Chaper 3-Part 3
1343 Words
The courtyard stayed silent for several seconds after Adrian slammed the prisoner into the wall.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The man’s boots scraped weakly against the stone as he struggled for air, Adrian’s hand still wrapped tightly around his throat.
Adrian could feel the pulse hammering beneath his grip.
Fast.
Panicked.
Fear had a very specific rhythm.
Behind him, the other prisoners had stepped back toward the far gate. Whatever confidence they carried earlier had evaporated quickly.
They knew what Adrian Cross was.
Even if they pretended not to.
Adrian leaned slightly closer to the man pinned against the wall.
“I told you to step away.”
The prisoner choked out a strained laugh.
“You’re protecting… Vale’s kid now?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Instead he tightened his grip just enough to cut off the man’s next breath.
The prisoner’s eyes widened.
Behind Adrian, Alessia was silent.
Watching.
Adrian was aware of her presence without turning around. He could feel the weight of her gaze like pressure between his shoulders.
He ignored it.
The prisoner clawed weakly at Adrian’s wrist.
“Adrian.”
The voice came from the courtyard entrance.
Calm.
Measured.
Marcus Valente.
Adrian didn’t release the prisoner immediately.
He turned his head slightly.
Marcus stood just inside the gate, hands resting loosely in the pockets of his tailored coat. Two security guards stood behind him, but neither looked particularly concerned.
Marcus’s eyes moved slowly across the scene.
The terrified prisoner.
The others standing several steps back.
Alessia near the fountain.
Finally, Adrian.
Marcus sighed softly.
“Well.”
He stepped forward.
“It seems my little social experiment escalated faster than expected.”
Adrian released the prisoner suddenly.
The man collapsed to the ground coughing violently.
Marcus barely looked at him.
Instead his attention stayed on Adrian.
“I gave them permission to use the courtyard this morning.”
Adrian’s voice was cold.
“You didn’t tell me.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“That was intentional.”
The prisoner on the ground scrambled away from Adrian quickly, retreating toward the other men.
Marcus gestured lightly toward them.
“Return to your wing.”
None of them hesitated.
Within seconds they were gone through the far gate, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind them.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Marcus clasped his hands behind his back.
“Well.”
He looked toward Alessia.
“I hope that wasn’t too unpleasant.”
Alessia’s expression hardened.
“You set that up.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Set what up?”
“You knew they would approach me.”
“Of course.”
“You were testing me.”
Marcus’s smile widened slightly.
“Yes.”
Alessia’s voice sharpened.
“You put me in danger.”
Marcus tilted his head.
“Danger is relative.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“They could have hurt her.”
Marcus looked at him slowly.
“Yet they didn’t.”
“That wasn’t guaranteed.”
Marcus’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“No.”
“But that is why you were watching.”
The implication hung in the air.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Marcus studied him carefully.
“You interfered faster than I expected.”
Adrian said nothing.
Marcus walked slowly toward the fountain, stopping a few feet from Alessia.
“You handled yourself well,” he told her.
“I told them exactly what they needed to hear.”
Alessia crossed her arms.
“You mean that you’d kill them if they touched me.”
Marcus chuckled.
“Accurate.”
She shook her head slightly.
“You’re insane.”
Marcus smiled.
“I’ve been called worse.”
He turned toward Adrian again.
“But I am curious about something.”
Adrian met his gaze.
“What?”
Marcus gestured toward the wall where the prisoner had been pinned.
“You acted very… decisively.”
“He crossed a line.”
Marcus lifted a brow.
“My line.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
Marcus watched him for a moment longer.
Then he laughed softly.
“Oh.”
Realization flickered across his face.
“That wasn’t my line, was it?”
The courtyard grew very still.
Adrian’s voice lowered slightly.
“She’s leverage.”
“Yes.”
“She’s not to be harmed.”
“Correct.”
Marcus smiled slowly.
“But that wasn’t what bothered you.”
Adrian remained silent.
Marcus’s eyes gleamed.
“Interesting.”
He turned back toward Alessia.
“Miss Vale, I believe you’ve discovered something rather valuable today.”
Alessia frowned slightly.
“What?”
Marcus nodded toward Adrian.
“Your protector.”
Adrian’s expression hardened instantly.
“I’m not—”
Marcus waved a hand dismissively.
“Relax.”
He turned back toward Alessia.
“Adrian protects assets. It’s part of his skillset.”
Alessia studied Adrian carefully.
“Is that what this is?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Marcus’s smile deepened.
“You see?”
He looked between them.
“Already fascinating.”
Adrian’s voice dropped dangerously.
“Marcus.”
Marcus turned his attention back to him.
“Yes?”
“You made your point.”
“And what point was that?”
“That she’ll fight.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
“And that you’ll protect her.”
The words landed heavily.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“That wasn’t the test.”
Marcus chuckled softly.
“Oh, Adrian.”
He stepped closer.
“That was exactly the test.”
Silence stretched.
Alessia looked between them, realization slowly dawning.
Marcus hadn’t just been watching her.
He’d been watching Adrian too.
Marcus turned slightly toward her.
“You see, Alessia… leverage works best when it creates pressure from multiple directions.”
Her stomach twisted.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus gestured toward Adrian.
“It means your presence changes things.”
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“You’re pushing too far.”
Marcus smiled.
“Am I?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Yes.”
The two men stood only a few feet apart now.
The tension between them was unmistakable.
Marcus studied him calmly.
“You’re concerned.”
“I’m cautious.”
“You’re attached.”
“No.”
Marcus chuckled again.
“That’s what they always say.”
He turned away slightly.
“Well, this has been entertaining.”
Marcus began walking toward the gate.
Before leaving, he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
“Adrian.”
“Yes.”
“Try not to break my prisoners next time.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
Marcus’s gaze shifted briefly to Alessia.
“We’ll speak again soon.”
Then he left the courtyard.
The gate shut behind him with a heavy metallic thud.
Silence returned once more.
For several seconds neither Adrian nor Alessia moved.
Finally she spoke.
“He was testing you.”
Adrian’s voice was flat.
“Yes.”
“And you failed.”
He didn’t respond.
Alessia studied him carefully.
“You care whether I get hurt.”
“No.”
“You nearly crushed that man’s throat.”
“He threatened you.”
“So?”
Adrian turned toward her.
“So he crossed a line.”
“That sounds like caring.”
“It’s strategy.”
Alessia shook her head slowly.
“You keep telling yourself that.”
Adrian’s gaze hardened.
“You’re misreading the situation.”
“Am I?”
She stepped closer.
“You didn’t move that fast in my apartment.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Alessia’s eyes searched his face.
“You’re not afraid of Marcus.”
“No.”
“But you’re worried about what he’ll do to me.”
Adrian’s silence was answer enough.
She smiled slightly.
“Interesting.”
“What is?”
“I think Marcus just showed me your weakness.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“I’m not your weakness.”
“Maybe not.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“But you might be my way out.”
For the first time since they met…
Adrian Cross didn’t have an immediate response.
And that alone told Alessia Vale she was finally starting to understand the game.
- Writer
