ADAM
“Why is she still on the premises? Take her away.” Nova waves a hand and, without breaking her stride, approaches another officer. Her words are clipped but measured. “I’ll compile a list of our assets. We’ll need to comb through the building to make sure nothing was taken. Did you catch any of her cohorts?”
The police officer looks stunned.
“Really?” Lyra screams from where she’s sitting between two cops. Her dark hands are handcuffed and her eyes are bulging.
“Miss Delaney,” another officer approaches us and looks mildly concerned, “this woman insists that she’s your sister and she had permission to move the items.”
Nova stops abruptly. “Is that why you didn’t take her to the station?”
The officer shuffles his feet.
Nova tips her chin up. Blue and red lights from the police cars outside are flashing on her face. She’s wearing that cold, ice queen expression. The one that causes her cheekbones to stand out and her lips to pucker.
“She’s lying. I don’t know her.”
Lyra curses. “You witch!”
“Nova.” I lengthen my stride and grip her arm urgently.
She turns to face me. Gone is the tender smile and the dreamy look she was giving me in the lab. Gone is the pliant woman who melted in my arms as my body throbbed like a wild animal against her soft heat. Now, she’s all hard edges and prickles. Sharp. Dangerous.
The Nova that comes out to destroy.
“Just wait a minute,” I say quietly.
“Wait for what, Adam? Is it not clear to you by now? Lyra approached you for a job because she had a bigger job in mind. This was all a set-up so she could steal from Vision Tech.”
“Nova—”
“I warned you not to keep her around.”
“She’s your sister,” I say gently, rubbing my thumb over her arm to calm her.
Nova shifts her head, her jaw tight and unrelenting.
“She’s your family,” I add. “She messed up, but ending her with your own hands is a different kind of weight. I don’t want that burden on you.”
Nova’s nostrils flare. She stares into the distance as if she won’t heed my words.
I remain quiet, giving her the space to work things out in her own mind.
Whatever she chooses, I’m going to support her. I’m going to stand with her. But I want her to make a choice she can live with. One that won’t leave her plagued with guilt or discontent.
Nova fastens her hard gaze on the police officers beside Lyra. “Take her to the station.”
“What?” Lyra shrieks.
“I’m not going to save you, but I’ll hire a lawyer on your behalf,” she says. “That’s the most I can do.”
“Girl, I’m your blood. You gonna do me dirty like this?”
Nova’s eyes brighten with rage. I cringe, wishing Lyra had just shut her mouth.
“You’re lucky you even have a chance at seeing the light of day after this.” Her voice slashes through the air like a sword. “You don’t deserve this much grace after all the crap you’ve pulled through the years. You and I both know it. It’s only because of this man,” she flings an arm at me, “that I’m showing some humanity. Without him, I’d bury you so deep you wouldn’t be able to come up for air.”
Lyra’s chest heaves and she lets loose a blood-curdling scream.
Nova doesn’t even blink.
“You think you’re better than me! You’ve always thought that!”
“No, Lyra. I’m not better than you. I just make better choices.”
Face twisted and teeth bared, Lyra launches at Nova. Impulsively, I drag Nova behind me and whip an arm out to keep her back and away from danger.
The police grip Lyra’s shoulders and wrestle her around before she can get to us.
“Take her away,” I bark.
The cops shove Lyra out of the lobby. She’s kicking, squirming and screaming bloody-murder, but the sound soon fades. I watch as they shove her head into a police car and drive away.
The adrenaline shooting through my body recedes.
“Are you okay?” I squeeze Nova’s hand.
A flash of weariness crosses her face. It disappears in an instant, replaced by that practiced shell of apathy. “Of course.”
The words sound so dark and cold that I want to wrap my arms around her until the stiffness leaves her shoulders. Nova might be business-minded, careful and decisive, but she’s not ruthless. Being cold and in control all the time takes its pound of flesh. I’ve seen her stumble under the weight of it and I just want to protect her.
“Do you want to go home now? I can call Hall to take care of Lyra’s situation. And I can find someone else to compile the list of missing items.”
“I’m fine,” she insists, her voice quiet.
“Nova.”
“Stop, Adam. You’re only making it worse.”
“Making what worse?”
