Chapter 14 Chapter 14 I froze , caught in the act . Heat crept up my neck as Adrian pulled on his shirt , the fabric sliding over those telling marks . " Come in , " he called out , turning to face me . " Unless you prefer watching from the doorway ? " I stepped inside , my mind racing . " Those tattoos … " " Something wrong with them ? " His gray eyes sparkled with mischief as he buttoned up his shirt . " I rather like them . " " No , it's not that . " I crossed my arms , studying him . " Do you know what they mean ? " " Mean ? " Adrian's brow furrowed . " Not particularly . A friend of mine was impressed by some art pieces I acquired for him . Insisted on taking me to this tattoo shop as a thank you . The designs caught my eye . " He shrugged , casual and relaxed . 804 19.04 1/7 Chapter 14 " Why ? " I blinked , thrown by his nonchalant response . Those weren't just random designs , they were symbols of power , marks that could get someone killed if worn without the right to do so . Either Adrian was playing an incredibly dangerous game , or he genuinely had no idea what he'd permanently etched onto his skin . The implications made my head spin . If he truly didn't know , how had he walked around with those tattoos without consequences ? And if he did know … well , that opened up a whole other set of questions . " Those aren't just random designs , Adrian . " I stepped closer , my voice dropping . " They're worn by the most powerful mafia bosses in the country . Each mark represents influence , territory , power . The more extensive the tattoos , the higher their position . " 80 % 19:04 217 Chapter 14 Adrian's hand paused on his top button . " Is that so ? " " The patterns I saw on your torso … " I shook my head in disbelief . " That's more than I've ever seen , even on the leaders of the Big Five families . Do you have any idea how dangerous that is ? People have been killed for wearing even a single one of those marks without earning them . " " Yet here I stand . " His lips curved into that infuriating half - smile . " Perhaps I'm just very lucky . " " This isn't funny . These aren't some trendy tribal designs you pick from a wall . They're sacred symbols passed down through generations of- " I cut myself off , watching his expression shift . The playfulness disappeared , replaced by something darker , more calculating . His gray eyes locked onto mine . " Through generations of what , exactly ? " The way he moved . The respect he 80% 19.04 3/7 Chapter 14 commanded . " How much do you really know about those tattoos , Adrian ? " " Like I said , a friend took me to get them . I just liked the designs . " Adrian's expression melted back into that playful smile . " You're not pulling my leg here , are you ? " My stomach twisted . " Does this look like a joke to you ? These marks could get you killed . Hell , my entire family could end up dead just for having someone with fake tattoos staying under our roof . " " And how exactly would you know so much about mafia tattoos ? " His eyes sparked with amusement .. " Don't . " I stepped closer , jabbing a finger at his chest . " You know damn well who my family is , what we do . Which makes this even more insane . Those symbols aren't . just decoration , they're a language , a hierarchy . Each line , each pattern tells a story of power and position . Walking 80 % 19:04 417 Chapter 14 around with marks you haven't earned … " " Is apparently quite dangerous . " He caught my hand , his thumb brushing over my knuckles . " Though I have to wonder why no one's tried to kill me yet , if these tattoos are as sacred as you claim . " " That's what worries me . " I pulled my hand away , fighting the warmth that spread from his touch . " Either you're the luckiest man alive , or … ' " Or ? " " Or there's a lot more to you than you're letting on . " Adrian laughed , the sound rich and warm . " I'm just an art dealer who happened to be in the right place at the wrong time . Or maybe it was the right time ? " He adjusted his cuffs . " At the club , seeing how Primo treated you … I couldn't stand by . " I studied him . Something still felt off . I shook my head , pushing the thought 80 % 19/04 5/7 Chapter 14 away . " Thank you again for that . And for today , the way you connected with Vincent at the exhibition was incredible . Your knowledge of classical art really impressed him . " " The Monet piece they showcased was exceptional . " Adrian's eyes lit up . " Vincent has quite the eye for authenticity . It's refreshing to meet someone who truly understands the nuances of brush strokes and period - specific techniques . " " You two spoke for almost an hour about impression techniques alone . " " The conversation could have gone on longer if we'd had time . " He smiled . " Still , we wouldn't have gotten anywhere near him without your expertise . " " Happy to help . " Adrian's expression softened . " Though I have to admit , watching you navigate that opening was its own kind of artistry . " " Uh huh . " I crossed my arms , not buying 80 % 19:04 6/7 his deflection . " Look , about those tattoos - you need to either get them removed or keep them hidden . At all times . I mean it . " Adrian's lips twitched . " No need to worry . They're temporary - some new kind of ink my friend uses . They'll fade in a few weeks . " " Temporary ? " I blinked . That was … convenient . " Who exactly is this friend of yours ? Because whoever put those marks on you was either trying to get you killed or- " Adrian laughed , cutting me off . " Trust me , Marco Salvatore wasn't trying to harm me . We go way back . " My jaw dropped .