Page 43 of Cruel Hero

“Luis has been around since I was a kid. He worked for my father and took me under his wing after my father’s death. He’s family, in every way that matters.”

Tiffany nods thoughtfully. “That explains why he’s so protective. And why he always gives me that look, like he’s assessing if I’m good enough for you.”

“He’s just looking out for me—and for you, too,” I say, brushing a damp curl away from her face. “He’s seen me at my worst, Tiffany. He knows better than anyone how much you’ve changed me. If anything, he’s probably just making sure I’m worthy of you.”

“Well, now that I know who he is, I’ll make sure to win him over and reveal all your secrets—maybe even coax him into sharing your childhood photos. I bet you were an adorable little troublemaker. I can only imagine the stories Luis could tell.”

I groan. “Don’t encourage him. He’s been waiting for an excuse to embarrass me for years.”

“Your sister probably got a treasure trove of stories too. I’ll need her number. Between her and Luis, I’ll have enough blackmail material to last a lifetime.”

I stiffen at the mention of Sylvia, recalling our conversation from the other day. “Sylvia isn’t allowed to contact you after Italy. She knows better than to meddle in my relationship.”

Tiffany arches an eyebrow. “Just how deep in trouble did Sylvia get for helping me run away?”

“I may have arranged for her to stay with a family friend for a while. It’s to keep her from causing more trouble.”

“Adrien,” she chides. “You can’t just ship your sister off whenever she does something you don’t like.”

“I know, I know.” I run a hand through my hair. “It’s just... Sylvia has a knack for getting herself into dangerous situations. And in light of recent events, I thought it would be safer for her to be away from all of this.”

“I get that you’re trying to look out for her, but she’s an adult. She should have a say in her own life.”

“You’re right,” I admit. “I’ll call her later today and talk to her about coming back, if that’s what she wants.”

Tiffany nods, seemingly satisfied with my response. “Good. And Daniel?”

“Let’s just say he’s no longer my employee. But don’t worry about it. We have more pressing matters to deal with.”

She frowns. “I don’t want to cause any issues in your friendships because of me, Adrien. What happened with Daniel...”

“Hey, it’s not your fault. Daniel made his own choices.”

It’s not as if I despise him for it. I should have let go of her before it got to that point. It’s simply a matter of principle; he went behind my back, even though he was doing it with good intentions.

“I still feel bad about it. Daniel lost his job and his friend because he was doing me a favor.”

I shake my head. “Daniel’s actions put you in danger. He may have had good intentions, but it’s something I can’t overlook Trust and loyalty are everything.”

“I understand the need for loyalty in your line of work. But don’t you think there’s room for forgiveness too? Daniel was trying to help me, even if he went about it the wrong way.”

“It’s not that simple, Tiffany. Actions have consequences. Daniel knew the risks when he made his choice.”

“But he’s your friend,” she persists. “Doesn’t that count for anything?”

“Of course it does. But I can’t let personal feelings interfere with business decisions. If I start making exceptions, it sets a dangerous precedent.”

“I worry that this lifestyle, always having to be so guarded and unforgiving... it must be lonely.”

“You’re not wrong. It can be lonely. But it’s necessary to protect myself and those I care about.”

Tiffany reaches out, cupping my face in her hands. “I understand that, Adrien. I do. But maybe there’s a middle ground? A way to maintain your boundaries without shutting people out?”

I lean into her touch, closing my eyes for a moment. When I open them again, I’m met with Tiffany’s earnest gaze. “I’ll... I’ll think about it. About Daniel.”

Tiffany smiles. “That’s all I ask.”

Chapter 18

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