Chapter 6 Panda

ADRIAN

I thought getting myself kidnapped had to be the most surprising event of the century, but finding out that my brother Ethan actually has a girlfriend easily tops the list.

Another shit I find unbelievable is that those fuckers who shot at us at the cabin actually believe Mia is my girlfriend and that we were there on some stupid little holiday together.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have given two fucks about who came after her after seeing us together. She is none of my business, and whoever wants to go after her can be my fucking guest.

But now?

Knowing that she is Ethan’s woman changes everything.

My twin brother doesn’t get involved with women for no reason. Ethan is just as fucked up as I am, and neither of us is stupid enough to let someone get close without having a damn good reason.

So, naturally, I am curious.

Pushing the door open, I walked into the room where I instructed my men to keep Mia while I was away handling business.

She was irritating as hell, especially after putting me in a position where I couldn’t even use the damn shower properly because of my bullet wound. Yet, despite all of that, I couldn’t deny that I found her daring spirit refreshing.

However, that refreshing spirit left me the moment my eyes landed on her bruised face and busted lips.

My jaw tightened.

Someone had put their hands on her, and judging by the state of her face, they weren’t exactly gentle.

“Who hit you?”

Mia immediately looked away.

I watched her eyes bounce around the room as she clearly considered whether she should tell me the truth or come up with a lie.

Luckily for her, she made the right choice by saying the damn truth.

“It was the bald guy,” she mumbled.

“The bald guy?”

“I guess he hates me for abducting you and getting you shot.” She opened her palm in frustration. “And I am trying to explain to him that I suffered losses too.”

I stared at her.

“I mean, I lost the money I paid for that cabin, the early-morning breakfast, and that pole.” She shook her head, clearly offended by the memory. “That thing cost me a fortune, and I couldn’t even use it on the real man!”

My brow arched. “What exactly are you saying? That I am not a real man?”

Her eyes widened, and she quickly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it.”

This is fucking unbelievable.

She has two bruised eyes, a busted lip, and probably enough pain in her face to keep anyone else quiet, yet somehow, that sharp mouth of hers is still perfectly functional.

Taking a step back, I shook my head. “Martha will get you something for your eyes.”

“It’s fine.” She waved me off. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“It doesn't matter.”

“I’m fine.”

“We don’t want people thinking I abducted an innocent girl only to beat her up, do we now?”

Don’t you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “I mean, the abducting innocent girls part.”

I slipped my hand into my pocket. “Are you?”

Her brows pulled together. “Am I what?”

“Innocent?”

Her eyes doubled in size. “Of course I am!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t do anything wrong to you!”

“Some people would consider abducting an adult a crime, don’t you think?”

“I clearly told you it was a mistake.” She exhaled deeply, looking increasingly frustrated. “I didn’t mean to abduct you. How many times do I have to say it before you all finally believe me?”

“I was talking about your boyfriend, Ethan,” I deadpanned.

She blinked.

“Romantic or not, abducting a man is still a crime. So, technically, you’re not exactly innocent.”

“That’s between me and Ethan.”

I walked in here, hoping to have a conversation about her relationship with my brother and what it was like, maybe then I will be able to understand what is going on in Ethan’s head, but there is no way I am speaking with a fucking panda.

“Request a painkiller if it still hurts,” I rasped before turning toward the door.

“How about I request you let me go?”

My hand paused on the doorknob. “Don’t push it.”

Shoving the door open, I walked out of the tower room and headed toward the gardens.

I barely made it halfway there before Marco appeared, a cigarette hanging loosely from the corner of his mouth.

“How did it go?” he asked. “Did you find out what her deal with Ethan is?”

“Her face kept distracting me.”

Marco grabbed my arm, his brows pulling together. “I know she’s beautiful, but she isn’t beautiful enough to make you lose concentration.”

What the fuck is he talking about?

“I meant the fucking black eye on her face,” I hissed, glaring at him. “Where the fuck were you when they were roughing her up?”

“Out trying to find who wants you dead in a beautiful cabin,” he replied, puffing smoke into the air. “Who roughed her up? And why?”

We’re about to find out.

I turned and stomped toward Louis, the bald guy in question. The moment I reached him, I pulled my gun from its holster, cocked it, and aimed it straight at his head.

His eyes widened the second he saw the weapon. “Boss!”

He immediately dropped to one knee, his gaze falling to the ground.

“You want to tell me why you gave her a black eye and busted lips?”

His eyes darted around the garden as he tried to figure out what I was talking about.

“Mia,” Marco clarified. “Why did you hit her, man?”

“She was trying to escape,” he blurted out. “And she kept saying things that pissed me off. She was acting like you’re the wrong one for keeping her locked up after she got you shot!”

My jaw clenched.

I walked over to him and crouched down, grabbing his face between my fingers and forcing him to look at me. “You hit her for me?”

He nodded quickly. “Yes.”

“On whose orders?”

His eyes widened. “Boss_”

“Since when did you start acting out of order?” I asked calmly.

He swallowed.

“What else have you been doing without my orders?”

“Nothing,” he rushed out. “I haven’t been doing anything else without your order, boss.”

“And how am I supposed to believe you?”

I slowly straightened, keeping my gun trained on him.

Louis stared at me, fear finally taking over his features.

He opened his mouth but I pulled the trigger.

He slumped to the floor, his body going completely still as his lifeless eyes stared toward the blue sky beyond the open courtyard.

I lowered the gun and turned toward the other men and not a single one of them dared to move.

“Let this serve as a warning to anyone who thinks it’s acceptable to act without getting an order from me.”

My gaze moved slowly across their faces.

“Anyone who touches what belongs under my protection without my permission answers to me.”

I turned toward Marco.

“Assign someone to clear this mess.”