Chapter 4 - The Rain and the Ledge
The wind howling off Lake Michigan was brutal.
Rain soaked through Adeline’s dark sweater in seconds, freezing her skin as she pressed her back against the wet stone facade of the estate.
Below her, the courtyard was a dark pit of concrete. One slip meant death.
She edged along the narrow stone molding, inching her feet sideways, her fingers gripping the carved limestone window arches for balance.
"Adeline, talk to me," Nico’s voice crackled through the earpiece.
"I'm on the ledge," she whispered, her teeth chattering violently. "It's... it's very slippery."
"Don't look down," Nico commanded, his tone fierce and absolute. "Keep your eyes on the second window frame ahead. That’s my room. I’m right here."
Adeline took a deep, shuddering breath, stepping past a drainpipe. Her foot caught a patch of wet moss, and her right sneaker slid off the edge.
"Ah!" she gasped, her hands wildly clutching at the wet brickwork as her heart leaped into her throat.
"Adeline!"
"I'm okay! I'm okay!" she sobbed, regaining her footing, her knuckles bleeding where she had scraped them against the stone.
She made it to the window frame of Nico's master suite. The window was unlocked, sliding open smoothly.
A pair of strong, massive hands reached out through the opening, catching her around the waist and pulling her forcefully into the warmth of the room.
Adeline tumbled over the sill, landing directly on top of Nico, who sat firmly in his custom wheelchair, holding her tightly against his chest.
She was shaking uncontrollably from cold and sheer terror, her wet head resting against his neck.
Nico wrapped a thick fleece blanket around her shoulders, his arms encircling her, holding her so close she could feel the powerful, steady beat of his heart.
"You're safe," Nico murmured into her wet hair, his voice heavy with an emotion he couldn't hide. "You're safe, Adeline."
Adeline raised her face, looking up at him through wet eyelashes. Their faces were inches apart. The cold rain dripping from her hair touched his lips.
Nico stared down at her, his eyes dark with an undeniable, fierce desire that went far beyond gratitude.
"You shouldn't have done that," he whispered, his thumb gently tracing the cut on her cheekbone. "If I lost you..."
"You won't lose me," Adeline whispered back, her breath catching in her throat as his hand moved to the nape of her neck, pulling her slightly closer.
For a breathtaking second, neither of them moved. The rest of the world—the Mafia, the poisoned pills, the looming coup—vanished entirely.
Then, Nico’s laptop on the desk chimed loudly.
An incoming encrypted email notification flashed across the screen.
Adeline pulled back slightly, her cheeks flushing warm despite the cold rain. Nico cleared his throat, pushing his wheelchair over to the desk, his eyes remaining locked on her for a fraction of a second longer before opening the message.
The email was from Dr. Vance's private clinic.
Attached was a scheduled prescription delivery confirmation for 8:00 a.m. the following morning.
May you like
"The final dose," Nico said softly, his jaw clenching. "Julian is moving the timeline up. They aren't waiting for the board meeting next week. They're going to try to finish it tomorrow."
Adeline wiped her bloody cheek, her eyes turning fierce and determined. "Then tomorrow, we turn the tables on them."
