Unwanted Blood (Harper) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Harper’s POV

Sitting in the middle of the living room, surrounded by all of them, a thought crept up on me and wouldn’t leave.

The day after tomorrow, this all ends.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed. Turned over. Stared at the ceiling. Eventually I gave up, got out of bed, and walked into the hallway barefoot.

The house was quiet. The living room was dark except for the faint light coming through the window from the street outside. And there was a figure sitting in the chair by the window.

Adrian.

He heard my footsteps and turned his head slightly. When he saw it was me, he didn’t look surprised. Didn’t say anything either.

I went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. Stood there for a moment, holding the glass, debating whether to just go back to bed.

Instead, I walked over and sat down in the chair next to his.

We sat in silence for a while. The street outside was empty. A car passed in the distance, its headlights sweeping across the ceiling, then fading.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked.

He was quiet for a few seconds. Then: “After the day after tomorrow, I’ll have to go back.”

My hand tightened slightly around the glass.

He didn’t look at me. He kept his eyes on the window. “The statement is recorded. He’s going down. I need to go back and take control, reclaim what’s mine.”

I lowered the glass. Took a sip. My voice came out even.

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11:44

Chapter 89

“Leaving the day after tomorrow, then?”

“Yeah. ” I nodded

388 (Vouchers

It was the truth. Adrian had been here for one reason from the start-to bring his father down and take back what he’d lost. The statement was done. Dylan was finished. Him going back to take over was the natural next step. I shouldn’t be surprised.

He turned his head and looked at me, studying my face, like he was trying to figure out whether I really meant it.

I didn’t look at him. I kept drinking water.

After a while, he shifted his gaze back to the window. “Let’s have dinner tomorrow night. Before I go.”

I thought about it for a second. “Sure.”

He didn’t say anything else.

Then I stood up, carried my empty glass to the sink, and rinsed it out.

“I’m going to bed.”

I walked past Adrian’s chair and paused. My eyes dropped to his left hand, resting on his knee. The edge of the gauze was peeling up slightly, not taped down properly from the morning’s dressing.

I crouched down, reached out, and pressed the lifted corner flat with my thumb.

He looked down at me. I didn’t look up. I finished, stood, and turned away without a word.

Behind me, Adrian sat in the chair and watched my back until it disappeared into the hallway. Then he looked down at his hand-at the gauze, now smooth-and after a moment, the corner of

his mouth moved.

–

The next evening at six o’clock, I put on a little makeup and a dark blue lightweight jacket before heading out.

I told myself I wasn’t nervous. I was wrong.

Apart from Ethan, I’d never gone out alone with a man before. Not like this.

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11:45

Chapter 89

288 Vouther

Adrian was waiting at the door. He’d changed into a clean shirt and dress trousers When he saw me, his eyes lit up.

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