She avoids my gaze. Her frame shudders on a sigh. “I’m embarrassed and sorry to you. I can’t handle you being sweet right now.”
“Sorry? For what?” I slip my fingers under her chin and lift her head. “This is not your fault. I’m the one who didn’t heed your words and brought her into Vision Tech. All of this is on me.”
Nova shakes her head. “Let’s just calculate the damage. We can play the blame game later.”
I flash a smile.
Her lips twitch in return. It’s not a full-blown grin, but it’s better than nothing.
One of the remaining officers approaches us. “Are you the owner of this place?”
“I’m the CEO.” Nova blinks and then frowns. “Or I was.”
“She is.” I nod.
Nova gives me a stunned look.
I jut my chin at the officer because reinstating Nova to her position at Vision Tech is a conversation for another time.
“What happened here tonight?” Nova asks, her eyelashes moving up and down slowly. She sounds tired. “We weren’t told any details over the phone.”
I slip a hand around her waist just in case the adrenaline rush fades and she starts feeling light-headed. She allows the touch and doesn’t seem at all worried about other people noticing us being affectionate.
“A crew of five entered the premises with a moving truck, backed it up to the garage and proceeded to loot anything they could find,” the officer says.
I frown. “Lyra wouldn’t have planned a job like this alone. What about the rest of her cronies?”
“Her crew had warrants out for their arrests, so we took them to the station first.”
“What about the damage to the building?” Nova asks.
“As far as we can tell, there’s minimal damage. Most of the destruction centered around jimmying the locks to the labs. The front door wasn’t damaged at all. We figured the thieves had an access pass. From what I’ve skimmed of the security footage, they seemed to know exactly where to go.”
“Lyra got the front door access pass when she joined the company.” Nova turns to me, her eyebrows cinched. “That’s probably why she didn’t come to work after getting her ID. It was all she needed to complete the last piece of her plan.”
My jaw clenches. Lyra and her crew must have thought this out well.
“How were they captured?” Nova asks.
“They tripped a silent alarm,” the officer explains. “And the security guard called us.”
Nova absorbs all the information and nods. “I’ll compile that list now.”
“We’d appreciate that.”
My phone rings.
It’s Dejonae. I dropped Rowan off at her place before I drove Nova here.
“Who is it?” Nova whispers, her face tense. It’s like she’s bracing herself for more bad news.
“It’s Dejonae.”
Nova lets out a relieved exhale.
I put the call on speaker while I follow Nova to the elevator.
“What’s the update?” Dejonae asks. “What did the police say?”
I press the button to the top floor. “The culprits were caught and no one was hurt. We’re just about to do an evaluation.”
“That’s good, right?”
“The police got here in time, but that doesn’t mean our labs and research weren’t affected. Some of those inventions are highly sensitive and shouldn’t be moved around. Nova and I will make the rounds now.”
“Hope everything works out. And don’t worry about Rowan. He and Niko are playing video games in the living room. If needed, we’ll prepare the guest bedroom so he can sleep over.”
“We really appreciate your help,” I say, my eyes meeting Nova’s.
She nods in agreement.
I think about the funeral and add, “Please keep an eye on him. He’s been holding it together all day, but when reality starts sinking in…”
“I will. Don’t worry, Adam. We’ll take care of your son like he’s our own.”
I know they will. She and Sazuki put a lot of importance on family and I’m grateful I have people like them to bail me out in times of crisis.
When it came to the company, I easily relied on Nova. But when it came to personal matters, I preferred to do things myself rather than inconvenience someone else.
Sazuki and Dejonae are teaching me a new lesson—that being a part of something bigger than just me, my lab and my company means having the option to ask for help with my most precious matters.
I hang up and check my watch. Hopefully, we can finish up here before it gets too late so I can tuck Rowan in tonight. I think he’ll need that.
The elevator doors spread apart.
Nova steps off.
I start to follow her when she lifts a hand to stop me.
My eyebrows arch. “What are you doing?”
“I’ll take care of this. You should pick up Rowan from Sazuki’s house and take him to the manor.”
“We just got an update. Rowan’s safe with Dejonae for now,” I argue.
“Of course he is. I’m not denying that. But you should still go.”
“No way,” I say, my lips tightening. Nova’s days of carrying the weight of the company on her small shoulders are over. I may not be as good at managing a business, but I plan to step it up so she can rely on me more.
