Chapter 519
0519
ATTICUS
“How is she?” I ask quietly the moment Valerie shuts the door behind herself. She glances at Adriana’s bedroom door before walking down the hall to where I’m waiting against the stair rail.
Sighing, she shakes her head. “Not great. She isn’t saying anything much. She just told me to leave.”
“And has Zade tried to talk to her? She wouldn’t defy her alpha.”
Valerie looks at me with a sympathetic expression and shakes her head. “She doesn’t want to see him right now, either.”
“And since when does he listen to anyone?” I frown.
“Since she decided to wear nothing and said it would be a violation of her privacy if I entered her room,” Zade’s cold voice comes.
My eyes widen in surprise as Valerie smiles slightly. “I mean it worked…” she says, shaking her head.
“Then I’m glad you actually listened,” I say, feeling a flare of jealousy at the thought of Zade seeing her naked.
Zade shrugs, “If there was no other option I would still go, but I guess you’re up.” He jerks his head towards her door.
I glance at the door, remembering how she had been when she had woken up after we got back here. She had lost it and had wanted to be alone with her sister’s body. I tried to talk to her, only for her to scream at me to get out.
For an entire day she talked to no one, remaining with her sister’s body alone. She didn’t cry, but we didn’t hear anything at all. Today, in the morning, she wasn’t in her room and we all almost panicked until she returned, with mud on her shoes. Zade had asked her where she had been and she had emotionlessly stated she buried her sister by herself. And since then, she has not wanted to see anyone. It’s now the following evening and she still hasn’t eaten or spoken to anyone.
“Fine. Trust me, I can be stubborn,” I say with determination.
“Trust me, I know,” Valerie says, and I cock a brow, but she simply looks away quickly.
I turn and walk down the stairs. “Her rooms that way?” Zade remarks.
“I’m going to cook her a meal first. What are her favourite dishes?
“Nothing that you could probably cook,” Zade says. “She’s a pizza or chicken parmo kinda girl.”
“I can make that,” I say, unbuttoning my cuffs and rolling up my sleeves. “Valerie, can I ask one of your men to get me some ingredients?”
“Sure thing, just text me what you need.”
“Or you could just order a fucking pizza and go talk to her now?” Zade suggests as he drops onto the sofa in the lounge.
“I think I’ll do this my way.” I frown, turning to Valerie. ‘What about drinks? What does she like? Wine, cocktails? Champagne, soda?’
‘Cocktail, she enjoys a good Daquiri, but make sure you take her water or cordial. She hasn’t drank anything and needs to stay hydrated,’ Valerie replies.
“Understood, Doctor Luna.”
Valerie smiles at me before she leaves me to it. Washing my hands, I get to work
I would like to be with her right now, but I’m certain she’ll force me to leave if I went in now. I’m sure the smell of food might entice her enough to allow me to stay. So, if cooking and exercising some patience helps me, then I’ll be patient.
I message Valerie the list of supplies after checking what they have available and get to making the pizza dough. I take out my phone and call my bela, giving him a very specific order.
“And when do you need these by?” he asks.
“As soon as possible. Send them via my private jet.”
“Your jet… Alright, I’ll make sure nothing is lacking and they are to your approval. They’ll be with you within two hours.” “Excellent.” I glance at my watch as I return to work.
It’s two hours later and I have just taken a quick shower, leaving Valerie to mind my pizza and chicken parmesan whilst I showered. She’s just taken the pizza out and both she and Zade are looking down at it.
“Oh, it looks so, so good, Atticus…” she says as I walk over to her as she removes the oven gloves.
I smirk, tapping her nose. “One is yours,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“Aww, really?” she asks, surprised.
“Yes, there’s plenty. Besides, I have the parmesan and the chips for Adriana, so one pizza is enough,” I say.
“Sounds good,” Zade says, about to reach for a slice, when Valerie moves it away.
“Let him take the stuff for Adriana first. Patience. But this is so sweet, Atticus,” she says, smiling at me.
“Or over the top,” Zade mullers.
“I prefer you not talking,” I remark, looking at the two trays I’ve prepared, feeling like maybe I should have kept it a little simpler … Well, too late for that.
I take the dessert from the refrigerator. I’m not sure I made the right choice with this one, but… I hope Zade was right about it. I place the lid back on and place it on the tray.
“I’ll laugh if she kicks you out but keeps the food,” Zade smirks.
“We’ll see,” I say as the front door opens and Damien, one of Zade’s men, enters carrying a huge bouquet of flowers.