Chapter 54 Percy
Percy’s POV
"I’m sorry, Mom," Adeline manages to say into the phone. "It’s a security protocol. I’m clearing you now. Just... come up. Please."
"Fine," Melissa huffs, loud enough for me to hear. "But tell Percy his security guard is rude."
Adeline drops the phone onto the sofa and sinks back, burying her face in her hands. "She’s okay. It was just the doorman."
My biological mother, Lucia, sits beside her and rubs Adeline’s back gently. "Breathe, cara mia. It is over."
I pour a glass of water and hand it to Adeline. My hand lingers on her cheek. "See? We’re safe. The system works."
"I thought..." Adeline shakes her head. "I thought he had her."
"He doesn't have her," I promise.
The elevator dings, and Melissa steps out, looking impeccable in a cream coat, clutching the vintage Chanel purse Adeline was so terrified to see in a photo. She spots Lucia and puts on a smile that transforms her whole face.
"Lucia!" she exclaims. "So lovely to finally meet you. I apologize for the delay. Apparently, getting into this building is harder than getting into the Pentagon."
I watch her and marvel at how oblivious the woman can be. Adeline stands up and hugs her hard, which I could tell caught Melissa off guard because she stiffened before patting her daughter's back awkwardly. "Well. I guess I missed you too."
I look at the two mothers standing in my living room. One raised Adeline but never let her forget the burden and the one who gave me away and is now trying to act like she never left.
Twenty minutes later, we are all seated at the dining table. The roast duck sits in the center, smelling of orange glaze. I sit at the head of the table with Adeline to my left, Melissa to my right, and my mother across from me.
This is rare territory for me. I was adopted by Richard Akilov when I was young after my biological father, who also happened to be Richard’s best friend, died in a racing accident. My mother gave me up shortly after. I haven't spent more than an hour with her since we reconnected a few years ago after relentless searching on my part.
"This apartment is breathtaking, Percy," Lucia says warmly and with a smile. "The art—is that a Basquiat in the hallway?"
"It is," I say, surprised. "I didn't know you followed art."
"I have a lot of time for galleries in Rome," she sighs, taking a small sip of wine. "Your father, my Marco, loved art. He never had the money to buy it, but he had the eye. You have his instinct."
I stiffen slightly. I have no memory of Marco, as Richard is the only father I have ever known.
"Richard can't tell real from fake, so I suppose you're right. It didn't come from him." I say dryly, and she laughs.
"Richard always did prefer the classics. Old money tastes." She turns her smile to Adeline.
"And you, dear. It must be quite a change for you. Living here after—where was it? A garage?"
Adeline pauses, her glass halfway to her mouth. "I lived in a house," she says politely. "The garage was where I worked."
"Right," Lucia waves her manicured hand. "I guess that's one of the advantages of being a modern woman. I tell my friends about you, and they are so surprised. It's all so rustic, you know?"
I narrow my eyes at her. "Adeline is a lawyer, Lucia. She graduated at the top of her class. The racing was a hobby."
"A dangerous hobby," Melissa snipes, spearing a piece of duck. "Which is why we are in this mess. If she hadn't been racing, she wouldn't have met you, and we wouldn't have mobsters parked outside my house."
"Mom..." Adeline warns.
"What?" Melissa shrugs. "It’s true. My life was very peaceful until the Akilov circus came to town."
I clench my jaw. "I have apologized for the danger, Melissa, and I am paying for your security."
"Money doesn't stop bullets, Percy," Melissa snaps.
"No, but family does." My mother interrupts softly. She reaches across the table and places her hands over mine. "You are doing everything Richard would have done. You are protecting what is yours, and for that, I am so proud of you. Seeing you like this makes me so proud. You're a true Akilov in name and power. You know, when Marco died, I was so terrified. I was young, alone, and broke."
"Lucia, we don't have to revisit that now," I tell her, but there's no stopping her now.
"When Richard offered to take you to give you this life, I knew I had to let you go. I could only give you love, and in this world, love doesn't pay for the kind of education you had." My jaw ticks. Richard never talks about the adoption at all, so hearing her talk about it like this was some huge sacrifice on her part makes me want to smash something. It makes me wonder why she was okay with giving me up just so I could be part of some fortune I wasn't born into.
"You’re here now," I say quietly. "That's all that matters."
"Yes, and I intend to make up for it. If you will let me, of course." She smiles bravely as she looks down at her plate. "Richard made it very difficult for me to stay in contact, you know. He... he can be possessive. He wanted you to be his son completely and even made me sign papers."
"Papers?" I ask.
"To relinquish my rights," she lies, or maybe it's the truth? "In exchange for your future. He bought me a ticket to Italy and told me never to look back, but look at you now, you thrived and became the King of New York."
Her eyes flick to the Rolex on my wrist and then back to my face. "Marco would have been so proud to see you wearing that crown."
"Oh, please," Melissa scoffs. "He’s a lawyer, not a monarch. Can someone pass the salt? This duck is bland."
Lucia’s eyes flash with annoyance, but she masks it instantly with a sweet smile. "You must be under so much stress, Melissa. Fear makes us say unkind things."
"I’m not afraid," Melissa says, pouring herself more wine. "I’m annoyed. There’s a difference."
Dinner continues like that. Adeline and I say little to nothing while Melissa complains about everything from the dinner to the view. Lucia, on the other hand, praises everything and asks about my success.
At some point, Adeline tells her about the house we're renovating to make ours, and she offers her support and interest. I decide that I like having her support, not that I need it, but it's nice to know that she cares.
As the plates are cleared, Lucia turns to Adeline. "So, tell me, cara, with all this drama going on. Have you and Percy discussed the estate planning?"
"What estate?" Adeline asks in confusion.
"Well, Percy is adopted, as you know." Lucia whispers it as if it's a big secret. It's not.
"I do know that."
"Right. Meaning you also know how traditional Richard is. Sometimes, when biological children aren't involved, wills can be tricky, especially if he decides to remarry."