Chapter Two Hundred Fifty-One 

Sephie 

“But why though? She has all the money she could ever want from him. Her family as well. Didn’t Mando say she’s from a wealthy family? That doesn’t make sense,” I said. 

They all thought for a moment, then Viktor stood up. “I have an idea,” he said. “But I need a computer so we have to go 

downstairs.” 

I jumped up from the couch. “Permission slips signed. We’re going on a field trip! Everybody make sure you grab your buddy’s hand and stay with the group.” 

They were all still laughing at my caffeine-fueled absurdity when we walked off the elevator. The office was still busy, even though it was getting to be later in the day. Adrik’s office door was closed, so I knew he was in a meeting. Stephen was waiting outside his office and gave us all a curious look as we walked off the elevator. 

I looked to Viktor. “I’ll go fill Stephen in. You guys go do whatever the he ll it is you’re about to do,” I said. “Just don’t lose your buddy. I’m trusting you guys to be mature on this field trip. Remember, look with your eyes, not your hands,” I said, pointing to my eyes and then to all of them. 

They all shook their heads as they walked toward their desks. They each kept a desk on the floor. It made taking care of their individual responsibilities easier. Stephen’s devilish grin greeted me. “Why do I have a feeling whatever you’re about to tell me is going to make me very happy?” 

“Because you’re a vampire and you likely read my mind as I was walking over here. Get. Out. Of. My. Head,” I said, smacking his shoulder with each word. 

“What did you guys find?” he asked in Russian, since there were still plenty of people milling around the office. 

It’s 

“Well, she’s a coke addict, so there’s that. Honestly, I don’t feel as elated as I was hoping I was going to feel about that one. just sad, really.” I looked down at the floor for a moment, thinking about how empty she was to turn to drugs to try and fill whatever void she was feeling in her life. Stephen cleared his throat quietly, snapping me back to reality. “Anyway, moving on. She also slipped her dealer a note with the money. We’re trying to figure out what the hel l it means, but we think she’s planning on robbing Armando’s house.” 

“Doesn’t she come from money?” Stephen asked. His brow furrowed like it always did when he was deep in thought. 

“That’s the confusing part. Viktor said he had an idea, which is why we’re taking a field trip down here. I’m not sure what he’s thinking. We also might need to talk to Keith about this later. She was weirdly specific on locations. We think she’s talking about Mando’s house, but the guys said it’s been a while since they were there and don’t really remember the layout,” I said. 

Stephen’s watch beeped once. He looked at it, then looked at me. “Meeting is almost over, but I’ll be back.” 

“Does he have anything directly after this one? Can I surprise him?” I asked. 

Before he opened the door, he smiled at me. “That would be exactly what he needs today,” he said quietly. 

I moved a few steps away from the door, in case Adrik followed the person he was meeting with to the door. I waited until Stephen walked out with the person and walked past me. I heard the door to Adrik’s private bathroom open and close, 50 I knew I could sneak into his office without him seeing me. I walked in quickly, shutting the door behind me and sat down in his chair as quietly as I could. For once, the chair didn’t squeak. I propped my legs up on his desk and crossed my arms, waiting for him to come out of the bathroom. 

I glanced at the few papers oh his desk, as I heard the water in the sink come on. They were rough sketches, different variations on the same theme. I couldn’t tell what it was, but my attention was directed at the door to the bathroom as I heard the water turn off. 

He opened the door, not exactly paying attention. He looked completely lost in thought and somewhat stressed. His gaze lifted as he took steps toward his desk and landed on me. He stopped in his tracks, his wide smile across his face. He just pointed to me and then pointed to the floor in front of him. 

I jumped out of his chair and ran to him, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around him. I couldn’t help the squeal that came out when he caught me. He held me tightly, his face buried in my neck. “You have no idea how much I needed this, solnishko,” he said, inhaling deeply. I felt his body relax as I hugged him tighter, running my hand through the back of his hair. 

“Anything wrong or just a long day?” I asked. 

“Just a long day. I’m exhausted. I don’t know how you have so much energy right now. I think you su cked all my energy out this morning,” he said. I could feel his smile against my neck as he kissed my neck sweetly. 

