Chapter 3 - THE TEARDROP STONE
At the sound of her name, Adrian felt a physical tightness in his chest, as if a vice were squeezing his heart. His eyes drifted immediately down from her pale face to the pale blue teardrop stone sitting against the faded floral pattern of her dress.
"Where did you get that?" Adrian asked, his voice barely carrying over the wind blowing between the buildings.
The moment the words left his mouth, Sophia’s eyes flared with protective panic. Her small hands flew up, clutching the pale blue pendant tightly against her chest. She pulled her knees up, leaning her back hard against the stone bank building, staring at him as if he were about to tear her only treasure away from her.
Adrian saw her fear and instantly raised both of his hands, palm outward, open and non-threatening.
"I'm not taking it," Adrian said quickly, his voice dropping into an earnest, gentle register that none of his syndicate lieutenants had ever heard him use. "I swear to you, Sophia, I'm not taking it."
He took a slow, deliberate breath, steadying the tremor in his fingers. He leaned in slightly, keeping his body low to the ground so he wouldn't tower over her.
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"I just need to know," he whispered. "Please."
Sophia watched him intently. She looked at his sharp, dark features, the visible ink along his neck, and the expensive black fabric of his suit. Despite his terrifying appearance, she saw no cruelty in his eyes—only a deep, desperate pain that mirrored her own.