“Adam.”
“Nova.”
We stare at each other, sharing a battle of words all without opening our mouths.
Nova breaks first. “Lyra’s my sister. This is my mess to clean up. Not yours.”
“That’s bull, Nova. This is our mess.”
“I can handle it alone.” She tilts her head, her braids skittering over her shoulders.
“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Why the hell does she have to be so stubborn all the time? “I’m not letting you shoulder this by yourself.”
“Fine. I’ll call the other directors to help out. Heck, I could call Rochelle and the other HR people. Anyone can do this job. But not anyone can be a father to Rowan. There’s only one Adam and right now, the one who needs you most is your son.”
“Dejonae said he’s fine.”
She rolls her eyes. “Even if he’s sad, he’s not going to show it in front of Niko. He’ll wear a mask all night if he has to.”
Nova has a point, but I’m still apprehensive about leaving her here alone. “What if the crew Lyra worked with is a part of a larger gang? What if they hear about the foiled plan and try to storm this place?”
“Okay, let’s turn down the wild, inventor imagination and look at this logically.” Nova smirks, but not even her gorgeous smile can calm me. “If I know Lyra, she chose people who were just as selfish and short-sighted as her. I doubt anyone is coming for me or Vision Tech. Besides, the police are here and all the security guards are on alert too. Who would be stupid enough to storm this place?” When I still look unconvinced, she adds, “I’m probably safer here than I am anywhere else.”
I’m still reluctant and it must show on my face because Nova steps toward me. She stops right on top of the elevator threshold so the doors don’t close.
“I know you’re worried about me. I know you think I’m pretending to be strong, but I’m okay.”
“I hate those words.”
She falters and then sighs. “You’re right. I’m not okay. I’m angry and I need something to distract my mind. Your presence is not required for me to do that. But Rowan’s grieving. He just buried his mom. His world will never be the same. Between the two of us, Rowan needs you more right now.”
I glance away.
Nova ducks her head to maintain eye contact. “You know that. You just feel guilty about leaving me to tackle this myself.”
“I want to be there for you both. I hate that I can’t be in two places at once.”
“You are.” She gestures to the ceiling. “When I’m here, Adam, you’re all around me. Everything you’ve built, everything you value and believe in, I can see it. I can feel it. You are Vision Tech. Every time I step inside this building, it’s like I’m getting a hug from you.”
I put a hand on her forehead.
She lifts her lips slightly. “What are you doing?”
“Checking if you have a fever. The Nova I love isn’t so articulate with her feelings.” I freeze when I realize I let the ‘L’ word slip so casually.
Stupid. I’d meant to say that in a more romantic setting. Preferably with candles and roses and a hired orchestra. And a stack of stationary to offer as a bribe.
Not like this.
The day of Alexa’s funeral.
The day Nova’s sister broke into Vision Tech.
The possible worst day of all days.
“Uh…” I rub the back of my neck.
To my surprise, Nova steps forward and closes her arms around me. Her fingers skate over the fabric of my shirt, the warmth of it touching my skin. I feel lightning course through me like a storm.
“If you take it back, I’m going to revolt.”
My lips curl up in a lopsided smirk.
Her eyes are shining at me. “You know what I realized when we were apart?”
“What?”
“I’m your darlin’, but you’re mine too. My sweet darlin’.”
I squeeze her tighter, torn between utter shock and massive pleasure. Who is this Nova? How can she swing from brutally cold and calculative to this purring, feminine goddess?
I close my eyes to keep from drowning in a sea of warmth.
“I love you, Adam.”
My eyes burst open.
I nearly stumble from the unexpectedness of it.
“I don’t know how it happened or when the exact moment was, but I do.” Nova eases away just a fraction, enough to smile up at me. “You’re a good man. A way better man than someone as prickly as me deserves. I love how patient you are with me. How you’re always taking care of me and others. I love the way you get lost in your inventions and how casual you are about your genius brain. I love that you’re a good dad to Rowan. I love you. Do you hear me?”
The elevator doors close.
Nova turns in my arms and slaps the button to open it again.
I hug her from behind and kiss her ear. “I love you more.”
“Not possible.” She faces me.
