Issac tracked down Roy to a small cottage near Nuuk. Ice and snow formed an Arctic landscape for as far as the eye could see. Damien was kind enough to pick up a heavy jacket and boots that were twice as heavy as me.

The cottage was smaller than I imagined but extremely cozy. Adrian knocked on the door. I don't know if he was trying to scare the poor professor out of his wits but being a Mafia Boss flanked by two giants, one of the most notorious hackers in history and a girl that was a nightmare for most teachers wasn't exactly comforting.

Adrian knocked on the wooden door and we waited in silence.

A man who was dressed in a snug looking parka answered it. He was wearing spectacles and was holding a glass filled with amber whiskey in one hand and a Glock in the other. How casual. I recognized him immediately.

"Adrian." He blinked at him in disbelief.

A gentle smile graced Adrian's lips. One that he reserved for Carelia and Roy.

Roy dropped the firearm and embraced Adrian.

"It's okay, Uncle, I'm here now." Adrian comforted him, rubbing his back.

I rolled my eyes and walked past them into the house.

Minutes later, the four of us were in the warm cabin as the snow fell outside.

Adrian had smiled sweetly and offered me a glass of whiskey. I had smiled sweetly and reminded him that alcohol was flammable and that we had very fond memories with flammable shit. Although I knew that the drinks at the party were spiked with some hypnotic agent, scopolamine, as Adrian told me, I wasn't too keen on drinking again.

"So, professor, what exactly happened?" I asked, glaring at him.

Roy sighed. "Nice to meet you Chevron, now I see what faculty was so concerned about."

I frowned and the three of them scoffed.

"She's something, isn't she?" Isaac asked.

"A freak oddity of nature." Adrian added.

"That's not what you said on the plane." I reminded him.

Antonio and Damien coughed loudly and Roy looked scandalized.

"So, what now?" Antonio asked.

"Vickram, we need to know what security the Abandonatos have installed to protect the prints." Adrian spoke up.

"You won't get it from me, Adrian. It's dangerous and risky." Roy said.

"You owe it. We are the reason you are safe. Adrian's name was protecting you." I snapped. Rude? Yes. Effective? Yes.

"What do you want to know?"

"Where are the blueprints?" I asked.

"Project Stelle was supposed to be for the Abandonatos before Adrian came into the picture to screw everything up. I was in il labirinto to design the blueprints. The Abandonatos wouldn't let me work outside." He laughed bitterly. "Guess they were right."

We waited for him to continue.

"The blueprints are hidden in a maze. Il labirinto. The maze is confusing enough, it was an old dungeon from the medieval times. You cannot navigate it." He relented.

"Unless you have the layouts." I whispered.

Roy's eyes widened. "Yes, and only two people have them."

"Roberto and Abandonato." Adrian said. Roberto's name sent a shiver down my spine and I subtly scooted closer to Adrian.

"Yes. And assuming you get the layouts from one of them. Then what?" Antonio asked.

"You need a password to access the safes."

"And you know it?" Isaac asked.

"So do you, I already told you even though you don't realize it, but wouldn't help you."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Once you do, the blueprints themselves are protected by biometrics. Iris scan, fingerprint, DNA, voice and facial recognition. Few people know this. The last thing protecting the prints." He said.

Adrian pursed his lips.

"You didn't expect the biometrics." I said. It wasn't a question.

"I wasn't sure. But if the safe can be opened only by Abandonato, that is an advantage. People are slaves to their thoughts." Adrian said.

And who was better at manipulating thoughts than Mafia Boss Adrian DeLuca himself?

"We still need the layouts." I pointed out.

"I guess we have to pay Castellino another visit." He said.

"You're a criminal mastermind, please come up with a better idea." I snapped.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, do you have a better idea?" Adrian snapped back.

"How important are these prints anyways?"

"One point seven billion." He reminded.

I narrowed my eyes but said nothing.

I snatched the glass of whiskey from Adrian and downed it in one go.

"We need to talk," I said and pulled him inside the bedroom by the end of his tie.

I let him go the minute we entered the room.

"You're an idiot."

"What did I do now?" He asked.

"You realize that you could die, right?" I asked slowly so this idiot could process my words.

"Don't talk to me like I'm a kid. I'm older than you."

"And a lot stupider. Plus you're barely three years older than me." I reminded him.

"That satellite was built for military communication. Why do you think I don't want Abandonato or Castellino to have it? It's not just about the cash, Chevron."

"Please think of something else," I begged him. "If Castellino —"

"We were unprepared last time and I'm way more powerful than you think, Chevron. I have access to half the world's illegal firearms and countless politicians and mercenaries in my pocket. Don't look at me like that—"

"Wow, you're Prince Charming."

"Whatever. My point is, I can take him on."

"But you won't!"

He raised an eyebrow, a subtle smirk twisted his lips. "Oh really? And what are you going to do about it, Hmm?"

I threw my hands up. Arguing with him was like talking to a brick wall. Scream all you want, nothing will change.

"What do you want from me? Are you suicidal? Do I need to call Carelia?"

"No and no." He said

"What can I do to make you drop this ridiculous idea?" I sighed. If anything happened to him...

"Chevron, relax. I'm not going to involve you in this. You'll be nice and safe until the dust settles —"

"On what?! Your grave?!" I demanded.

"I'll be fine, Chevron."

"Stop saying my name!"

"Would you prefer Idiota?!"

"You're an asshole!"

"Way to state the obvious, bitch!"

"Bastard!"

"Happy late realization. Now stay here like a good girl and wait for me to come home!" He snapped.

We both were breathing heavily now.

"Adrian, I'm not your girlfriend."

"I know that, Chevie," he sighed.

"Im your partner. There's a difference. I don't want you to fight to protect me, I want to fight right by your side."

"You have been fighting by my side, I just don't want to see you hurt," he said softly. "You already got shot."

"Thus already hurt."

"You're impossible."

"You still love me."

He looked at me, taking in my face. Then he smiled. "Maybe."

Huh? What did he even mean?

"It's getting late, Chevron. Get some sleep," he said.

I hugged him tightly, after a moment of surprise he returned the gesture.

"Don't worry," he whispered in my ear.

I didn't reply. I was already formulating a plan. Adrian wasn't going to let it go and I wasn't going to sit around and watch him get hurt.

"Sure." I told him.

Adrian ruffled my hair and stepped out of the bedroom.

I waited till I could hear his footsteps receding. I fished out the burner phone in my pocket and dialed the number that I had memorised.

"Rane," the man hissed.

I smirked, "Sup Robert, how's your hand?"

"As good as your shoulder."

"Someone's not happy, not that it matters," I said.

A pause.

"What do you want?"

"You want to go on the suicide mission to steal the blueprints and I will help you. I need a ticket back to LA." I stated.

"You would go against DeLuca."

"In a way."

"Done." He replied and I snapped the phone shut.

It was done.

A/n don't worry I'm not going to sink your ship 😑.

But there are literally only five chapters left! 😭