''It's me, Bratishka! Father is about to kill me!'' Annika's yell came from the speakers.
Adrian took his time before replying, and when he finally did, his tone was bored.
''What did you do?''
''I… It's just… Actually, Bratishka… I…''
He cut her stuttering off, ''I'm hanging up.''
''No!'' Annika exclaimed, stopping him. ''The thing is… I let Eve go. Father's woman, I set her free and now, Father says he will kill me if i don't get her back in ten minutes.''
A tense minute passed before Adrian burst into laughter, not just at his sister's stupidity for thinking she could help a person her father already considered his property escape, but also because he could imagine Eve thinking she was lucky for escaping his family so soon.
Even though he had no idea how she got to that auction, it was obvious that no young girl of her age and looks would join such events willingly.
Leaving the phone on the desk, he took long strides to the nearest window to where he was standing, looking out at the cloudy night skies. Thunder rumbled in the distance, causing him to murmur, ''It's going to raining soon.''
''Are you listening to me, Adrian?'' Annika's voice came from behind him.
''I am,'' he replied.
''So how are you going to help me?''
Adrian chuckled at his sister's question, ''Help you? That must be a joke, Annika. You must know I can't do anything to save you at this point.''
''What?! But—"
''No buts. You didn't inform me of your plan to let her go before carrying it out, did you?'' he asked, walking over to the large mahogany desk on one side of the room. He pulled the top drawers open and retrieved another phone from it, switching it on instantly.
''I know. And I now realize I was wrong at the time, Adrian,'' Annika's pleas were sincere, ''But can you help me this one time? Next time, I will make sure to inform you first immediately an idea like that pops in my mind.''
''Still no,'' Adrian said flatly, even though his hands were already working on sending a text to someone, using the second phone.
'Where was she dropped?' The text read.
The reply from the driver who had been tasked to take the girls to the store earlier today came almost immediately. Adrian read it and switched the phone off immediately before walking back to the desk to pick up the other phone, where Annika's pleas still echoed from the speakers.
''I really won't do it again, Adrian," she pleaded. "I am your little sister, with cute and chubby cheeks that you love to pull, don't you think it'd be a waste if Father kills me? No one else to put up with your ass if I'm not there.''
''Why not?''
A prolonged silence stretched through the line before Annika's exasperated sigh came through.
''But—Well… it's alright, Adrian. How about I owe you a favor?''
Adrian hesitated for a few seconds, as if he was just considering helping her when actually, he'd made a decision from the moment he saw her name displayed on the screen when she called.
''I guess we can work with that,'' he said, disinterest evident in his tone. ''What exactly do you want me to do?''
''I really don't know,'' Annika replied, dejection lacing her words. ''I want to save Eve, but at the same time, I don't want to die.''
He shrugged indifferently, even though she couldn't see him. ''It's a pity you would have to choose one then.'' He paused slightly, letting the words sink in before adding, ''If it makes things any easier, I can assure you that the Don would find Eve even after he kills you. What more? He might even kill her too, so you won't lack a companion on your journey to heaven.''
The tinge of sarcasm in his tone was enough for Annika to know he was joking, but that didn't do anything to stop the fear from getting to her and dominating her entire being.
''Okay, I made a decision. Help me find Eve and bring her back so I can live.'' The words came out in a rush, as if she loathed the fact that she could bear to say it at all, ''Gosh, I was so stupid for even attempting it in the first place.''
She hung up without giving her brother the chance to agree or disagree.
His lips curving into a small smirk, Adrian leaned back in his seat and rapped his knuckles on the desk.
One…
Two…
Three…
The phone lying on the table went off with a shrill sound, and he swiped the dial without even checking who it was.
''Don Visconti? How can i help you?''
''Find Genevieve! Wherever she is, find her and bring her back here!'' Roberto demanded, his voice high and commanding.
''That seems like an emergency,'' Adrian murmured, his calmness a sharp contrast to his father's impatience. ''T'is a pity I have prior engagements to attend to.''
''Cancel it all and find her instead,'' Roberto ordered.
Adrian's brows furrowed.
''You really must like the girl to want to lose money for a whole night over her,'' he noted.
''Yes, I do want her that much,'' Roberto affirmed without wasting a breath. ''And I don't care what you do with your time after. Just… make sure you find her for me.''
''I will. But don't be shocked if she doesn't return home tonight.''
''I don't care. As long as she's with you and not out loose somewhere, then she's safe,'' Roberto stated.
''Later then,'' Adrian said, disconnecting the call and placing another call to Alejandro.
"Boss? The bikes are ready. When are we leaving?"
"Ten minutes," Adrian replied, then added, "...after the rain starts."