Hunter - Blaire Drake Page 0,93

frame. My heart clenched, and I took a deep breath.

What if Isaiah had decided not to wait for permission?

“Adriana?” Angelo whispered. “Are you awake?”

“Yes,” I replied back, just as quietly.

“I'll be back in five minutes.” The door clicked shut and the lock clicked.

I dropped my head back against the wall. Five minutes. I didn't even know how long that was anymore. I counted in my head, from one to sixty.

I'd done it three and a half times when he came back.

Either I was bad at counting, or he was quick.

He opened the door, and the light that came through meant I was able to see when he reached right to the top of the wall and hit a switch. The room flooded with a gentle yellow light, and I had to blink harshly several times to adjust to it. When I had, the door was closed and Angelo was sitting down in front of me.

“Here,” he said, pushing a small tray toward me. “It's not much, but I was told that a sandwich and a banana is all you need to survive.” He rolled his eyes.

I looked at the food then lifted my hands. “I'm kinda tied up.”

“Shit. That cunt,” he muttered. He leaned over to the side and pulled a small Swiss army knife out of his pocket. He unflipped the knife, and I held my arms out. He was careful to slice through the rope without cutting my skin, and the second he took the rope away, I sighed.

My wrists had never felt so free.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, massaging and flexing my free hands.

He smiled. “If I knew I'd have tried to get down here sooner.”

“It's okay.” I reached for the water bottle. The condensation on the outside proved it was cold, and if I wasn't dehydrated, I'd have been drooling. I unscrewed the cap and took a big mouthful. “Can you explain to me what's going on? What you're doing here?”

He shrugged one shoulder, then leaned back on his hands as I reached for the sandwich. “I've been spying on the Romano family for five years. I started when I first heard the rumors about Enzio looking for you. It seemed the easiest way to keep you and Alexandria safe. He and my father have never gotten along well, so he was happy to have a 'friend' in Los Angeles. I bought you a couple of years, especially when your mom got sick, just by telling them if you were in California, you weren't in L.A., because I'd have known.”

“What did he do when he found out you were lying?”

“I told him you must have just moved, and because we were moving more drugs for him, I had less help to keep an eye out for you and your mom.”

“And he bought that?”

His lips twitched. “He was too concerned with the fact you were alive. He lives in fear that one day he'll be killed.”

“So he should,” I muttered, picking the ham from the bread. Oddly enough, I wasn't hungry now I had food in front of me. “Does Armo know you're doing this? Gaige?”

Angelo shook his head. “Dad has no idea. Gaige found out after Carlo showed up because he heard me on the phone.”

“Is that why you didn't trust Hunter?” I looked up. “Wait—how did he even get to me?”

“I had to let him. And, yes. I didn't trust him as a person, but I knew he wouldn't kill you, Adriana. I've been living between New York and L.A. for five years. There isn't a person in the Romano family that doesn't know how crazy he went when you supposedly died. They all think that although you were kids, he loved you so much that your death drove him half to madness. Nobody thinks he'd be half the killer he is if you hadn't disappeared.”

I dropped the sandwich and looked down. “It doesn't matter, does it? None of it matters anymore. He lied to me about Darien's death, and if I kill Enzio, I can't lead the family unless I get married. Let's face it,” I glanced up, “Hunter isn't exactly Boss material, is he?”

“And you think my brother is?” He smirked, one eyebrow lifting with the side of his mouth.

“I didn't say that,” I said quickly. Too quickly.

“No, but you were thinking it. Look, Addy.” He leaned forward. “I haven't been risking my life for you for five years so you can take the safe option and marry my brother just to lead