly and then in the idleness of the moment, I decided to mess with her.

‘Missing me already?’ I sent out a text.

I watched as her phone screen lighted up beside her, how she checked it to see my text and immediately rose to a sitting position.

She scanned through the text for a few beats, her brows furrowed, not replying, not doing anything before she finally replied.

‘Are you alright? Is it settled?’

I found myself smiling like a damn fool at her text. She was indeed worried about me.

Catching the gaze of Barrett through the rear view mirror, I schooled my expression back in place.

He must think I am slowly running mad.

I typed out a text, and pressed send as the Stewart mansion came into view. It wasn’t anything remarkable, but I imagined my wife growing up here — most of her life’s memories tied to these walls.

We pulled up to the estate gate.

Bypassing the security system and ignoring the multiple alarms blaring around us, I made my way to the Stewart house.

Barrett followed behind me, his grip firm on Emily’s arms as he guided her screeching figure toward the front door.

My eyes fixed on the front door as it burst open.

A man I recognized as Ezra stood in the frame, his gaze sweeping over us before his eyes widened and his mouth fell open at the sight of his sister writhing and screaming behind me.

A slow, dangerous smile slipped onto my face, dark and deliberate, as the image I made in my mind finally same to life.