Page 54 of Heiress Billionaire

“Yes. It’s highly likely that everything will be fine…” this doesn’t seem final, like there’s more he has to say, hovering on the tip of his tongue that he doesn’t want to give away. He’s obligated to, and Olive and I wait, watching him intently while flicking worried glances to one another. Eventually, he sighs loudly, running a tattooed hand through his jet black hair. “I think we should spend the night in the theater.”

“Why’s that?” I blink and he looks down at his hands.

“Because I think I may have given away our location, and I suspect all entry points are fair game. This is the only room without windows and steel lockable doors.”

“How?” Olive asks. “How could you have given our location away? That’s absurd.”

“Just, trust me.”

“Trust you? Did you fall on your head outside too?”

“Olive.” I warn, and she glances at me, betrayed that I’d take his side. This look hurts me, even more than the surprise that I’m against her on this. It could be because the remorseful look in his eyes reminds me of last night. Then it hits me.

“You think the fight you got into at the pub gave our location away?” I say, mouth parted slightly as Olive cocks her head in shock and concern.

“You got in afight? Are you joking?” Olive’s eyes flit between Adrik and I but I try to ignore her as he shifts his jaw.

“I don’t know, maybe. It’s just, the guys causing all of these fights have eyes in places we haven’t expected. Even back at home…” there’s a sadness to his words, a weight he usually never speaks with. Actually, I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard him speak with such grave inclinations. “Look, I need us to stay here tonight. If not for you, for Vince’s peace of mind.”

“We don’t have to tell Vince about this.” I blurt, and Olive looks at me like I’ve lost all of my marbles.

“Uh, yes, we do.” She raises her hands, waving them around for me to look at her, and I roll my eyes on the way to it.

“Olive, it’s not a big deal, we’re safe. Extra Bratva guys are coming, and we’ll be able to watch more movies.” She’s silent, staring me down, trying to figure out if there is something she isn’t getting. And I hope she doesn’t see it, but it feels like a projection of my thoughts could be thrown on the screen behind her at any moment, and I’ll be forced to explain what Adrik did to me.

He’s been silent, letting me deal with Olive this whole time. I glance over at him and he shrugs.

“Let Vince know if you think it’s important for him to be made aware of. I won’t stop you.” Olive looks extra confused by this.

“Can Barth stay with us?” Her brows raise and Adrik looks up at her.

“Why?” He gets his grin back, the one that curls at the edges of his lips and makes his eyes twinkle. It’s the one that usually pisses me off, but it’s not directed at me right now. And the view is pretty spectacular when I’m not furious with him.

“Because I feel safe with him.”

He shrugs his grin. “Is that all you feel with him? Safe?”

“Okay, Adrik.” I nudge him, but he doesn’t back down and now that fury is starting again, bubbling in me like it normally does before I explode.

“It’s funny how close you two are. He’s pretty old.”

“Just because someone is older than you, doesn’t make thempretty old. You’re not that fucking old, Adrik.” She’s not as worked up as that comment would have made me. She’s more annoyed with him, I can tell by the way she’s holding her shoulder crookedly, mouth half turned down at the edges, like she’s done with his shit.

“Well, at least I’m not flirting with a girl half my age.”

“No,” her eyes go wide with sarcasm. “No, you don’t discriminate, though. Body count is probably…” she pretends to think, tilting her head. “Well, I don’t even think a number that high exists. I bet you’re justriddledwith STDs—”

“Okay!” I clap because Olive usually takes it too far and so does Adrik, so I know this wouldn’t end any time soon. Plus, I can feel the angry heat rising next to me, and I won’t be trapped with the both of them bickering all night. Adrik and I do that enough as is…

He curls his lip up at her like he’s going to deliver some sort of earth-shattering, heart-crushing blow, but instead he snarks and laughs and stands.

“I’ll go see if we can have dinner delivered here.” As he stands and shuffles to the stairs, he turns back around with a spiteful grin, and I wince. “I’ll see if Barth can bring it to us.”

“Thanks.” She flatly says, drawing out the words as he trots down the stairs and out of the theater.

I sigh when he leaves, a little relieved that it didn’t get any worse than it already was. Olive scoffs, rolling her eyes and taking the seat next to me.

“He’s honestly such an egotistical ass.” She huffs and I nod, not agreeing as vehemently as I should and wondering why; I hope she doesn’t notice.

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