“Caution, like you just showed, is exactly what would be expected of the woman Kayden would give that bracelet to,” he says, while I grab my wrist, which feels more naked by the moment. “I was with Kayden when we found you,” he continues. “I know there are no fingerprints on file for you, despite the fact that you would have been fingerprinted for your passport. I know that Matteo created a new identity for you. I know Niccolo is looking for you, and I know why we were in that alleyway. That leaves open a lot of possibilities that I’m smart enough to figure out.”
“You know almost as much as I do, which is kind of scary since this is my life.”
“Did something happen with Niccolo at the party that I missed on the film?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I saw him, and instead of confirming he was this other person I thought he was, I now know he’s not. I know he’s looking for me, but it’s not because he’s the person I thought he was. It’s because he either thinks I know something I shouldn’t, or I have something he wants.”
“Do you?”
“I have no clue.”
“And who did you think he was?”
“A very powerful, brutal man in my past who won’t let me just walk away. I was sure it was him, so now I have no idea of who’s coming for me—and he might hurt anyone I allow into my life.”
“We are powerful, and Kayden is a force to be reckoned with.”
“But he is human, and I can’t be the reason something happens to him.”
“There are many people who watch over Kayden, Ella. And the people who watch over you are all his people. The Underground is family, and you are now one of us. Your problem is our problem.”
“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about everyone else. Kevin was a Hawk, and he’s gone.”
“Kayden learned from Kevin’s mistakes. He brought together and united Hawks around the world, and created a new, well-known, highly feared program called Evil Eye.”
“What is Evil Eye?”
“The wrath unleashed from around the world on anyone who hurts a Hawk, or their family and extended family. Your wearing that bracelet tonight told the world that you are in that protected circle now. Even Niccolo fears Evil Eye.”
“And Kayden developed the program?”
“He developed it and heads it.”
“He didn’t tell me this. Why are you?”
“Because I’ve seen how stubborn you are. If you think the answer to protecting him is leaving, you will go at your own risk. And that answer is not the correct one. Kayden is well insulated, virtually without weakness.”
“Except you just told me that I am the one unknown he’s allowed into his world, and yours. I’m a weakness.”
“Holy fuck, that is not what I just said.”
“It’s a fact.”
“It is not a fact, Ella.” His phone starts to ring. “We’re not done with this conversation.” He answers his call and has an exchange in Italian, and by the time it’s over we’re at the castle gate, watching it open. “That was Kayden,” he says. “He and Sasha are out of the palace and headed here now.” Lights flicker behind us, and I twist around to spy not one but two motorcycles. “Matteo and Carlo,” Adriel supplies before I can ask.
I face forward as Adriel pulls inside the castle gates, plotting my escape from the cavalry. While appreciated, they will ask questions that I don’t want to answer right now. My hand goes to the door handle beside me, and once the Rolls-Royce halts in front of the porch, I pull it, exiting to the driveway. By the time the two motorcycles park behind us, I’m already up the stairs with my key in my hand. I pause at the security panel, punch in a code, and unlock the door, entering the foyer.
There I shut the door, lifting the skirt of Sasha’s dress to run to the security panel for our tower. Once I’ve keyed in the code I wait for the door to lift and scoot under it the instant I can fit. I immediately punch the button to seal myself inside, lifting the skirt of my gown again to walk to the stairs.
“Ella.”
At the sound of Adriel’s voice, I whirl around to find he has snuck under the door. “What are you doing, Adriel?”
He walks toward me, stopping toe-to-toe. “It’s ‘come to Jesus’ time, Ella. He claimed you tonight, which, considering he’s been alone with his demons a very long time, got a lot of attention. And if his woman can’t trust him to protect her, why will anyone else trust him to protect them?”
“I do trust him. I just don’t trust me. I don’t know me.”
“Fear is a demon, and you no longer have the luxury of it winning. You’re strong enough not to let it. Is it better if you get your memory back? Hell yes. But if you don’t, we’ll deal with it. Because that’s what we do, and because that’s what he does. Deal with it.