Adrian's POV
I stared at Ethan, tied up in the middle of the dimly lit room, his head hanging low like he was too tired to hold it up. He looked rough,blood smeared on his cheek, his shirt ripped, and his lip split. But that smug, stubborn glint in his eyes? It was still there, and it irritated me more than anything else. Of course I was the one that tied him up
"Let's make this simple," I said, stepping closer. "Who sent you?"
He raised his head slowly, his smirk already in place. "No one."Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't dare look at me.
I clenched my jaw. "Don't play dumb with me, Ethan. Who? Sent. You?"
He tilted his head, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Do I look like someone who takes orders?"
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. This guy was pushing every button I had. "You're not walking out of here until I get answers. So stop wasting my time."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head like this was all some kind of joke. "You think this is about you?" he said. "It's not. I wasn't following you, Mr man. I was looking out for Liana and just trying to make friends with her."
Hearing her name made something snap inside me. "Liana?" I asked, my voice dangerously low. "She's not looking for a friend , stupid"
"It was a harmless gesture ," Ethan said, his tone sharp now. "I saw the way you treat her. The way you control her. She doesn't deserve that."
I stepped closer, towering over him. "You think you're her hero?"
"No," he shot back, his eyes blazing. "But someone has to stand up for her. Someone has to remind her she's worth more than being stuck in your world."
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You don't know anything about my world, Ethan. And you sure as hell don't know anything about Liana."
"I know enough," he said stubbornly. "I know she's scared. I know she's too good for this life. And I know you'll destroy her."
I grabbed the chair he was tied to and yanked it forward, forcing him to look me in the eye. "You think I don't know how scared she is?" I growled. "You think I don't see it every damn day? You don't know the first thing about her, so don't sit there and act like you're doing her some kind of favor."
Ethan didn't flinch. "I saw her," he said quietly. "The night I met her. She was lost, broken. She needs someone who can give her a way out, not drag her deeper into this mess."
My grip on the chair tightened. "And you think that someone is you?"
He didn't answer, just held my gaze like he wasn't tied up and bleeding in front of me. Like he had nothing to lose.
"Why were you really with her?" I asked, my voice calm but cold. "Why did you get close to her?"
"I didn't have to get close," Ethan said, smirking again. "She let me in. Because she trusts me, Adrian. Something she'll never do with you."
The words hit harder than I wanted to admit, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I stepped back, crossing my arms.
"You don't get it," I said. "Liana doesn't need saving. Not from me, and definitely not from you."
"She doesn't need you, period," Ethan said.
I ignored him, turning toward the door. "Take him to the holding room, he needs more torture," I called out to Luca, who had been waiting outside.
Luca stepped in, his expression unreadable as he grabbed Ethan by the arm and pulled him to his feet.
Ethan turned his head to look at me one last time. "You can keep me here as long as you want, but it won't change the truth. Liana deserves better, and one way or another, she's going to realize it."
I didn't respond. I didn't have to. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I stormed into the holding room, slamming the door behind me. Ethan was sitting there, hands still tied, leaning back like he owned the place. That smirk on his face? It pushed me over the edge.
"You just don't know when to shut up, do you?" I said, my voice low but sharp.
Ethan wiped his busted lip on his shoulder, looking up at me like I was the one wasting his time. "You came all the way back just to admire my face? Thought you'd had enough of me."
Without thinking, I swung my fist, landing it square on his jaw. His head snapped to the side, and blood spilled from his mouth, dripping onto his shirt. He let out a low chuckle, like he'd been expecting it.
"Feel better now?" he said, his voice hoarse but steady with blood dripping from his mouth.
I grabbed him by the collar, forcing him to look at me. "You think this is a game? That I won't break you?"
He grinned, blood staining his teeth. "You already tried. Still here."
I let go of his collar, shoving him back into the chair. "Stay here and rot," I spat, turning on my heel.
"Adrian," he called after me, his voice annoyingly calm.
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"You can hit me all you want," he said. "But you can't hit away the truth."
I di
dn't respond. I walked out, slamming the door so hard it echoed down the hall.