Chapter 18

"You actually went through with it!!"

I winced and glared at Edward as he paced inside my office. As soon as my control was properly established, I had passed the new order. It was only now though that it seemed to occur to the members, those under the oath didn't seem to mind it as much as the ones not under it did. And of course they would.

In the new order, I had decreased the time limit for those who hadn't taken oath. Especially when more than half of them were under my father or playing spies for our enemies.

If one of them actually tried to get the bounty and take Adira...

"What the Hell!"

Edwards shout brought me out of my daze as I stared at the now half pen grasped tightly between my fingers. The other half laid on the floor, glistening with the leaking ink that had managed to get on it.

Turning my bored gaze back to my brother, I raised an eyebrow as he released a tired sigh and ran a hand over his face.

"This will cause an uproar."

I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest and responded calmly.

"I'm very well aware of that."

He resorts to glaring at me, trying to stare me down and failing miserably. When he realized that I had no intention of appealing to the people, he sat himself down across from me with his arms crossed defiantly and a frown marring his eyebrows. A glint of cat-killing curiosity shone in his eyes as he continued resisting the urge to adhere to it.

I stomped on the temptation to pass him a smug look and turned back to the file at hand. It contained all the information about the new man who had decided to trade a bounty for Adira's head. He was put down immediately but his resolve didn't diminish, instead it spread farther and quicker.

Word reached the world about the Donna of "Dilitirio" and many more threats rose up. Under Fathers rule, things were different. He had proven to be psychotic by stabbing our uncle to death at the age of 14, ever since then, people had feared him and his hunger for power and control.

My grandfather and Father together trained me to dominate our world, to kill without thought and take without consent. Whereas, my mother indirectly taught me the things they didn't mention.

Watching her get pushed around, ridiculed, mocked and used didn't settle well with me and when I threatened to drop my position if he didn't stop it. The man finally let up. But his hunger for power shifted after I took over.

From day one, it was easy to tell that for him, Adira was a new target. Not because her innocence demanded attention from all the scavengers but also because for my father, She was an unused treasure, something he had discovered but not used or laid his hand on even once.

He was another reason why I had ordered Edward to start the gun training immediately. I realized that the odds were completely against us when Edward gave me the report of their first training lesson. Adira has been sheltered and raised like a 'lady' so it was impossible for her to suddenly absorb the change in her routine with addition to training.

That and the fact that she couldn't make the mannequin flinch, even when she used all of her strength. It was a clear indicator that it would take much longer then what we had initially imagined it to. So I decided that it would be better for him to leave the physical training and start shooting practice.

Which I had taken over half way through.

"How much has she progressed?"

Edward shifted his attention from the file towards me and blinked, confused. I sighed, repeating the question as he shrugged.

"She ignores me more than half the time."

I chuckled as he released an exasperated sigh.

"She only ignores you because you tick her off."

He placed a hand on his heart and gave me an offended look.

"I tick you off too, but you don't ignore me."

I stared at him, bewildered. Firstly, because I didn't expect him to bluntly admit that and lastly because he was a hundred percent right.

"I don't have a choice, if I leave you unmonitored, you'll screw something up."

"Jee- your faith in me is so moving."

A soft knock resonated inside the room as Edward stood up with the file in hand.

"Come in."

The door moved a little, benefit of having a heavy door was that unless you expect it you can't open it with the first try. Giving me enough time to pull out a gun and aim it at whoever it was. Edward sighed when the door didn't budge, but we did hear someone whining on the other side.

With a nod from me, Edward strode up to the door and effortlessly pulled it open. To my surprise, Adira stumbled in pushing Edward instead of the door. Eyes closed tight till she heard him groan.

A sheepish expression crossed her face as she realized she had pushed him instead. I gazed at her, perplexed, sure that I hadn't told her the whereabouts of my office as that is where an enemy would aim if they do manage to infiltrate the nest.

Edward answered my silent question, grumbling in annoyance as Adira apologized over and over again. Rushing to help him up.

"I never should've told you."

Adira apologized again, reaching out to grab his hand but frowned in confusion as he handed her the file instead. Lifting himself up, he brushed his backside and sent me a glare. As if I was the one who told her.

She pouted at him as he snatched the file back out of her hands. Finally turning her attention to me and blushing when she found me already looking at her. I passed her a small smile before asking.

"Is there something I can help you with, Love?"

She nodded furiously before running back outside, Edward and I stared after her confused. But she quickly walked back in, smiling as Shane appeared beside her, pushing a food-filled trolley inside.

"I wanted us to eat together."

By the time she was done, Shane was already on his way out. She thanked him as he stepped out and he nodded to her, passing her a very rare smile before leaving. Edward and I watched him disappear, astonished, that he could actually smile. He had never smiled in front of us, not even a twitch of his lips.

Edward was the first to turn towards me and I nodded to tell him that he could take his leave. To our surprise, Adira beat him to the door and pushed against it.

"Help me close it."

She gasped out, exhausted and strained, as Edward stood beside her.

"I'll just close it from outside."

She quickly shook her head and turned to him with her hands at her hips and a scowl at her face. I knew by now that he was going to get the 'disappointed' look in barely a minute.

"I said, I wanted to eat together."

And I stood corrected as the look immediately covered her face. Edward turned to me as if asking me to come to his rescue, while I just sat back and enjoyed the show. Stuck between ruining Adira's mood by telling him to get to work or making her happy by demanding that he remained.

Going with the latter one, I sat amused, watching him look between the two of us, unsure if I would stab him for getting between me, my wife and our private time. Or actually leave and risk having Adira cry- hence giving me another reason to stab him.

It was funny how they expected me to stab them when they messed up, like I could make it easy and just shoot them. Quick and less messy for me.

"You should spend time with Severus, he's missed you tremendously."

Adria passed me a full, heart stopping, smile. A tint of pink lighting up her cheeks before she returned to glaring at Edward. The sudden shift in mood clearly fascinating to my brother as well.

"You're eating with us."

She quickly shushed him as he tried to argue.

"And that is final, now sit your stubborn little butt down on the couch."

Sighing in a defeated way, Edward decided to help her close the door and sit down. Adira moved on to calmly usher me to the couch as well. This amused me and Edward glared at the change of attitude.

Managing to eat properly with a bickering wife and brother, I quickly placed a kiss on Adira's cheek before standing up to go wash my hands.

As soon as I returned to my desk, the phone started ringing. Edward gave me a look I understood all too well. We hadn't given this number to anyone beside him. And that too was only for emergencies.

It must've been worse than we imagined if he couldn't handle it on his own. The two of them quieted down as I accepted the call.

I heard panting from the other side before someone gulped. Sounds of screams and shooting were all I could hear in the background, and from the looks of it, so could the two people present in the room with me.

"what is it?"

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other side before a series of coughs followed.

"He's out *coughing* They've reached the warehouse and set it on fire *series of coughs before a siren sounds* boss we need you~"

The call cut off immediately. Understanding the glare I supported, Edward quickly stood up and left to ring a few numbers that we hadn't used for a while. Sending Shane in as he passed the door.

"Yes Boss?"

Shane stood straight, as Adira looked at me concerned.

"Take Donna to the room and don't let anyone in."

Shane nodded in affirmation.

"Be safe."

Adira whispered, quickly pecking my cheek before following Shane out hesitantly.