Chapter 5 LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND

Evelyn’s POV

I couldn't sleep that night, I tossed and turned on the hard bed, waiting for morning to come. My mind drifted back to my acceptance, I accepted his offer. 

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Raina’s face hovering over me while her fingers tightened around my throat.

By morning, my entire body ached, the bruise on my jaw had darkened overnight, my ribs felt cracked every time I breathed too deeply, and there was still dried blood near my hairline from where my head slammed against the concrete wall.

I looked terrible, worse than terrible,I looked like prison had finally won. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the hallway before my cell door unlocked.

“Jonas.” the prison guard called and I looked up slowly.

One of the guards stood outside my cell with her usual irritated expression. “You’ve got a visitor.”

My stomach tightened immediately. Adrian?  It had to be.

I slowly got to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs, and followed the guard through the prison hallways.

Inmates stared openly as I passed, some smirked when they noticed the bruises while others whispered among themselves.

Word had already spread about last night, about the attack, about me surviving it. The guard finally stopped outside the visitation area and pushed the door open.

The moment I stepped inside, Adrian looked up. And for the first time since meeting him, his calm expression slipped slightly.

His gray eyes slowly swept across my face,the bruises,the cut above my eyebrow,the marks around my throat,the split lip.

“Well,” he said finally, leaning back in his chair. “This place clearly has excellent hospitality.” I rolled my eyes weakly. “Good morning to you too.”

His gaze remained fixed on my injuries. “You look like you lost a fight with a truck.”

“Funny,” I muttered. “I was thinking the same thing.” A woman standing beside him cleared her throat softly.

She looked elegant in a fitted black blazer and matching skirt, holding a tablet tightly against her chest. Her dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail and she carried herself with confidence. 

“Miss Jonas,” she said politely. “I’m Claire Bennett. Mr. Rossi’s personal assistant.” I nodded once. “Evelyn.”

Adrian finally looked away from my bruises. “Claire handles my schedule, finances, security arrangements, and occasionally my anger issues.”

Claire gave him a flat look. “That last part is untrue.” she replied, rolling her eyes. I couldn't deny the little playful banter. 

“Debatable.” He replied and despite myself, I almost smiled. The prison doors suddenly opened again and Warden Brooks stepped inside.

Unlike yesterday, she looked tense. “Mr. Rossi,” she greeted carefully.

Adrian stood smoothly. “Warden Brooks.”

The two shook hands briefly, though Adrian’s expression remained unreadable. Brooks glanced toward me and frowned slightly when she saw the bruising more clearly under the bright lights.

“She should be in the infirmary longer,” she muttered.

“And yet,” Adrian replied calmly, “she’s here looking like she got jumped in an underground boxing ring.” Brooks sighed heavily.

“We’ve already isolated the inmates responsible.” she replied calmly.  “I’m sure they’re devastated,” Adrian said dryly.

The warden’s jaw tightened slightly while I stared at Adrian quietly. There was something unsettling about him. Like he was always five steps ahead of everyone else in the room.

And somehow, that made him more dangerous. Claire stepped forward and handed Adrian a file.

He scanned through the papers briefly before looking back at the warden. “Everything is arranged?”

Brooks nodded once. “Temporary release authorization has been approved.” I looked between them immediately.

“Temporary release?” I repeated.

Adrian glanced at me casually. “Did you think I came here for sightseeing?” I blinked.

“You’re serious?” 

“Painfully.”

My heart began pounding,freedom, actual freedom. Even if it was temporary, It didn’t feel real.

Brooks folded her arms. “You’ll still be under investigation, Evelyn. This isn’t a complete pardon.”

“I know,” I whispered. Adrian closed the file and handed it back to Claire. “Good. Then we’re done here.”

Brooks looked relieved by that. Adrian reached down beside his chair and picked up a black duffel bag before tossing it lightly onto the table in front of me.

“Change.”

I frowned. “Into what?”

“Normal clothes. Or at least the closest thing we could find on short notice.”

I slowly unzipped the bag,and inside was an oversized gray sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a black baseball cap, and a matching face mask.

I looked up at him. “A disguise?”

“A necessity.” he responded shortly.  I frowned deeper. “Why?”

His expression softened slightly, though only for a second.

“The sweatshirt covers the bruises,” he explained calmly. “The cap hides your face. The mask prevents photographs.”

Claire nodded. “There’s also a private route through the west exit.” I stared at the clothes silently.

This was happening too fast,way too fast. Yesterday I was scrubbing prison floors while trying not to die.

Now I was apparently leaving the country with a stranger whose entire existence screamed danger.

“Go change,” Adrian said. I looked up sharply. “You keep giving orders.”

“And you keep surviving them.” I hated how smoothly he said things like that.

Brooks pointed toward a nearby hallway. “There’s a restroom down there.”

I grabbed the bag slowly and walked away before anyone could notice how badly my hands were shaking.

Ten minutes later, I stared at myself in the restroom mirror, the oversized sweatshirt swallowed my frame completely, while the cap shadowed most of my face.

I wasn’t sure if I liked that, but maybe I didn’t have a choice anymore. I took one deep breath before stepping back into the visitation room.

Claire looked relieved when she saw me, Adrian looked… thoughtful. His eyes slowly moved over me before he nodded once.

“Better.”

“You sound disappointed.” I replied dryly.  “You looked more intimidating covered in blood.”

I stared at him. “Was that a joke?”

“A very expensive one.”

Claire pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. “Please don’t encourage him.” She said and I nodded. 

“I wasn’t planning to.”

Adrian ignored both of us and checked the watch on his wrist.

“We need to leave.”

I frowned slightly. “Leave where exactly?” He looked at me like the answer was obvious.

“Italy.”

“Why Italy?” I asked but he just scoffed and stood up. “We leave immediately,I mean tonight.”