Chapter 18: How Far Will You Go?
ADRIEN’S POV
"Nora’s been asking about you, Adrien...it’s been days, can’t you tell us what’s going on?" Grandma’s voice crackles over the speaker.
"There’s nothing going on Grandma, I’ve just been busy with my new job. Tell Nora that she’ll see me soon."
Grandma isn’t my actual grandmother, she’s my landlady. She’s a sweet old lady with a nice husband to match, who both live with their granddaughter—no one asks about Nora’s parents. It’s a taboo.
Besides, the whole family’s so sweet, no tenant wants to indirectly hurt them by asking.
"But we made lasagna for dinner and we added a portion for you too..."
Granny kind of adopted me as her own kid. It took a while because when she found me, I wasn’t in the right headspace. I didn’t trust anyone or anything.
Not even myself. Especially not myself.
"I’m so sorry Grandma, but I won’t be coming back anytime soon. My new job is very demanding." I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from saying ’coming home’.
"You’re sure you need a job that demands so much from you?" Grandpa’s voice echoes over the line. "You can just quit and come back. We have enough money to take care of you. You’re Nora’s big brother...you’re like a son to us."
This is why I won’t let Orion into their lives. They value me, not as Adrien Dubois, but as that scared, little runaway they found bleeding out in that alley.
The boy whom they rescued and gave a place to stay.
"As wonderful as that sounds Gramps, I’m going to have to decline." I chuckle. It’s easy to laugh when it’s just them and me. "I’m the best fit for this job and I can’t exactly quit, you know?"
They care for me as I do for them. They’re more like my family than my sperm donor and his vultures.
I can hear him hollering something over the line, but before I can process anything, Grandma’s voice echoes loudly across the speaker.
"Don’t listen to that old man, he’s as proud of you as I am. So, take your time and do your job, okay?" Gramps shouts something that might as well be a cuss word. "Just promise me that you’ll come back home if it gets too much for you."
Home. If home is where the heart is, then that place truly is home.
"I promise." I’d lie and lie again if it means that their paths will never cross with any of the people from my past.
After exchanging a few more words, the call ends, and the gun to my head is lowered.
"Is there a reason why you held a gun to my head the entire time I was on the phone?" I know his answer will never satisfy me, but I just need to know.
Maybe if I end up understanding him a little, I’ll know how to navigate whatever bullshit he’s dragging me into.
"I just wanted to understand what kidnappers feel like...since I am indeed holding you against your will." He sheaths the gun with practiced ease.
I take it back. I will never understand this bastard.
"I’ve done everything you asked Orion, so when are you going to tell me exactly what it is you want to use me for?" The more I look at him, the less patient I feel.
I just want out of whatever this is.
"You like those people, don’t you?" He sits across the table, staring me down with those unsettling eyes.
"I don’t understand what you mean." I don’t want his eyes on them. I want Orion far away from that family.
"Let’s not play dumb, duckling," his fingers tap lightly against the table, "you like those old people, don’t you?"
Cold sweat beads across my temple.
"I haven’t disobeyed you in any way Orion, so why are you asking me this?" If he touches them, he’ll ruin them. Like he ruined me.
I can’t let that happen. Not to them. Not ever.
"I’ll ask again, and if you respond to me with another question again, I’ll gift you their tongues in a box," he says calmly, "so, do you like those old people, Adrien?"
It’s always like this. No matter what I do, I’ll always be his punching bag. I obeyed him even if I would have rather slit my throat, yet he still manages to make even that look like nothing.
He pushes and takes like it’s nothing.
"I like them." The words taste like ashes in my mouth. I wonder if I’ve condemned those wonderful people to the horrible fate of appearing on Orion’s radar.
For one quick second, his expression twists into something unrecognizable. Something I’ve never seen on Orion’s face and can’t even imagine seeing again.
Then in the next second, it’s gone.
"Well of course you do," he snorts, "I’ve never seen you so happy...I’ve got to say, I’m quite jealous, duckling. You’ve never sounded so calm with me, why?"
He’s in a humorous mood...?
"They’re good people." I’m not going to ask him why he’s even asking me this and have him hurt them as a punishment.
Orion doesn’t want me asking him any questions— Okay...I can do that. I can keep my mouth shut and go along with anything.
"And I’m not a good person?" He bares his teeth in an imitation of a smile that’s wholly him. It’s more of a challenge than a smile.
A challenge that I would’ve picked up thirty minutes ago— thirty minutes before I spoke to two of the most important people in my life at present.
"You’re as good as you make yourself out to be." You’re as good as the devil’s worst nightmare, Orion.
"As cryptic as ever." He hums in amusement. "That’s why I’ve chosen to give you this job."
I already know I’m a cryptic person, so— what?
What did he just say?
"What job are you talking about?" When I told Gramps I was staying away because of a job, I meant that as an excuse.
I’m not mafia material! There’s no aspect of Orion’s work that someone like me can do. This is bullshit...I’m going to die.
I’m going to fucking die. Is he going to use me for some weird bullshit...or is this something else? Something like—
I glance at Orion and the dark smile on his face makes something in my gut twist. "Are you going to turn me into a...sex worker?"
I only realized how stupid my question was after asking it, but it’s too late to take it back.
He tilts his head to the side, then turns to face me. He opens his mouth, then closes it shut in the next moment. I think this might be the closest Orion will get to being speechless.
I might’ve actually made him—
"Should I? Is that what you think is the best job for you?" His eyes glint with that familiar darkness. "Would you like to be my whore, Adrien?"’
"No...?" But what other job would I do for him? Orion runs the underworld, nothing he tells me to do could be good. And he did say he was going to use me that way.
"You know what?" He rises from his seat, dusting the front of his pants carefully, "I’ll just leave this to Niko. You’re already getting on my nerves."
I open my mouth to say something, but he gives me a smile that can melt steel. My mouth snaps shut immediately.
"He’s quite...busy now. So, just wait here till he gets back, and no more kissing, okay?"
