Chapter 75 Retaliation

Chapter 75 Retaliation
Raven's POV

I stood there, frozen, unable to move or utter a single word.

“A-Adrian,” I whispered.

I watched as tears gathered in his eyes. For the first time ever, I was going to see Adrian cry.

“Raven,” he breathed my name.

His baritone, collected yet authoritative voice, so different from Dael's, uttered my name after so many weeks.

I didn't know when my legs began moving until I was crashing into Adrian, wrapping my arms tightly around his broad shoulders and breathing in his familiar scent.

I felt alive for the first time in a long time.

Tears fell from my eyes in waves.

“Oh God, it's really you.” I sniffled between tears.

I pulled back momentarily to study his face before crashing my lips against his.

It wasn't a kiss of lust or passion, but one of intense longing. Our lips moved desperately against each other, only separating for air before I began kissing all over his face and then crashing my body against his again.

“I missed you so much, Adrian,” I croaked out.

I could hear him hushing me.

“I missed you more, baby,” he whispered. “I'm so sorry I failed you. I wasn't there to protect—”

He began, but I cut him off with another kiss.

“It's not your fault. Don't you dare blame yourself.”

Adrian nodded slowly before lowering his head.

That was when my senses slowly began to return.

I noticed he was tied up.

“Why are you tied up?”

I immediately began loosening the ropes around his arms and then his legs.

Once he was free, Adrian pulled me tightly against him by the waist. He placed a kiss on my cheek, then my forehead, before looking directly into my eyes.

“I promise to never let you go ever again.”

His eyes held such determination that I knew he was dead serious.

I nodded quickly, grinning happily.

I hadn't felt this secure in weeks.

It felt like something inside me had been slowly dying from the inside all this time, but finally seeing Adrian...

Now, that was a breath of fresh air.

“Sir, I'm sorry. I tried to—”

The man I had knocked unconscious earlier stumbled into the room.

“It's okay, Daryl. I can handle it.”

Dael glared at the man, signaling for him to leave.

“Um... Adrian, this is Dael. I know this is strange, and you haven't met him before, but he is your twin. I have discovered a whole lot of things, Adrian.”

I sniffled as I ran a hand through his hair.

“Don't worry. I promise to tell you everything.”

Adrian smiled at me before pulling me onto his lap on the ground.

“I have so much to tell you too, Raven,” he whispered.

I kissed him again.

It was like I needed to make up for the weeks we had been away from each other.

Dael cleared his throat, making us turn toward him.

“I'll go check on Drew,” he said, about to leave the room when I stopped him.

“Actually, Dael, we have to talk,” I informed him.

“Can you wait here? We'll just talk briefly.”

I smiled at Adrian, rubbing my nose against his.

I could see just how reluctant Adrian was to let me go.

“I'll be back soon, I promise.”

Adrian slowly nodded before finally letting me go.

I followed Dael outside.

“What is it?” he asked sternly, not meeting my eyes.

I could see the pained expression on his face, but I couldn't care less.

Right now, all I felt was blinding rage.

He had captured Adrian, but he had the guts to try to keep me from seeing him?

“Why did you try to stop me from seeing Adrian?”

I went straight to the point.

Dael's head snapped toward me as disbelief appeared all over his face, but he quickly tried to mask it.

“I wasn't keeping you from seeing him.”

“Then what were you thinking? Lying to me because it sure looked like you wanted to kill him and hide the body away.”

Dael's eyes snapped to mine as his frown deepened.

“Are you being serious? I could never kill Adrian. He is my brother, for Christ's sake.”

I kept my gaze hardened as I simply glared at him.

“Well, if you had no bad intentions, then why was he tied up?” I questioned.

“Because...” He looked away. “I didn't know if he had been manipulated or followed. For all we know, someone might have been trying to use him to get to you. I was only being careful.”

I watched his behavior, gauging his reaction.

I could tell he was lying, but I also knew I needed him for now.

So, I decided to ignore it.

“Fine.” I sighed, pretending to believe him. “Go tell Drew about the latest development while I fill Adrian in on everything.”

Dael nodded, and I moved to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

“Raven?”

I turned to him.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked.

I swallowed before shaking my head.

“In fact, I am grateful to you for all your help, Dael.”

I pulled him into a hug, which he returned with enthusiasm.

Sometimes, I felt bad for Dael.

He was so in love with someone who could never love him back.

Me.

I slowly pulled away from the hug, giving him a little pat on the chest before going back into the room.

It was time to fill Adrian in on everything.

Dael's POV

I was livid.

My entire being pulsed with rage, blinding fury.

I wished I had pulled that trigger when I had the chance. I wished I had ended the pathetic life of that coward I called my brother.

I didn't need his love or forgiveness anymore. All I wanted was for him to stay the hell away from Raven.

My Raven.

I reached the room where Drew was, barging inside and startling him.

He had his gun pointed at the door when I entered. Once he saw it was me, he sighed in relief and placed the gun down.

“Dude, you scared me,” he reprimanded, but I couldn't care less.

I simply glared at him before deciding to reduce my anger by pacing around the room.

Drew arched a brow as he continued packing our weapons.

“What's got you all worked up?” he teased, but I wasn't in the mood for teasing.

I picked up one of the wooden chairs and smashed it against the wall multiple times.

“Fuck you, Adrian!” I shouted, breathing heavily.

Now Drew was on high alert.

He immediately stopped what he was doing and began cautiously approaching me.

“Whoa, whoa, relax. What has got you so riled up, and what did Adrian do?”

I took a deep breath, running my hand through my hair as I pulled on it slightly.

“Adrian is here. Just as Raven and I were building our relationship again, that scumbag is here to take her from me.”

I picked up another chair and smashed it against the wall.

I watched Drew freeze.

“Adrian is here?” he whispered before rushing out of the room.

I snorted, not surprised.

He had always been everyone's favorite.

Mom and Dad's favorite.

Uncle's favorite.

Raven's favorite.

Even the scientists liked him more.

I felt anger bubble inside me as I cocked and uncocked my gun.

I hated him so much.

I wanted to make sure no one could ever love him again.

I wanted to make sure he could never be anyone's favorite ever again, and that's what I was going to do.

I walked to the mirror in the room, doing what I did best—schooling my expression to be exactly what I wanted it to be whenever I wanted it.

Adrian was going to feel everything I had ever felt since we were kids.

I would take away the one thing he loved the most.

I would take Raven away from him.