Free Indestructible by Alycia Linwood Page B

didn’t tell him anything else about your condition, but I had to talk to someone about what was happening to you.”
    “Well, even if Alan knows I have the disease, he can’t use that information against me because there’s nothing I can do for him.” At least I hoped there was nothing I could do for Alan. He was a cunning bastard and always found a way to make my life complicated, although his plans rarely succeeded.
    “Don’t worry. After all the arrests and scandals, Alan is glad he wasn’t in some important position.” Amusement flashed in Adrian’s eyes. “I can go alone if you don’t want to see his face again.”
    “No way. I’m not letting you to see that guy alone. He might not have any reasons to kill you or hurt you, but I don’t trust him.” I pushed the door open. “So are we going or what?”
     
    Alan’s apartment was on the sixth floor of a building that looked more like an expensive hotel than an actual living place. The cream walls in the hall were ornamented with golden embroidery and the white marble floor was covered with thick cream carpet. Who would have thought Alan could afford to live here? Certainly not me.
    Adrian stopped in front of a dark brown door at the end of the hall, his hand hovering over the doorbell.
    “Don’t tell me you’re nervous.” I smiled. “You’ve been here before. I can tell because they didn’t stop us at the door. They know you.”
    He gave me half-annoyed, half-playful look. “Does it bother you that I left your side for a couple of hours? I needed to talk to someone who didn’t keep telling me to say goodbye to you.”
    “No, of course not. Why would it bother me?” Did he really think I’d be mad at him for leaving me? I’d been in a freaking coma for three months. I didn’t expect anyone to sit by my side all the time for that long. “I’m kind of glad you had someone to talk to, even if it’s the guy I don’t like.” I was surprised Lily had let him out, but maybe she worried only about me or Adrian had found a way to sneak out.
    “I love you,” he said, and his lips briefly met mine.
    “I love you too, but I don’t want to stand in this hall forever, so...” I pressed the doorbell. A couple of moments later, the door cracked open and Alan flashed us both a wide smile.
    “What a surprise! I didn’t expect the two of you to pop up here.” He opened the door wider so we could get inside. “I suppose you need something, eh?”
    Alan’s apartment was huge and it reminded me of the perfectly designed homes I could usually see in magazines. Judging by the number of doors, there were at least three rooms. Why would Alan need something so big if he was living alone?
    “Actually, yeah, we do,” Adrian said. “Did you happen to save any of my stuff that I left at the University of Magic?”
    “You mean the things that didn’t get soaked after you froze the entire room?” Alan’s voice was filled with amusement.
    Adrian bit down on his lip. “Yeah.”
    “Perhaps,” Alan said. “What are you looking for?”
    “My father’s journal.” Adrian traced his finger across the wooden surface of the desk that was in the hall.
    “The one you stole from the Council and conveniently forgot at the University as if it meant nothing?”
    I didn’t like Alan’s biting tone. It wasn’t Adrian’s fault he’d had to leave the journal. “Really, Alan? You are the one who planned to blame Adrian for a murder and send him to a lab. If you have such a good memory, I’m sure you remember it.”
    “Always charming, aren’t you?” Alan gave me a sour smile. “I do have the journal.”
    “Great,” I said. “What do you want in exchange for it?”
    “Why don’t you wait for me in the living room? I’ll go find the journal,” Alan said, not bothering to tell me where the living room was. I was wondering if Adrian had a map of this apartment because I would surely get lost in it on my own.
    Adrian placed his hand on my back and