Within five hours we were back on Adrian's jet. Antonio had bought me a thick jacket covered with cute little penguins. I nearly kicked him in the golden spot.

The minute we got on the jet Adrian switched back to Mafia Boss mode and disappeared into the bedroom.

"So. How did you guys get into this mess?" I asked.

"I told you. Hacked into the FBI mainframe. Got in trouble. Adrian stepped in to save the day."

I looked at Damien. I wondered if the ex CIA agent could tell that I knew.

Damien shrugged. "Used to work for the CIA. I was posted in the Mafia. When my cover was blown, my life was threatened. Adrian let me live and I've been his friend ever since. Or at least the closest to a friend. Antonio is my brother, he came looking for me."

"And the CIA just forgot about you?"

"No actually, the CIA thinks I'm dead. The minute my cover was blown I became a liability. Adrian helped me when the CIA sent out an order to terminate me." He said casually.

"Wow. I thought the CIA were the good guys."

"The world isn't as black and white as you think. It appears so because what kind of a country would allow it's civilians to see the cost of keeping them protected?"

I mulled on that for a while. Antonio was fast asleep and Damien and Isaac were working on their laptops.

I sighed and went into the bedroom.

Adrian was talking on the phone in Italian. His voice was cold and calm. I knew that tone. He was probably dishing out orders to his men. He looked at me.

"Parlerò al più tardi, ho qualcosa di più importante da sbrigare."

And with that he cut the phone.

"What?" He asked slightly annoyed.

"Everyone is busy and I'm bored."

"So find a way to entertain yourself. " He said dismissively.

"Pissing you off is entertaining."

He rolled his eyes. I went and made myself comfortable on the bed. In front of me was a flat screen TV that showed the altitude and flight route.

"Hey, you didn't ask me how I got into Castellino's place neither did you tell me about our little detour."

Adrian walked over and sat on the bed next to me, legs outstretched. His dark brown hair was messy and it gave him a sexy, boyish charm.

"I knew. When you asked me about your clothes, you opened that chit momentarily in your room. I saw through the cameras." He said in that same detatched tone.

"Why didn't you tell me!?" I demanded.

"I wanted to see whose side you were on." He said smiling, "And I wanted to see what you would do. As for why I took that little detour...well. Do you remember about il labirinto?"

"The maze?"

"Castellino has the layouts for it. "

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because even when he was on fire he yelled at his men to secure the layouts. You couldn't make out, it was in Italian. But before I could get them, you got shot." He said trailing a finger across my shoulder.

"Thank you." I whispered, "I should have said it sooner, but thank you for saving my life."

"Don't thank me. You risked a lot stepping into Castellino's house too. Let's call it even." He said.

"Yeah."

Suddenly a picture in a frame on the bed side table caught my eye. It was Adrian with his arm around a beautiful girl, staring into the camera.

"Your girlfriend?" I choked out. Not that I cared.

He glanced at the frame briefly before dumping it in one of the drawers out of sight.

"Ex. One of the few serious relationships I had."

"So basically you're a male slut."

"Let's say I am skilled." He said, looking at me through his lashes. Beautiful.

"How many?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"How many people have you slept with?"

I felt heat rise in my cheeks. Adrian studied me which only caused me to blush harder. Thankfully it wasn't very visible through my tanned skin.

"You're a virgin."

Ding ding ding! We have a winner.

"What about you?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Don't remember. But I've dated eleven women."

"None of them lasted, evidently."

"They all thought they could fix me and win the monster's heart." He said wistfully.

"You're not broken and you're no monster. Are we done with the pity party?" I sassed, looking at him. The man I'd come to know, the man who made me feel like I belong. At my answer something flashed in his eyes.

I meant every word. I wasn't going to try and fix him. I don't know if I'll be able to do that. But for now, I'll accept him the way he is. Neither of us is perfect, but our jagged pieces fit together and complemented each perfectly.

"Then what am I?" He asked, lowering his voice.

"You're Adrian. You're a ruthless bastardo." I joked.

He gave me a knee buckling grin. "And you wouldn't have me any other way, Idiota."

"Maybe."

"That's what makes you special. You don't think I'm hurt or broken. You like me the way I am, flaws and everything. You're the one person I want to talk to," He said, "But why do you like me?"

"Who said I like you?" I teased.

"You did, when you were drunk." He pointed out.

Fair point.

"I can talk to you easily, it's never boring. It's comfortable." I said, looking at him.

His eyes burned into mine. They weren't completely grey, there were flecks of blue and green there. How had I, an artist at heart, not noticed that before?

I shrugged. "I haven't felt comfortable with people in a long time. I wonder what's wrong with me to feel safe with you of all people, but I do. Dylan used me. People use me to get what they want. I'm the girl who will do anything to fit in. But I feel safe with you."

"Still don't want me to send out a hit on him?" Adrian asked and I couldn't tell if he was joking.

"No!" I laughed. He didn't.

"His father deserves him." I added and Adrian smiled.

He climbed on top of me, with his knee between my legs and his hands on either side of my head. I put a hand against his chest. I could feel the warmth of his tanned skin beneath the expensive silk suit.

He lowered his head to mine, until we were just a breath apart. I lightly touched his silken hair, asking for permission. He smiled and nodded. He didn't move a muscle as I ran my fingers through his soft dark hair.

I lightly traced the shape of his jaw. My fingers met with slight prickly stubble and cool skin, I ran a finger down the slope of his nose, the smooth skin of his throat. I traced the perfect outline of his soft, sensual lips, staring into his grey eyes. His lips parted against my finger ever so slightly and I could feel his warm breath caressing my skin. He was perfection. I had meant what I said. He wasn't broken, he was different.

And I wouldn't have him any other way.

He let out a low growl as he bent his head down, closing the space between us. The soft lips that I had traced pressed against my neck in gentle, feathery kisses as if he didn't want to startle me. His finger traced my collarbone. His kisses reached my jaw. I dug my hands into his hair as his lips hovered over mine, the space between us was tangible, electric. I realised that he was giving me a chance to pull away. I wouldn't. Even if I was nothing but a moment of weakness for him, I wanted this. I wanted my first kiss to be with him.

I didn't know what to do, I forgot to breathe. I didn't move as he inched closer, my lips parted slightly in response. Our lips touched. His lips were cool but soft, I let him lead. He opened my mouth with his and kissed me in a way that would forever be imprinted in my memory. Slowly, I found myself kissing him back. I was safe, because it was Adrian who was kissing me. It was okay because I was with Adrian.

Adrian.

I whispered his name against his lips and felt him smile. He kissed me deeply, one last time before letting me go.

"I think I may grow to like that idiotic mouth of yours." He said lightly.

I threw a pillow at him and he chuckled.

"I thought I'd forgotten how to feel." He confided, suddenly serious.

"What changed?"

"You got hurt." He said looking at me sadly.

He kissed me lightly on my nose before getting off of me. I found myself craving his presence.

For the next five hours Adrian slept with his head in my lap as I stroked his hair. I forced him to sleep, he needed it, if the amount of coffee he'd been consuming was any indication. I remembered how I'd woken up with my head in his lap not too long ago.

He was an idiot. But for some reason, despite our squabbles, I cared for him. A lot.

Oh Fuck.