Page 54 of Cruel Hero

As Daniel and I exit the building, the oppressive heat of Mexico City hits us once again. We walk in tense silence for several blocks, putting distance between us and Silva’s men before Daniel finally speaks.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” he hisses, grabbing my arm and pulling me into a narrow alley. “Offering up Moroni’s daughter like that? Do you have any idea what kind of shitstorm you’ve just unleashed?”

“It was a calculated risk. One that paid off.”

“And what happens when the Moroni find out you’ve promised their daughter to a psychopath like Silva? Did you even think that far ahead?”

“Of course I did,” I say, the stitches on my side pulsing with pain. “Who do you think agreed to marry his daughter off to this psychopath? Umberto cares only about power and influence. He sees this as an opportunity to expand the family’s reach.”

Daniel’s eyes widen in disbelief. “You’ve already talked to Umberto Moroni about this? When?”

“A few days ago,” I admit, recalling the encounter with Umberto’s security team that had left me with a knife wound. Next time, I’ll have to be more careful not to surprise them. “We knew Silva would need a significant incentive to back off from Carter Corporation. The Moroni alliance was the best card I had to play.”

Daniel runs a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to process this information. “Jesus Christ, Adrien. You’re playing a dangerous game here.”

“It’s the only game that matters right now. Tiffany’s safety is my top priority. Everything else is secondary.”

“You really care about her, don’t you? This isn’t just about business anymore.”

I nod.

Daniel sighs heavily. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Because if this goes sideways, we’re all fucked.”

“It won’t,” I assure him before stepping out of the alley and into the bustling street. I adjust my suit jacket, wincing slightly as the movement pulls at the wound Umberto’s men left me with.

We walk briskly back to our hotel, both of us on high alert for any signs of surveillance or trouble. The crowded streets provide some cover, but I know better than to let my guard down completely.

Once we’re safely inside my suite, I pour each a generous glass of whiskey. Daniel accepts his with a nod of thanks, downing half of it in one gulp.

“How have you been?” I ask, removing my jacket and tossing it onto the plush armchair in the corner of the room.

Daniel’s posture stiffens. “Is that how things are going to be going forward? Are you going to pretend that these past few months did not happen? That you didn’t leave me for rabid dogs for the first pretty face that caught your eye?”

“She was never just a pretty face for me, and you let her go, even though you knew how much she meant to me. You made a decision without considering the consequences, Daniel.”

Daniel’s gaze hardens, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “You were blinded by your emotions. You let your feelings for her cloud your judgment and look where that got us.”

“Don’t you dare try to play the martyr here,” I growl, taking a step closer to him. “You made a choice without consulting me. You had no right. We were a team, supposed to have each other’s backs. And you went behind mine.”

“I was trying to protect you, Adrien. Can’t you see that? You were risking everything for her, for a woman who was nothing but trouble.” Daniel shakes his head in disbelief. “And what if Silva hadn’t agreed to your terms back there? What then? Would you have risked everything to protect this girl?”

“Yes.”

“Even if it puts everything we’ve worked for at risk?”

“Even then.”

I would do anything for Tiffany’s safety, go to any lengths necessary to ensure she was out of harm’s way. And if that meant putting my own life at risk, then so be it.

“You’ve changed.”

“I have. And I want you to know that if you decide to stay and help, I won’t be dealing in these circles for much longer. Once Tiffany is safe and we’ve tied up loose ends, I’m out.”

“You’re serious about this, aren’t you? You’re willing to walk away from everything you’ve built?”

“I am. This life... It’s not what I want anymore. I’ve seen what it does to people, how it corrupts and destroys. I want something different for myself. For Tiffany.”

“And what about the rest of us? The people who’ve put their trust in you, who’ve risked everything for you?”

---