Cara’s POV
“Yes,” Adonis answered plainly, with a straight face.
I wasn’t going to be deceived so I didn’t reply, waiting for his blank expression to crack. For him to say he was just kidding. But he kept staring at me like he was done.
My gaze moved to my father’s, whose expression mimicked his also, and then it occurred to me.
Was I the only one who thought of it as a joke?
“You guys are actually serious?”
They remained quiet, unwavering.
My lips parted in a disbelieving scoff, “Nah… you can’t fight. Let me rephrase that; you won’t be fighting anywhere. Especially not in an illegal boxing ring.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I repeated. “Why?? Are you crazy?”
“I just want to know why you’re so against it.”
“Well, for starters, you just came out of a two-month coma. Do you think because you’ve been sitting here, talking all day without passing out, it automatically means you’re immortal?” Hard words stabbed at him, portraying little of the burning feeling inside of me.
I wouldn’t say I was angry, but it was something similar.
“Your body needs to heal, Adonis. Take it from me, you’d pass out before you enter the ring for your first match.”
My father snorted yet neither of us paid him any mind,
“If that’s what you’re worried about,” Adonis looked me in the eye. “Be rest assured, I won’t be fighting until I’m well recovered. A week should be fine.”
The h*ll will it be.
“What is your problem? That’s barely enough.”
“I-
“Hold it!” Five of my fingers were raised in the air for more emphasis. “I doubt it would change a thing. Maybe you’d get enough strength to stand longer than an hour, and that would be it. You’re not a machine, Adonis.”
“We don’t have all the time in the world, Cara.”
“And I don’t want my children to be born fatherless.” I hammered. “Your recovery aside, if you think I’d watch you get punched just because of a stupid plan, then you’re delusional.” Picking up my phone from the table beside me. “I’m calling Dr. Bruno.”
“For what?” He asked, his voice steady.
“To find out if delirium is a side effect of coma.”
“Really?” He snatched the phone from my hand. “Seriously, delirium?”
“You’re acting weird.” My voice rose in defence.
He’d been making decisions that had me questioning his sanity all day. What other choice do I have?
“This is inevitable. I would face him eventually.” Adonis replied, his voice still as levelled as it was from the beginning.
I doubted it meant anything, yet it gave me a irky feeling… made me feel like I was the only one worried or invested to react.
Were we really arguing about this?
Where was the man who looked at me like I was his whole world a few minutes ago? Because this one that’s about to risk his life doesn’t seem like him.
“Find another way.” I objected.
“What other way?” This time, his voice went up an inch of an octave. Anyone listening in on our conversation wouldn’t have noticed, but I did.
It was a telltale sign of his frustration.
Good. He’d understand how I feel.
Tired of our back and forth, my father cut in, pointing out something I hadn’t considered, “Sorry to interrupt, Corazon, but you seem under the illusion that you’d be allowed to watch it.”
“What are you getting at?”
“If that’s why you’re worried, then don’t be. They don’t show it on the television.” He bobbed his head like he had just dished out a piece of important life-saving information.
“Who said anything about the…” I trailed off, the words registering in my mind. “You’re leaving me behind?” My head whipped towards the man himself. “I’m not going with you?”
My I-will-love-you-forever-husband rubbed at his eyes, “Bel, it’s not a place you would be safe in. I would be too busy getting the plan to work. Moreover, Adrian would use anything against me, including you.”
“We’re lucky that my dad has a lot of men then. They would protect me. All you have to do is protect yourself.”
“Camila-
“No, Dad. Stay out of this. I said it before, and I still stand by my words; if Adonis thinks he’d leave me behind, then he’s a joker.”
“I.” He began in a bored tone. “Do not joke. I’ve stressed that enough times.”
“Well, you also once said you loved me and would give your life for me; guess that’s not the only thing you lied about.” I harrumphed.
A low groan slipped out of his lips.
“Is this how she always is?” My father asked.
“Yeah, but it’s worse. Do you think the pregnancy has anything to do with it?” Adonis responded.
“Talk all you want. I’m here and would never allow it.”
They could be each other’s besties for all I care. Rubbish!