“I’m on my third cup of coffee today. That’s how. It’s fake energy. I’m still not entirely sure what we did this morning, but it took a lot out of both of us, I think.” 

“Worth it,” he said, leaning back to look at me. His handsome smile pulling at my chest. 

“I could not agree more,” I said, unwrapping myself from him so he wouldn’t be forced to hold me up. “And also, I’ll go get you some coffee before your next meeting.” 

He leaned down and kissed me, his hand on my cheek. His thumb rubbing across my cheek lightly as his lips were on mine. He could make my knees go weak with his kisses, and he did regularly. I think he enjoyed it. But the sweet, tender kisses almost always caught me off-guard and made my insides melt completely. I couldn’t help but moan quietly as I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. 

“I just love you, Adrik,” I said. “Now, let me go get you coffee before your next meeting. How much time do I have?” I asked. He looked at his watch. “Ten minutes,” he said, laughing at me. 

“I can do it in seven,” I said, turning to quickly walk out. 

Misha was almost to Adrik’s office door when I opened the door. “Gazelle, I was just coming to get you. You need to see what we found,” he said. 

I grabbed his arm, pulling him with me. I knew Adrik wouldn’t be happy about me going anywhere by myself, so since Misha was the closest one, he got nominated to come with me. I also still refused to keep track of a key fob to the elevator, so 1 needed one of the guys to operate it. “Um, where are we going?” he asked as we got on the elevator. 

“To get more coffee before his next meeting. I’m on my third cup today and I’m still exhausted. He hasn’t had any since this morning, so he’s dying. I only have seven minutes to make this happen. Really, ten, but I’m an overachiever and I told him I could do it in seven,” I said. 

Misha just laughed at me. The doors opened and I practically ran into the penthouse. Luckily, Adrik had a top-of-the-line coffee machine that made it quickly, so I was hopeful I could make this happen. Misha filled me in on what they’d found as I waited. 

“Viktor decided to look up Glana’s family In Italy. I didn’t even know he knew her family name, but I shouldn’t be surprised. He knows everything. About everyone. Anyway, her family was wealthy,” he said. He paused for a moment, a grin on his face. 

“Was? As in past tense?” 

He nodded. “They’ve hit hard times recently. Apparently Giana’s father is not the businessman her grandfather was. It looks like bad investments, even more st upid investments, and generally wasteful spending have significantly depleted their fortune.” 

“That explains why Giana needs a job,” I said. Misha looked at me, a confused look on his face. “Giana told me when her and Armando first got here that she needs this job. It was before I knew she came from a wealthy family, so I didn’t think anything of it.” I chewed on my bottom lip as I poured coffee into two thermoses. Might as well make it four cups of coffee today, since it looks like it’s going to be an extra long day. I finished making Adrik’s coffee just how he liked it, as well as mine and walked toward the door. Misha opened the door for me. We were both still deep in thought as we waited for the elevator. 

Once on the elevator, with the doors closed, I said, “I wonder if she’s planning on robbing him for herself or for her family? It still doesn’t really make sense. I mean, all site would have to do is talk to Armando and tell him that her family is in trouble. He’s so stinking nice that he would help them. Why is she choosing to go this route?” 

“I’m not sure about that one, either. There’s probably more that we haven’t found yet,” Misha said. 

“I’ll be over in a minute, once I drop this off,” I said, walking toward Adrik’s office. Misha walked back toward the other three guys. Stephen had just walked out of his office as I got to the door. “Shi t, is his meeting already here?” I asked. 

Stephen laughed. “Yes, but he’s early. You can still go in, he won’t care.” 

I sighed, thinking I took longer than seven minutes. “Hold this. I’ll be right back.” I handed my coffee to Stephen and walked. into the office. 

Adrik smiled at me, looking at his watch. “Six and a half minutes,” he said in Russian. 

“Really? I thought for sure I took longer since your meeting was already here,” I said, glancing at the man who had taken a seat. in front of Adrik’s desk. Adrik stood up, walking to me. He gladly took the coffee from me, kissing my forehead. “Thank you, solnishko. You’re a lifesaver.” I grinned at him, excusing myself quickly so he could get on with his meeting.