For several seconds after Adrian finished speaking, the hallway remained silent.
Vanessa watched him carefully.
His posture was relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Which meant he wasn't bluffing.
Marco stood a step behind her with his rifle raised, frustration written all over his face.
"I swear," Marco muttered quietly, "every time someone says the next phase, something explodes."
Vanessa didn't take her eyes off Adrian.
"That's because villains like dramatic speeches."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"You misunderstand."
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"Oh?"
"I'm not the villain."
Marco snorted.
"You broke into our house."
Adrian shrugged.
"Perspective."
Vanessa stepped forward slowly.
The hallway lights cast long shadows across the floor, and the broken windows at the end of the corridor let the cold night air drift inside.
"You stayed," she said.
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"You could've escaped through the tunnel with Romano."
"Yes."
"But you didn't."
Adrian smiled slightly.