After a short while of silence that felt like a long one, a heavy sigh broke through the room.
“Okay. So it’s settled- you’d get into the club with your fighting skills. I hope you’re very skilled. The men I saw the last time are no amateurs.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Adonis murmured. “I haven’t seen a fighter as skilled as I am.”
“Bragging much?” I mumbled under my breath.
“Adrian wouldn’t want to lose all his loot from the bet; he’ll try his best to get me to work for him. My alias is, ‘I was kicked out of the mansion with nothing, so I need to make a living somehow’. ”
“That’s a good one. He won’t suspect why you’re fighting for money.” My father commented.
“When I switch over to his side, I’m sure he’d make me a member of the club… he has to. That’s when the main plan begins.”
With a silent pout, I watched the two men ignore me, putting the finishing touches on their plans.
“What about finding the son? You’d have to stay low; I believe it might be a bit hard to juggle both sides.”
Adonis ran a hand through his hair as he gave it a thought. “I’ll leave that to Luca and you. I’ll need to reach him anyway and let him know of the new development.”
“That’s true.”
“By the time he’s found, I should’ve gotten a sample from Adrian. Well, kick out Tina and Sarah and take over the mansion once again.”
“Then what?”
“We prepare for the final battle. Because that would be a sign to Adrian. He immediately knows that we’ve caught onto his plan. I doubt we’d have enough time to get things in order before he shows up.”
“We’ll just have to start training earlier. I agree with you.” My father nodded, his eyes darting towards me for a second. “I think we’ve achieved a lot for one night.”
Refusing to acknowledge either of them, I corrected. “Look out the window; it’s dawn.”
“Hmm… you’re right. I’m going to retire to my bedroom and take a short nap.” He walked over to us, patting Adonis’s back, “It was nice to meet you, Adonis. Dimitri would be so proud of you.” Then just for the fun of it, he mused, “Make sure to get enough rest or your wife would go all hulk.”
“Yeah, yeah. Tease me all you want. I won’t change my mind still.” I bit back, kissing my teeth as he walked away with a loud laugh, leaving behind just two of us in the room.
Our heavy exhale and inhale mechanism was the only sound that could be heard in the room for the next few seconds until Adonis spoke up.
“Can we go to bed now?”
Really? He wasn’t going to address the matter further.
Annoyance boiling beneath my calm exterior, I turned to give him a piece of my mind, but my throat closed up.
Now that we were alone and done with the discussion, he had dropped his strong front, letting me see him just as he was.
Adonis had his head in his hands in a slouched position, and I could hear his breath coming out in short pants, his slumped shoulders following its rhythm.
“You’re not saying anything.” He lifted his head, his eyes coming in contact with mine as he struggled to keep them open.
Guilt flooded my chest. He knew he wasn’t well enough, yet he kept trying to rush things. The words, ‘We don’t have time…’ which he kept repeating came to me.
Could it be because…
I didn’t need to think hard. Blinded by my emotions but no one knew this man more than I did. Every step he took had its purpose.
And the reason behind this, I might just say I know. A sad smile tugged at my lips, my hand rubbing at my bump lovingly.
“It’s just down the hallway on the second floor.” I finally answered. “We don’t have an elevator, though…”
A small wince flashed across his face at that, and I rose to my feet, extending my hand towards him.
“Come, let me help you.”
“I’m fine. You can lean on me inst-
The shaking of my head cut him off.
“I want to help you.” I managed to pull him to his feet, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Put yours around my neck.”
The fact that I was even able to spoke volumes of his little strength at the moment.
“Seriously, I’m fine.” Adonis protested.
“Then how about we both lean on each other?” I suggested, amused by his stubbornness.
He stiffened, his lips slowly parting, his hands coiling around my shoulder.
“I’d like that.”
I couldn’t help the small giggle as we both wobbled towards the staircase, “Lest I forget, this doesn’t change anything. If you’re not fine within a week, you’re going nowhere.”
“Have I gotten your approval?” He grunted.
“Let’s just say that’s my first condition.”
“And the second?”
“We’ll come to that later,” I replied as we arrived at the foot of the stairs. “Now, save your breath. You’ll need it.”