Chapter 7

Adrian crosses the room in three strides.

His hand closes around my wrist.

“Outside.”

I barely have time to stand before he pulls me toward the door.

Bianca follows us.

“Adrian, don’t be mad. I really don’t mind that Claire came to the dinner.”

My chest sinks.

Of course.

He’s angry because I ignored his order.

Because I showed up at Bianca’s client dinner anyway.

At the end of the hallway, Adrian finally lets go of me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

His voice is low, but that only makes it worse.

“I told you not to come.”

I look at the floor.

“You’re a junior employee now, Claire. What made you think you had any business sitting in that room?”

Every word lands exactly where he means it to.

He has already taken my account and my position after three years of work, and somehow I’m still the problem.

Bianca touches Adrian’s sleeve.

“Enough. She probably didn’t mean anything by it.”

The anger in him visibly eases.

The first twin sighs.

“See? Dad always listens to Bianca.”

The second voice suddenly turns sharp.

“This is it.”

My fingers stiffen.

“What?”

“This is where Mom loses it.”

I stop breathing.

“She shoves Bianca down the stairs.”

My eyes snap toward the staircase at the end of the hall.

“And then Dad sends her away.”

The first twin goes quiet.

The second finishes coldly.

“She dies there.”

My palms turn clammy.

Bianca is still standing beside Adrian, close enough to touch him—and once, that would have been enough to make me lose control.

I dig my nails into my palm.

Not this time.

I look at Bianca.

“I’m sorry.”

Everyone goes still.

Bianca blinks.

Adrian’s expression changes instantly.

I lower my head.

“I shouldn’t have come.”

His jaw tightens.

“You really know how to fold when it suits you.”

I let out a small laugh.

“If I had that much pride, I probably wouldn’t have spent three years being your kept girlfriend.”

His face goes cold.

For once, I don’t care.

I didn’t hit Bianca.

I didn’t push her.

I didn’t die.

That’s enough.

Adrian stares at me for a long moment.

Then he says, “Go back to the office.”

Bianca leaves with him.

The hallway empties.

My knees nearly give out.

The first twin whispers, stunned, “She really didn’t do it.”

The second still sounds cautious.

“She’s still in New York.”

I lean against the wall and breathe.

Right.

I’m still here.

And apparently, as long as I stay anywhere near Adrian Russo—

I’m still not safe.