As my fingers graze her cheek, she raises her eyes to mine. I see the truth there and it makes my head spin.
My Nova.
My beautiful, stubborn, intelligent, bossy dream.
Her gaze shifts from my eyes to my mouth. “We do not have time to make out right now.”
“Just a small one?”
She laughs and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I.” Another kiss to my jaw. “Love.” The corner of my lips. “You. Now go.”
I tug her to me and claim her mouth. She kisses me back with a sweetness that nearly burns me to the ground. My hand slides against her back. I taste her tongue and close my eyes, memorizing the feel of her in my arms and the sensation of her mouth submitting to mine.
She pulls away and it takes all my control to let her go.
“We’ll continue that conversation later,” I say scratchily, pressing the button for the lobby.
One corner of her lips arches up. “I’ll think about it.”
I release a full grin.
As the doors close, I flop against the metal bar and press a hand over my chest. My heart is stampeding like a horse out of the gate. I’m so happy I could pass out.
I step outside and take a deep whiff. Is it just me or is the air sweeter? Are the stars brighter? Am I floating or walking right now? I look down, surprised my feet are even touching the ground.
I love you, her words return to me, crystal clear.
Nova freaking Delaney.
I can always count on her to totally scramble my brain and leave me smiling in the aftermath.
Switching into dad-mode when I pick up Rowan is easier than I thought.
Mostly because Rowan doesn’t seem to be all that disheartened. He’s a little quieter than usual—I’m used to him chatting up a storm whenever he enters my general orbit—but he’s not outwardly distressed.
I keep a close eye on him when we get home, but he doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Whenever I pass his room, he’s on his phone and laughing at videos.
Rowan calls my name on what I think is my fourth pass down the hallway. Or is it my sixth? I’ve lost count.
“Yeah, bud?” I poke my head eagerly into his room, ready to do some grade-A parenting and grief counseling. I’m a novice in both, but I’m confident I can do a good job.
Besides, Rowan’s an eleven year old. How hard can it be?
“How many times are you going to march up and down? It’s distracting.” He frowns.
I step into the room. “You noticed?”
“You’d make a terrible spy.” Rowan draws his knees up and then pulls the blanket over his chin.
He’s using the same sandstone comforter as he did when he first arrived. It takes me by surprise. Why haven’t I fixed up the guest room for him yet? I’ve been so busy that I haven’t prioritized it. I make a mental note to do that within the week.
“Mind if I sit, bud?”
He shrugs.
I sink into the edge of the bed. “If you want to talk or anything, I’m here.”
He snorts.
I glare at him. Here I am, trying to be World’s Best Dad and he’s laughing? “What’s so funny?”
“You could have just texted.”
I scowl. “It wouldn’t have the same effect.”
“I’m okay.”
“Now you sound like Nova.”
“Maybe Nova’s really okay too. You’re the one who never believes that.”
I scrub my chin and think it over. “You have a point.” Something clicks into place. It feels like my son just tore a band-aid off a wound I didn’t even know I had. “I think it’s because… if I’m not constantly looking for a problem to fix, I feel a little empty.”
“Maybe you should see a therapist.”
“Maybe I should, smart mouth.” I smirk.
He smiles back. Then his eyes grow thoughtful. “I’m going to miss my mom,” Rowan admits quietly. “And I’m sad that she’s gone. But I talked to Micheal and Bailey about it. Micheal said he didn’t have much time to talk to his dad before… you know.”
Sympathy washes over me. “That’s too bad, bud.”
“I had a lot of time with mom,” Rowan says. I can see him reasoning through his pain even as his voice cracks. “I got to make her smile a bunch of times. I got to scratch off all her wishes.”
I nod. “You did, bud. You did good.”
He sniffs, his eyes tearing up. “I never forgot what you told me that night in the lab. That thing your dad said, about pouring everything into one person, I did that. I dropped out of art camp and stopped hanging out with my friends and I gave everything to mom. I did everything I wanted to do and thought of other things too. I tried my hardest. I really did.”
“Come here, bud.” I wrap an arm around my son.
He sniffs. “But Adam, I don’t want to die of a broken heart.”
“You won’t.” I lean back and tap his nose. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“You and Nova?”
