Adrian didn't stop pulling her until the noise of the crowd was far behind them. They turned into a quieter street, where the only sounds were distant traffic and the occasional bark of a dog. He finally let go of her wrist, turning sharply to face her.
"What the hell was that?" His voice was low but edged with anger, the kind of anger born not from irritation but from worry.
Bloom's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. She didn't answer immediately. Her eyes were still haunted, still locked on the memory of Levi's smug expression as he disappeared into the mall.
"Bloom," Adrian pressed, his eyes narrowing. "Why did you look at him like that?"
She flinched slightly at the intensity of his tone. For months, she had carried this alone—her pain, her anger, her vow for revenge. But now, standing in front of Adrian, with his piercing gaze demanding answers, the weight inside her chest felt unbearable.
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.
"Tell me," he said, softer this time. "Because whatever that was—it wasn't curiosity. It was hate."
Bloom's breath hitched. Hate. Yes. That was exactly what it was.
She swallowed hard, then finally met his eyes.
"He killed them."
Adrian's expression faltered, confusion flickering across his face. "Killed who?"
"My parents," she whispered, the words breaking as they left her mouth.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Adrian froze, his eyes locked on hers, searching, questioning if he had heard her right.
"What…?" His voice was quiet now, steady but laced with shock.
Bloom blinked rapidly, the memories clawing their way up, raw and merciless. "Levi Veynar. Before you found me on the streets—he ordered it. My parents stood against his syndicate, and he had them executed. Right in front of me."
Her voice cracked, the image replaying in her mind like a wound ripped open again. "I've lived with that image every day. Their blood. His face. The sound of his men's laughter while my world ended."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as the weight of her confession sank in. He took a step back, running a hand through his hair, as though trying to process the storm she had unleashed.
"And all this time…" He exhaled slowly, eyes returning to her. "All this time you've been training because of him."
"Yes." Her voice was raw, but steady now. "Every punch, every kick, every drop of sweat—I've been preparing for him. To make him pay."
Adrian stared at her for a long moment. She expected him to scold her, to tell her she was reckless, foolish, impossible. But instead, he stepped closer, his voice low but firm.
"Bloom… you should have told me."
Her eyes burned, not with tears but with the sharp ache of trust finally breaking through the wall she had built. "I couldn't. I thought if I said it out loud, it would make it real again. And I didn't want you to stop me."
Adrian's expression softened, though his eyes still carried the weight of her revelation. "I won't stop you. But if you're going after Levi…" He reached out, his hand brushing her shoulder, steadying her. "…you won't do it alone."
Bloom's breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time in years, the fire inside her didn't feel like it was burning her alive. It felt… shared.
---
The car ride after that confession was tense. Bloom sat by the window, staring at the city lights blurring past, her thoughts still heavy with Levi's image.
"We're going to see my father," Adrian said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Her head snapped toward him. "What? Adrian, no—"
"You can't fight this war alone, Bloom," he said firmly. "And if Levi is as dangerous as I know he is, then we need power. My father's power."
Bloom's chest tightened. She had heard whispers of Adrian's father—the empire he controlled, the influence he held in business and politics. Stepping into that world felt like walking into another battlefield.
The mansion loomed ahead, its iron gates opening with a quiet hum as they pulled into the long driveway. The estate was vast, a fortress of wealth and control. Bloom's palms felt clammy as they stepped out of the car and walked inside.
In the grand study, Adrian's father sat behind a massive oak desk, papers neatly stacked, a glass of whiskey resting beside him. His presence was commanding—silver streaks in his dark hair, sharp eyes that missed nothing.
"Adrian," he said, looking up. His gaze then shifted to Bloom, lingering with curiosity. "You've brought someone."
"Yes," Adrian replied, his voice steady. "This is Bloom. She's… the daughter of a man you once did business with."
His father raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "I've had many business partners, son. Be specific."
Adrian exhaled, then spoke with deliberate weight. "The one crushed by the Veynars years ago."
The room fell silent. His father's expression hardened, recognition sparking in his eyes. Slowly, he set his glass down.
"I remember him," he said quietly. "A good man. Brave. But he made the mistake of standing against Levi's people. He paid the price." His gaze turned back to Bloom, sharp and assessing. "So… you're his daughter."
Bloom straightened her back, forcing herself to meet his eyes. "Yes, sir. And I haven't forgotten what they did."
For a long moment, the older man said nothing. His fingers tapped against the armrest, his sharp mind clearly weighing the risk. "You understand what you're asking, Adrian?" he said finally. "Bringing her into our world is not a small matter. The Veynars are dangerous. If they learn she's with us—"
"She's already in danger," Adrian interrupted, his tone fierce. "But she's not a liability. She's strong. She's been training for a while And she deserves a chance."
His father's eyes narrowed slightly, flicking once more to Bloom as though trying to see beneath her skin. "Training?"
"Yes," Bloom said, her voice firm despite the pounding of her heart. "Every day since they killed my parents. I'm not weak. I don't want pity. I want to fight."
The silence stretched, heavy with tension.
At last, Adrian's father sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You have fire, girl. But fire can destroy as easily as it can protect." He paused, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. She stays. But understand this—if she's part of us, then she follows my rules. My empire, my conditions. Do you both understand?"
"Yes, Father," Adrian said quickly.
Bloom gave a small nod, though her fists were clenched tightly at her sides.
The older man picked up his glass again, taking a slow sip of whiskey. "Very well. Welcome to the empire, Bloom. Let's see if you can survive it."