THIN ICE |BOOK I |BWWM|

•ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 5•

I stepped in front of my large plane mirror with my head hanging. Sweat soaked strands of my hair tangled with my eyelashes and a coarse breath moved within my chest as I gripped the edge of the sink. Slowly I raised my eyes, preparing to greet reality once again.

Empty as usual.

Flashes of my dream sparked behind my eyes as the air weighed on my shoulders and my knees buckled dropping me to the cold tile floor.

My heart ached for Julia. I missed her- the way my name danced on her tongue, her coy smile, and how gentle I couldn't help but be when I was in her. I've known nothing but how to be raw and unfiltered, but for her, I wanted to be almost poetic. It was just hard to show it.

Time passing felt like an eternity as I harshly ran my hands up and down my cheeks.

"Rimettiti in sesto per amor di Cristo."

I clawed at the wall, staggering to my feet and going through my morning routine.

I raked my fingers through my gelled hair as I stepped back into my bedroom, my eyes falling to the naked woman laying in my bed, the sheets barely covering her breasts.

"Cheap, not even close to how good Julia felt." I whispered as her lids opened and a soporific expression curved her smile.

"Hey you." She snaked out of the covers and   tiptoed to me, draping her leg around my waist.

"Get dressed."

"No. I wanna have a little fun. It's only 9."

She dragged her tongue across my neck and slipped her French tips past the top of my towel. A chill ran down my spine as I twisted her wrist and pushed her back.

"I said get dressed, Gaia. I want you gone by the time I get out."

I stomped to my closet and started getting dressed as Gaia's voice followed.

"I don't get you, Adrian. Last night you—"

"Last night was last night." My voice hardened.

Gaia leaned against the doorway of my walk-in closet now wearing her white satin dress.

"It's her again isn't it?" Her eyebrow arched as her lips pressed together.

"Gaia..." I warned.

"No, you owe me an explanation! This on and off thing's been going on for months—years. I'm not your whore! She's dead, what else are you waiting for?"

A stinging heat rushed through my veins as I blinked back the rim of water starting to line my lids.

My hand flexed into a fist and swung at Gaia, making direct contact with her sharp jawline. The pop was deafening and she flew head first into the edge my metal shoe rack.

A large gushing gash lined her forehead as I buttoned my shirt and stepped over her muffled whimpers.

"Get out, and next time hold your tongue."

My heel knocked against the wooden floor as I strode to my office. I closed the door behind me and plucked a cigarette from the box on the side table. I pushed Gaia and her smart mouth to the back of my mind and reached for today's agenda.

"....Francesco's with Pops....Luca-downtown....Andres-Atlanta with Leo."

The toe of my shoe tapped against my shag rug while I slid the agenda to the side and grabbed the financial reports again.

It didn't make sense. Neither the Russo or Mancini territory was drastically changing in Jersey or California, but they were exchanging large amounts of money. I initially thought Russo was stealing it, but Andres made me aware that Mancini's businesses were functioning at a higher capacity even pulling in more money than what was being lost.

I turned to my phone as I tapped my pen on my desk, "Hey Siri, call Gianni."

"Calling Sherlock."

My eyes skimmed over the reports gain while the dull ring droned in the background.

"Hello?" Gianni's groggy voice greeted.

"Got a job for you. Find out if Russo's have lost any territory in Jersey or in Cali. Something's up with the Ruuso and Mancini family finances. I wanna know why."

"Mhm...kay. Consideralo fatto."

"Grazie. I want it soon, so we—"

A shattering pop echoed through the hallway accompanied with shouts and a familiar pitchy female voice.

Gaia...

I held the bridge of my nose, "Just find out what you can soon."

I hung up, cracked my knuckles and tucked my pistol in my waistband.

I see it's time to teach someone, respect.

A/N: so I had not intended for this chapter to be entirely dedicated to Adrian, but idk I'm starting like developing his character. Anyway, a lot more is in store! Stay tuned lovelies!