Adela slides a latte toward me, completely unfazed. “I like it when he chases me and gets rough,” she says with a shrug. “We’re very open about our sexual relationship because it’s simply the best. And unfortunately for both of our friends, they’ve heard us a time or two.”
Rafe huffs, already back to his phone. “It’s their fault for coming into the townhouse unannounced. They now text us when they’re coming over.”
I stare at them, then down at the latte in my hands, then back at them. I could definitely tell that they were extremely sexual people, considering at their place in NYC, I saw them making out in the hallway like he wanted to devour her. “I…haven’t done anything like that,” I manage.
They both laugh.
“It’s really fun,” Adela says with a wicked grin. “It’s the dark romance books I read.”
Rafe rolls his eyes playfully, and they exchange a glance that tells of some inside joke. “It’s too early in the day to traumatize the sweet girl,” he says.
My chest loosens at their easy energy, and I take a sip of the latte. "Yeah, this is far too much to hear when I just woke up."
“Anyway,”Adela says lightly, setting her mug down. “We might have something.”
My spine straightens instantly.
Rafe stands and joins us in the kitchen as I slide onto a barstool. He leans his hip against the counter. “I was able to confirm that Alexei submitted Jude for a performance,” he says. “Masked ball. Private. High-profile kind of thing.”
My heart kicks. “When?”
“Two weeks.”
“That’s too far away,” I whisper yell before I can stop myself. “Rafe, he—”
“If we rush,” he cuts in, calm but sharp, “people will die.”
The words punch me in the face.
“People you care about,” he adds, eyes locking onto mine. “This is the only clean line we have to Alexei himself. He doesn’t appear in public unless it’s controlled.Thisis controlled. Being smart doesn't always feel the best.”
My hand drifts to my sternum without me realizing—pressing, grounding, trying to keep the panic from taking over my body.
Rafe’s gaze flicks there instantly. “You have medicine for that?” he asks.
I blink, caught off guard. “Um. Yeah. I try not to take it much. But recently I’ve…had to.”
He nods once. “I get it,” he says quietly. “I spent years trapped in that shit.”
Adela stays silent beside him, letting him speak.
“She forced me into therapy,” he continues, lifting his mug. “For a myriad of reasons. I’d like to say it made me a better person.” He exhales a humorless breath. “I had anger issues. Blackouts. A monster, you could say. It stole me away from the present moment. I hurt a lot of people.”
His eyes flick briefly to Adela.
“Including my wife. And she was crazy and forgave me for some reason.”
I swallow hard, wondering just how he hurt her.
Rafe looks back at me, expression darkening. “Jude is very likely facing nightmares you can’t even fathom. I know Alexei. He’s a fucking demon.”
My stomach drops straight through the floor.
Adela reaches out, her hand warm over mine. “But we’ll find him,” she says softly. “We’ll attend the party and go from there. We’ll explain the full plan once everyone’s up.”
“In the meantime?” I ask, restless and nearly vibrating.
Rafe’s voice slows. “In the meantime, we poke at Alexei’s systems. Reach out to contacts. The man is guarded at all times. He’s a king in Russia like I am in the States.” His icy eyes hold mine. “This won’t be easy. I trust you know that.”