The garden behind the estate was breathtaking at noon.
Sunlight spilled across the wide lawns like liquid gold, warming the marble paths that curved through rows of blooming flowers. White roses climbed over trellises, their petals glowing softly in the light. Lavender bushes swayed gently in the breeze, releasing a calm, soothing scent that drifted through the air.
A fountain stood at the center of the garden, water cascading down its stone tiers in quiet rhythm. The sound was peaceful, almost hypnotic. It was the kind of place people came to relax.
Unfortunately, the person there was not relaxed.
Elena sat alone on a stone bench beneath a tall oak tree, one leg tucked beneath her as she leaned back against the cool surface of the bench.
Her outfit was simple today. Loose grey lounge pants, an oversized cream sweater that slid slightly off one shoulder. Her long black hair was tied loosely in a messy braid that had already begun to fall apart. A few strands framed her face as she stared irritably at the fountain.
Her lips were slightly puffed out in a stubborn pout. She was still angry. Very angry.
Her fingers toyed absentmindedly with a small leaf she had plucked from a nearby bush. Lucian was the most frustrating man she had ever met. Cold. Arrogant. Controlling. Annoyingly calm. And worst of all… unbelievably handsome. Which only made him more irritating.
Elena scowled harder. How could someone be such an insufferable jerk and still look like he stepped out of some dark fantasy novel? She tossed the leaf onto the ground. "Idiot," she muttered under her breath.
Not that Lucian Moretti could hear her. Probably a good thing. Her anger slowly softened into something heavier.
Frustration and sadness. It had been weeks since she had seen her brother. Weeks. Not even a proper phone call or even a message. Lucian had promised Adrian was safe, but that wasn't the point.
Adrian was her brother, the only family she had left. After their parents died, she had spent years making sure he had everything he needed. Food. School. A chance to build life better than the one she had struggled through. And now she couldn't even send him a simple message. Her chest tightened slightly.
"What kind of protection keeps you from your own family?" she murmured quietly.
The garden breeze brushed gently across her face, carrying the scent of roses and lavender. For a moment she closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. Trying not to think about it. Then she heard it.
"Elena."
Her eyes opened slowly but she didn't move. Then brows knitted together slightly. That voice… Her heart skipped. No. She shook her head faintly. It was probably her imagination. That's all it was. She had been thinking about him too much lately, of course she would start hearing things.
"Elena."
This time the voice was clearer and closer. Her head snapped up. And she turned. Her breath caught in her throat.
Standing a few steps away from her on the garden path was a tall young man with messy brown hair and familiar dark eyes. For a second her brain refused to process what she was seeing.
"…Adrian?" her voice was clotted with disbelief as the name left her lips like a question. The figure smiled.
"Elena."
Her amber eyes widened in surprise. "Adrian!" She was already on her feet before she even realized it. Elena ran across the garden path and crashed into him with a bone-crushing hug. "Adrian!" pure happiness and relief could be heard in her voice from the was she called his name.
Her arms wrapped tightly around him, squeezing as if she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.
Adrian laughed softly, stumbling back half a step from the force of the impact. "Okay— wow— still strong," he chuckled. Hugging her back.
Elena didn't loosen her grip. "You're here!" she exclaimed breathlessly.
"I'm here."
She pulled back just enough to look at his face, her hands still gripping his arms.
"How are you here? When did you get here? Are you okay? Did they bother you? Did—"
"Elena," Adrian interrupted gently, laughing again. "You're asking like ten questions at once."
She ignored that completely. Her eyes scanned him quickly. "You're not hurt, right?"
"No." he shook his head.
"You've been eating?"
"Yes." he nodded.
"Sleeping?"
"Mostly."
Elena sighed in visible relief before pulling him into another tight hug. Adrian shook his head with quiet amusement, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. Sometimes she still treated him like the little brother she had spent years protecting.
But honestly… He had missed this.
He missed her.
After a moment Elena finally stepped back, brushing her hair behind her ear. Only then did she notice the figure standing several steps behind Adrian. Her expression stiffened immediately.
Lucian stood calmly on the garden path, hands resting loosely behind his back while watching them. His dark eyes met hers. For a brief moment the world seemed to quiet around them. Elena held his gaze. Then deliberately looked away, she was still angry and she wasn't going to talk to him.
She turned back to Adrian quickly. "So," she said, forcing brightness into her voice, "how did you even get here?"
Adrian glanced over his shoulder briefly before returning his attention to her. "Two of Mr. Moretti's men picked me up this morning."
Elena nodded slowly.
"I see."
Adrian studied her carefully.
"Okay," he said slowly.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Elena hesitated. She had expected questions. Adrian had always been observant. She forced a reassuring smile."It's complicated."
Adrian crossed his arms. "Elena."That tone meant he wasn't going to drop it easily.
She sighed softly. "I got involved in something I probably shouldn't have," she admitted.
Adrian's eyebrows rose slightly. He knew his sister was in some kind of trouble, having not contacted him in weeks was enough to make him worry. "That sounds concerning."
"But I'm safe," she quickly added while smiling to reassure him
"That's the important part." As long as she was safe nothing else matters. His dark eyes glanced briefly at the massive estate surrounding them. At the armed guards positioned discreetly near the garden entrance. Then back at her.
"You're living here now?"
"For the moment."
"With him?"
Elena hesitated again.
"…Yes."
Adrian's gaze sharpened slightly. He had known his sister his entire life. And Elena had never been very good at hiding things from him. Which meant one thing was immediately obvious.She wasn't telling him everything.
And Adrian intended to find out exactly what that "everything" was.