Chapter 13 - The Viper
The gala was held in a massive ballroom in downtown Chicago.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the room was filled with politicians, CEOs, and people Adrian did business with.
I stayed close to his side.
His hand rested firmly on the small of my back, a silent warning to everyone in the room.
We were standing near the bar when a man approached us.
He had slicked-back hair, a sharp suit, and eyes like a dead shark.
"Adrian," the man smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Lorenzo," Adrian replied.
His voice dropped an octave, turning ice-cold.
"I didn't think the Moretti family had any money left to donate."
My blood froze.
This was the brother of the man who had ordered the hit on the mansion.
Lorenzo's eyes shifted to me, looking me up and down with obvious disgust.
"And who is this?" Lorenzo sneered.
"The help?"
"I heard you were hiring bodyguards to change your kids' diapers these days."
Adrian's jaw tightened, and I felt the muscles in his arm coil like a spring.
He was about to do something violent.
Before Adrian could speak, I stepped forward, looking Lorenzo dead in the eye.
"I'm the nanny," I said, my voice sweet and perfectly calm.
"And I also handle pest control."
"So if you don't step away from my employer, I'll have security sweep you out with the rest of the garbage."
Lorenzo's arrogant smile vanished.
He looked shocked, then furious.
He opened his mouth to threaten me, but Adrian stepped half an inch closer to him.
"You heard the lady, Lorenzo," Adrian whispered dangerously.
"Walk away."
Lorenzo swallowed hard, turned on his heel, and disappeared into the crowd.
Adrian looked down at me, a slow, wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Pest control?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with pride.
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"I work in juvenile detention," I reminded him with a smirk.
"I've handled toddlers much scarier than him."
