Page 21 of Cruel Hero

“It doesn’t bother you? That I killed your uncle?”

She is quiet for a long moment, her gaze fixed on some distant point. When she finally speaks, her voice is soft but steady. “It did bother me. At least until I found documents in Dean’s office. My parents’ car accident… it wasn’t an accident. He orchestrated it. He had their car sabotaged because they were planning to expose him. They knew about his dealings, about the trafficking, the corruption. They were going to bring him down, and he couldn’t let that happen. And then all the other lives he destroyed, the families he ruined… I’ve spent so long trying to separate the man I knew as my uncle from the monster he really was. But when I found those papers, it became clear. He wasn’t just a man with flaws. He was evil. And if I’m honest… I think I hate him more than you ever did. He took everything from me—my parents, my sense of security, even the illusion that our family was something pure. You just… finished what he started.”

Her calm acceptance unnerves me. I expected tears, accusations, maybe even a slap across the face. But this… this quiet understanding is worse. It makes me feel exposed, like she’s peeled back layers of my carefully constructed armor and seen the ugliness beneath.

“And you are here now,” I say.

Her eyes meet mine, raw and unguarded. “Yes. I’m here now. Because despite everything, I trust you more than anyone else right now. Because I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me. And because... because I think you owe me this.”

“I’m not a good man, Tiffany. You know that. I’ll use this chance to win you back. You’re stepping into the lion’s den, and I won’t pretend to be anything other than who I am.”

She smiles. “I’m counting on it.”

My breath hitches.

“Fine,” I say finally, my voice rough. “I’ll help you. But no more reckless decisions. No more wandering around without protection. If you’re going to trust me, then trust me fully. That means no secrets, no half-truths. You tell me everything, and I’ll do the same.”

“I can do that.”

“Good.” I stand up, already formulating a plan. “First things first, do you have access to your uncle’s files or emails—anything that might reveal what he promised them?”

“I have boxes of his papers at my apartment,” Tiffany says. “But I haven’t had a chance to go through them all yet.”

“Then that’s where we’ll start. My security personnel will take you to your place to gather the papers and then bring you back to my penthouse. While I finish up the upcoming meeting, you will get to a safe place, have a shower, and change into clean clothes. I’ll meet you there, and we will discuss this further.”

“That safe space is your evil lair?”

“Believe me, angel. It’s the safest place you can be right now. No one can touch you there.”

Tiffany studies my face for a moment before standing up. She closes the distance between us and presses her lips against my cheek.

“Thank you, Adrien.”

Her lips linger for a beat longer than necessary, the warmth of her breath brushing against my skin. My heart is racing with a jumble of emotions—protectiveness, desire, and yearning. She knows what I’ve done. She knows the darkness I carry, and yet she’s here, leaning into me with a trust that feels both fragile and unshakable. I want to pull her closer, to hold her against me and promise her I’ll keep her safe no matter what. But I don’t. I can’t. Not yet.

Instead, I step back, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Don’t thank me yet, Tiffany. This isn’t over yet. Promise me you’ll stay safe. And don’t go anywhere until I arrive.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

This could be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I was ready to let her go, but if she knowingly crossed the threshold back into my world, then I won’t let her go that easily this time. I want her completely—mind, body, and soul.

Tiffany Carter is giving me another chance, and I won’t waste it.

Without breaking eye contact with her, I push the intercom button and tell Diane, “Cancel my flight to Paris and call Luis. Also, clear my schedule for tomorrow. I have some important business to take care of.”

Tiffany Carter is coming to my penthouse, and I can’t wait to have her at my mercy once more.

This time, however, she’s coming willingly.

Chapter 11

Tiffany

The arrival of Adrien’s security team sends a wave of unease through the bustling lobby of Leroy Holding. The imposing figures, dressed in sleek black and grey suits, tower over the crowd with their broad shoulders and formidable stature, except for one—a man in his sixties. He’s shorter than the others, with a weathered face that exudes quiet authority. His sharp, assessing eyes lock onto mine as he approaches.

“Miss Carter,” he addresses me. “Adrien has instructed us to escort you to your apartment and then to his penthouse. Please come with us.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr—”

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