BLOOD, POWER AND DESIRE (M/M) BL

CHAPTER 5- TERMS OF PROTECTION

TERMS OF PROTECTION

Adrian's POV

I woke up to the sound of rain.

For a few seconds, I forgot where I was.

Then I remembered the gunshots.

Victor.

Lucian.

The blood on the ballroom floor.

I sat up quickly.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Lucian entered.

He was wearing a black shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His expression was unreadable.

"You need to leave this estate," I said.

His eyebrow lifted.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

"Because Victor knows you're alive."

"I can protect myself."

Lucian stared at me.

"Three days ago, you were nearly murdered."

"I survived."

"Because I intervened."

His words irritated me because they were true.

I stood.

"So what exactly do you want from me?"

Lucian walked toward the window.

"Until Victor is dealt with, you stay here."

"And if I refuse?"

He looked over his shoulder.

"Then I'll personally make sure you don't leave."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Is that a threat?"

"No."

He stepped closer.

"It's a promise."

My heartbeat quickened.

I hated the effect he had on me.

Lucian placed a folder on the table.

"Your security team has been compromised. Your accounts are being monitored. Someone inside Vale International is feeding information to Victor."

I opened the folder.

Photographs.

Bank transfers.

Security reports.

Names.

My stomach tightened.

"Who?"

"We don't know yet."

I looked at him.

"You expect me to trust you?"

"No."

His answer surprised me.

"I expect you to survive long enough to decide whether I deserve your trust."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he reached for a document.

"These are the terms."

I read them.

Protection.

Security.

Restricted movement.

No contact with Victor without Lucian's approval.

"No."

Lucian frowned.

"I haven't even finished reading."

"You don't get to control my life."

His expression softened.

"I don't want to control your life, Adrian."

"Then what do you want?"

He paused.

"To keep you alive."

Something about the way he said it made the room feel smaller.

I signed the agreement.

Lucian watched me.

"Why?"

"Because I want Victor to regret ever coming after me."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"That," he said, "I understand."

He turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To make sure the man who betrayed you doesn't get another chance."

The door closed behind him.

I stared at it.

For the first time, I wondered whether Lucian Moretti was protecting me because it was business...

or because he was beginning to care.