ANOTHER ALLY

ADELINE'S POV

Adrian as promised handed me the contract papers this morning before going to work. Martha has gone back to her obedient and expressionless self. As if she didn't just drop a thousand bombs on me last night, but I guess it's best that she acts normal. I can't have Adrian suspecting anything, not while I'm this close to the truth.

Now all I have to do is get the contract papers to Dante and that means I have to find a way to get past the guards. I asked Martha to cause a commotion and get everyone's attention so I could sneak out without anyone noticing. I have no idea what kind of distraction she'll create but I'm counting on her.

No one has to know I left the house today so while I'm out, Martha will have to make everyone think I'm in my room and asleep. Everything has to be perfect. I grab the contract papers and shove them into a little backpack and I put on glasses and tie up my hair in a pony tail.

I wear tight leggings and a tight long-sleeved top. This place is well guarded so I'll have to take the back door and jump over the fence. Thank God I've had practice in combat training to going over the fence shouldn't be so hard for me. When I'm out, I'll have to run really fast and then take a cab to Dante's place.

I already updated him on everything I found out and to say he's worried would be an understatement. I walk out of my room slowly and peep downstairs. I see Martha in my view from up the stairs and when she notices me, she gives me a warm smile and nods her head at me. Once I have her signal, I'll be out in a bolt without looking back.

As she walks out the front door, I wait for a few more seconds and I then I suddenly hear guards shouting.

"You there! Where do you think you're going?!" I her a guard shout and I take that as my cue to get the hell out of here. I rush downstairs and hide behind a pillar as a few guards run towards whatever distraction Martha just created. Once I'm sure the coast is clear, I run without looking back.

I know whatever Martha did will get her in trouble but hopefully I'll be out and back before Adrian can get back home and make her life a living hell. I head towards the fence at the back of the house and to my greatest luck and surprise, there's no one here right now. I start climbing the fence and before I know it. I'm out of the house.

Once I'm on the ground again, I run as fast as I can, not once looking back. There a few guards stationed at the extremities of Adrian's house but I've taken time to study them every time I leave and enter the house so I know how to evade them. I stay quiet and move only when I have to, until finally, I leave the premises entirely and then I run.

I run like my life depends on it. When I'm finally on the road, I immediately take a cab and in about an hour, I finally get to Dante's place. I don't notice the other car behind the cab until after I get out of the cab. I recognize the white car and my heart beats like a thunderstorm in my chest.

A familiar blonde-haired man with sky blue eyes steps out of the car and I want to dig a hole so deep and hide in it so that no one ever finds me. Liam stares back at me with shock and surprise and confusion in his eyes. I pay the taxi driver and Liam waits for him to drive away before stomping towards me.

"Addie?" He says as he walks quickly towards me.

"Have you been following me Liam?" I ask him, my voice shaky with fear. My cover is blown. Liam is going to find out everything and he's going to hate me for it.

"Of course, I have! You're hiding something from me and I know it. I've known it from the minute you told me you and Dante were broken up. You and Dante both refused to tell me the truth so I took matters into my own hands. I want to know what's going on Addie!"

"Liam this doesn't concern you. Please this is dangerous and I'm just trying to protect you." I say and start walking towards Dante's gate. Dante has cameras installed here so I'm sure he already knows I'm here.

"Trying to protect me from what Addie?" He asks, frustrated, flinging his hands up in the air as he talks and right on cue, Dante shows up at his gate, glaring at Liam and I. He swipes his card in it and the gate immediately click open. Seeing him after two weeks of his absence makes my heart drop to my stomach and I can't help but run towards him.

"Dante…" I whisper desperately and wrap my arms around his neck. He completely ignores Liam's presence and plants his lips on mine, clutching at me desperately and breathing me in like I was the very air he breathes.

"Okay can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" Liam yells angrily.

Dante sighs and lets go off me and offers Liam an irritated glare. "Why don't we all just calm down and go inside. And please get your car inside. No one can find out you two are here."

******************************************************************************************************************************************

"This is fucking crazy! This is all fucking crazy! If what you're saying is true Addie then you have to get out of that house this instant or you're going to get yourself killed!"

I explained everything to Liam once we got into Dante's house. From my plan to scam Adrian to what I learned from Martha last night. I told him everything and he's been hysterical for about thirty minutes straight. I thought he would be angry with me and I'm sure he is but he looks more worried than angry after everything I've told him.

"Are you two crazy?" Liam asks averting his gaze towards Dante. "How could you let her do this?"

"It was my plan Liam. My choice." I state because the last thing I'll have Liam do is blame Dante for anything.

"You can't scam a person, Addie! I'm sure your parents will be just fine without Adrian's money. They have plenty of other investors apart from Liam. And you just confirmed it yourself that Adrian may or may not be a cold-blooded murderer. What we need to do is get you way from him and find enough proof to convict him!"

"I can't give up now Liam. I'm so close. So, freaking close. I already have the contract. Dante will adjust it and in about a week or two, my parents and Adrian will sign it. And leaving Adrian's house is out of the question. I can find the proof I need in his study. I know it! Everything is going to work out. I just need you to trust me!" I stare at Liam with pleading eyes. This is exactly why I didn't want to tell him anything.

He's too protective.

"You'll be breaking the law while simultaneously seeking justice Addie. I don't know how to feel about that."

"He fucking deserves it!" Dante finally intervenes.

"Have you heard nothing she has said?? He's a fucking murderer with as much money he needs to buy himself out of any case we might file against him. The only way to ruin him is to leave him penniless and I know just how to do it. Even if Addie finds proof against Adrian, as long as he has enough money, he's never going behind bars. I don't think you understand just how dangerous she is. Adeline is not some child. She knows what she's doing and I trust her. According to what she just told us, Adrian doesn't have much more time before his bipolar ass snaps. Adeline will really be in trouble then so what we're going to do is let her od what she needs to do and get Adrian to sign the damn papers…"

Liam looks from Dante to me with a contemplative gaze. He's brainstorming like he always does. Thinking of all the ways this plan could go wrong, but I have faith. I know I can pull this off. I know it.

He finally release a breath and shoves his hands into his pockets.

"Fine. Fine. Just tell me what I have to do." I let out a satisfied breath and smile at my best friend.

"You're going to pretend you were with Adeline today and you're going to take her back to Adrian's mansion. We have two weeks until the contract needs to be signed." Dante says.

"How are you so sur you're going to find what you need to implicate him?" Liam asks.

"Oh trust me. I know just what I have to do to get into that study." I smirk cunningly.