“Yeah. Me and Nova.” I help fluff his pillow and then point down. “It’s late, bud. You should get some sleep.”
“Okay.”
I pat his shoulder. “Night.”
“Adam?”
“Mm.” I stop just before pressing off the light.
“Mom had one more wish.”
I freeze.
Rowan’s eyes glisten in the shadows. “She wanted me to add it to the wish list, and then she changed her mind. But I remember it.”
“What was it?”
“That you and Nova would marry each other,” Rowan says simply.
My eyebrows hike.
“You promised to make all her wishes come true.” Rowan turns on his side and closes his eyes. “Can you do that one?”
I grin to myself. “I’ll give it my best shot, bud. I swear.”
The next morning, I’m surprised to be woken by a call from Nova.
We spoke last night and she informed me that none of our research had been stolen or broken after the attempted burglary. She also asked about how Rowan was doing.
Unfortunately, it was only a short conversation. I got the sense that she was feeling slightly awkward about what she said in the elevator. She seemed to be overcompensating by being incredibly poised and clinical when she spoke to me.
There were no shared I love yous at the end. Only a business-like ‘I’ll keep you updated, Adam’ before she hung up the phone.
It was my intention to go after her today, even if it meant kidnapping her for a date.
But my plans are dashed when I answer Nova’s call and hear her angry tone.
“She’s refusing to see the lawyer, Adam.”
“Who?” I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
“Lyra,” Nova hisses. “I got a call from Hall today. He says Lyra won’t say a word. The only time she opened her mouth was to ask for me.”
I swing my legs over the bed, alert and ready to go. “I only need five minutes to brush my teeth and take a quick shower. I can pick you up,” I check the clock on my nightstand, “in thirty minutes.”
“I’m not seeing her,” Nova snaps.
I freeze. “Why not?”
“This isn’t the first time Lyra’s landed in jail. She’s been in and out of trouble since she was a teenager.”
I grip the phone tightly, listening to every word. This is the first time Nova’s voluntarily opening up about her past and her family. It feels like a sign that we’ve really reached the next level, even though she’s not as gushy and romantic as she was yesterday.
“My mom died because she kept following Lyra up and down and all over the place. I won’t let her manipulate my life like that.”
“She’s your sister.”
“And I’m supposed to excuse every bad decision she makes because we share blood? That doesn’t make sense.”
I choose my words carefully because I know Nova means that with all her heart. If something doesn’t make sense, she cuts it. If something isn’t necessary, she abandons it. It’s very easy for her to put things into careful boxes and set them aside.
It’s a great skill to have when running the company. She can step back from emotions and take a long, objective look at the picture. When she’s done, whatever her decision, it’s the best one for Vision Tech. And if it hurts someone’s feelings, well… too bad.
But though it might work for Vision Tech, that skill of hers is a weakness when it comes to family and friends.
I have the opposite problem. It’s yet another example where our strengths and weaknesses line up to support each other.
“Darlin’,” I hesitate, “I love how decisive you are. And I think your point about Lyra not being worth the effort is valid.”
She sighs over the phone. I can almost feel her breath rushing into my ear. “Go ahead. Spring the ‘but’ on me.”
I smile because she’s the most lovable woman in the world and I have no idea what I did to deserve her. “But,” I grin harder, “giving your sister a chance isn’t for her. It’s for you.”
“That’s a very big leap, Adam.”
“Hear me out.” I press my hand into the bed and push myself to my feet. “The more bitter and angry you are at Lyra, the more control she has over you. If just the thought of her makes you resentful, that’s power. That’s someone else being able to manipulate how you feel.” I reach for a clean T-shirt. “I know how much you hate being controlled. Do you want Lyra to have that much power?”
“Since when did you major in family counseling?”
I smile. “I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes, Nova.”
She sighs. “You better come in there with me. If she starts talking crap, I can’t be trusted not to jump over the table and choke her.”
I laugh.
Nova doesn’t.
I swallow hard. In a more serious tone, I promise, “I’ll make sure you don’t commit any felonies.”
It’s my first time in an interrogation room, although it’s not my first time in a police station.
I’ve been arrested once. In college, I got dared to walk naked in the park and spent a night in jail for public indecency, but that’s about the extent of my run-ins with the law.
