Page 159 of Lessons In Grey

I paused, worked my jaw, and turned back to him. “What else would you like to say?”

“I will ruin you,” he threatened, looking me over. “You will never work at another school ever again. People will know you as the man who fucked the daughter of a powerful man. They will never respect you again.”

I chuckled and leaned in close. “Good.” I straightened. “Have a good night, Harold. Happy retirement.”

41

Emily

December 21st, 2021

He texted me about it,” I explained, trying to ignore the people around me trying to get my attention. “I can’t believe he found the information that fast.”

“And now Malachi owns it?” Syn asked, keeping her voice low. “Was that a smart decision knowing who he is?”

I shrugged, politely declining the drink Ash was trying to offer me. “I know Grey, and Malachi raised him. He raised Jack. If he raised boys who grew up to be such good men, despite their profession, doesn’t that say something about him?”

It had to have. I understood the profession. I understood the crime and the deaths and the drugs, but there was a delicate balance in every world. If the scales tipped too far in one direction, everything would crumble. So yes, Malachi Adler was a criminal and so were his sons, but sometimes that was needed inorder to keep people like the ones attending this event in line.

“What happens now?” Ash asked, setting the drink down. “Like what are the next steps? Malachi owns your company just like that? Don’t you have to sign something?”

I nodded, glancing into the crowd, searching for Grey until I found him talking to my father, his eyes cold and calculating. “Yeah. Lots of paperwork, but Jack mentioned lawyers and whatnot. I’m sure I’ll have to meet with them at some point.”

Meeting the man who all but raised Grey? My heart thudded at just the thought.

“Emily, is this something you really want to do?” Ash asked, pulling my attention back. “You’re permanently tying yourself to this world. You’ll never escape it.”

My eyes caught someone familiar standing at the door. Blue eyes and blonde hair. My brows pulled together, confusion filling me. “I don’t want to. Excuse me,” I said abruptly. I pushed through them, heading for the door just as Jeremy slipped out.

I ignored everyone who tried to pull my attention, questions running through my mind. Why was he acting so strange? Where had he been all this time? What was he doing now?

I stepped out onto the patio, the chilling air forcing a shiver down my spine. “Jeremy?” I called quietly.

“Here.”

I turned, finding him a few yards away, hands in his pockets, standing half in the shadows. “What are you doing out here?” I asked, rubbing my arms. “Where have you been, we’ve all been worried.” Why was he trying to hide from everyone? Why did he look so serious?

Jeremy glanced towards the doorway, searching, but he didn’t reply.

My nerves picked up as I followed his eyes. Ash and Syn had joined another group of people around our age. They were dancing, laughing. Having fun. I couldn’t see Grey from here.

“Grey talks in poems whenever you need him too, I’ve seen it,”he finally said, pulling my attention back. “It’s like you understand the world more if people speak in beautiful sentences.” He shrugged, his eyes near black, causing my gut to twist and my anxiety to grow. “I don’t have the ability to do that, so I’ll just come right out and say it. Coincidences sometimes suck.”

My brows furrowed and I shivered violently, shaking my head, willing Grey to come out. He understood Jeremy more than I did, he would understand what was happening. He would see what I couldn’t. “What are you talking about?”

He turned towards the pathway leading towards a garden around the corner of the mansion.

I followed his gaze. Seconds went by with nothing, but just before I was going to turn back, a man finally stepped out of the shadows.

I straightened, my heart skipping a beat. The first thing I noticed was the fedora. Nobody wore fedoras anymore, yet it fit this man well. Suited him.

He wore a wool coat, similar to Grey’s, double breasted, and buttoned up tightly. His hands were at his sides, covered in dark leather gloves, and his eyes shown out from under the shadow of the fedora’s brim. Electric blue. Not as frighteningly icy as Azrael’s had been, but something about them did send a shiver of fear down my spine.

I took a slow step back, my heart picking up. “Jeremy—”

“Malachi,” Grey said just before a warm jacket settled around my shoulders, “what are you doing here?”

Instantly, my shoulders relaxed.