Book Two: Adaptation

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AMaking it down to the main floor, I shove my hands in my pockets while I leisurely make my way towards the bar I chose, CliQue. I'm in no real rush to make it there, I know Adrian isn't rushing either since he just got here. He doesn't want to be too suspicious. It took a lot to convince Nina to spend the New Year here. I almost thought she wouldn't give in with the way she was curving him, but he got her here. Although I knew she was stubborn when it came to other men because of me, I thought Adrain would be her one weakness. I know she's wanted him for a long time, I just wouldn't let her.

As much as I'd like to say it was to keep her safe because Adrian was an independent, which meant he came and went as he pleased, that would be a lie. In reality, I wanted Nina to look at only me. She'd promised her life to me, why would she want to be with anyone else even if I was from time to time. Whoever she chose would never know the real her the way I did or at least thought I did. It wasn't until Valerie came around that I loosened my restraints a little bit, as long as he was in the house and understood he was her fun and nothing else, she could have him for as long as I allowed.

A random gift shop catching my eye, I divert my stride to head inside to kill some time. I did promise Nava a souvenir.

Scanning the aisles for something that will make her smile, I spend the next twenty minutes weighing my options between a few things I've seen until I notice the snow globe display. Walking over, I see a few with popular landmarks, and I smile when I come across one with The High Roller inside. Now picking up the snow globe, I think back to last year when I took her here. She had begged me to take her before we left, so the night before, I decided to make it a date. After dinner and a show, we walked to the High Roller and rode it to the top, where I tipped the operator to stop the ride for a few minutes. I was lucky we were the only customers at that time.

Once we made it to the top, I held her in my arms while we looked out on the city, the view almost as breathtaking as the woman I now couldn't imagine my life without. It was at that moment I realized everything I ever wanted was right here with her. That in the short amount of time we'd known each other, she'd become my whole world. The very air I breathe. I didn't fully understand it at the time, but I was completely enamored by her.

Still, I promised myself I'd destroy anything or anyone that tried to take her from me.

If that means I have to take Nina out, then I won't hesitate. Nava has been through too much, lost too much, and I can't let that happen ever again.

I've failed to keep my promise once but I won't this time.

I'm not blind anymore.

Deciding this is the perfect souvenir, I turn for the checkout counter.

After the store clerk rings me up, she turns to grab a piece of brown paper to wrap the globe in before placing it in a bag. It's then I feel my phone vibrate, and I look to see Adrian is on his way down.

Accepting my purchase with a smile, I turn to leave.

Making it to CliQue first, I head over to the bar and order two double shots of Hennessey when the bar tender eventually makes it around to me. Disappearing as fast as he came, I crossed my fingers while I looked around.

Being here now, it's just now setting in that I'm here to gather intel on my best friend. I'm not sure how to feel about it. Usually, in these situations, it's easy to be detached, I don't personally know the target; they're just a loose end that needs to be dealt with. But this is different, this time it's Nina.

Thinking back to everything Valerie told me, I once again wonder why Callum never told me about Nina. Seems he knows a part of her I never knew existed. We haven't always seen eye to eye on certain things, but we never kept secrets that would hurt the other; at least, I didn't. I really did see him as a close friend I could tell anything to, even when shit got too deep with Valerie, that part never changed.