It’s strange to be in the room I’ve only seen on Law & Order episodes and legal thriller movies. I almost want to smash my hand on the table and yell ‘you can’t handle the truth’.
But that would be foolish.
And inaccurate. Jack Nicholson was in a courtroom, not an interrogation room, during that scene in A Few Good Men.
The air is silent and still. I shudder from the cold, but I’m not sure if it’s due to the air conditioner or the frosty looks shooting out of Lyra’s eyes.
Nova’s sister is sitting across from us, her hands cuffed and her body shrouded in an orange jumpsuit. It’s a far cry from her usual, tight-fitting outfits.
“Why’d you bring him?” Her lips curl into a dark scowl. She points at me.
Nova ignores the question. “What do you want, Lyra? Why aren’t you working with your lawyer?”
“I want to talk to you alone.”
Nova checks her watch. “Fine. We’ll both leave.”
Lyra’s jaw drops.
Nova stands up. “My time is worth a lot, but Adam’s is worth three times more. You can’t afford to waste it.”
“You smug little rat.” Lyra’s grin is dark. “You always have to be right, don’t you?”
Nova sits back down. “Beggars can’t be choosers, Lyra. Get to the point before I change my mind and drag Adam out of here.”
“Adam, Adam, Adam. Are you so obsessed with this white man that you’d abandon your own family?”
I don’t flinch.
But Nova turns into a tigress. “Listen here, Lyra.” She smacks her hand on the table, her tone harder than granite. “This coldness that I’m showing you? It didn’t happen overnight. It took trusting you over and over again and getting slapped in the face every time to get to this point. I learned my lesson, but mom didn’t and it sent her to the grave early.”
Lyra rolls her eyes. “I knew you blamed me for that. Mom died because it was her time.”
“She died because you refused to take responsibility and kept making the same mistakes over and over without learning a damn thing from them.” Nova’s trembling slightly.
Under the table, I slip my hand into hers. She curls her fingers around mine and sucks in a deep breath.
“I don’t care about the past.” Lyra turns her head to the side. “Just tell the police this is all a misunderstanding and get me out of here. I can’t have another strike on my record.”
Lyra folds her arms over her chest and lifts her chin obnoxiously. She fully expects Nova to fix her problems. The entitlement is astounding and I begin to see why Nova would rather avoid her.
“I thought I was a witch and a rat and a sell-out?”
“Which is why you should make it up to me now,” Lyra says firmly.
I shake my head.
Nova stiffens. “You know what, Lyra? I’m not going to help you this time.” When her sister’s eyes widen, Nova lifts a dark finger and talks in a firm voice. “And I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while. I am not a sell-out for speaking the way I speak and working where I work. Also, I love myself. I love my dark skin and my big nose and my hair. I love how dark my palms are and I love my curves. I like to dress in professional clothes and high heels, the same way you like cheetah prints and dying your hair. That’s your style and who you are. This is my style and it’s who I am. If that offends you, then you’ll forever be offended because I’m not changing who I am to suit your narrow idea of what being ‘black’ should be.”
My eyebrows hike.
Lyra’s jaw drops.
Nova doesn’t look affected at all. She nods at me. “I’m done here.”
“You’re just gonna leave?” Lyra shrieks.
“I’m going to respect who you are, Lyra.” Nova stops and turns back around. “But I have to warn you. If who you are pushes you to commit crimes, it won’t end well for you. So maybe look into yourself and figure out who you want to be before it’s too late. That’s my last advice as your big sister.”
“Nova, don’t you dare walk away from me!”
I open the door of the interrogation room and Nova sashays through.
“Nova!” Lyra screams.
We nod at Hall and the police officers who’d been supervising through the two-way mirror. Nova keeps moving and I’m right behind her. We don’t stop until we get into the sunshine.
Once we’re outside, she takes a big, deep breath. “You were right, Adam. That does feel better.”
I smile and wrap her in my arms. “Where do you want to go now?” I ask, my voice muffled in her braids. “Rowan’s at art camp and I’m free for the day. I can take you to the emporium or to Turkey or Belize. Wherever you want to go.”
“Home.” She meets my eyes and gives me a spent smile.
“Your apartment?”
“No.” She slides her fingers into mine and interlocks our hands. “I want to go to your place.”
