“Wait till we get back to the Court, Ambrosia. I’m going to report this right away.”

“Oh yeah? And I suppose you are going to leave out the part about you harassing a female, right? Because I certainly won’t.”

Damian seemed hesitant. He slid his gaze over to me then back to Adrian before pulling himself out of the grips of the people surrounding him and stalking off without another word.

I ran over to Adrian as he was also released from the grips around his arms. “What happened?” I asked him, baffled.

“Douchebag Tavoularis happened,” Adrian grunted, and sat on the ground. “He just keeps pursuing her even though she’s said no.”

“Her?” I took the spot next to him.

“Renata.”

“I thought you said you’re a lover and not a fighter, yet here you are, ready to square up against Damian for Renata,” Kris said when she reached us, Domenico and Renata in tow.

“Tonight’s an exception.” His eyes were fixed on Renata. I wondered how long Adrian had been here. He had obviously been hanging out with Renata before getting into an argument with Damian. Had he already lost interest in our mission?

Renata sat on the cold ground to face Adrian as Kris, Domenico, and I took a step back to give them space. “Hey, thanks for sticking up for me. You know you didn’t have to do that. I know how to deal with a jackass like Damian.”

Adrian leaned forward, his face only a few inches away from hers as his lips curled into a devilish smirk. “I have to admit, it’s kind of cute when you act all tough.”

“Don’t get cocky. This doesn’t mean you’re getting into my pants again.”

“Hey. That’s not why I did that. I was just—”

Renata interrupted him by putting one finger under Adrian’s chin and guiding his face to hers to kiss him. Kris and I exchanged a dumbfounded look.

A few seconds later, Adrian pulled away from Renata’s kiss and stared at her through heavy-lidded eyes. “What was that, then?”

“A token of thanks,” Renata quipped.

“Well, Miss Tough Girl, I have to get back to my sister now, but if that idiot bothers you again, message me, okay? I mean it.” He gave her a stern look. “I won’t let him get away with that behavior.” Adrian stood, helped Renata back to her feet, and then turned to me. “Hey, Montgomery, do you have a second before I go? Caitlin wanted me to ask you something.”

“Wha—” Then I remembered the reason why he had agreed to meet me in the first place. I reached inside the pocket of my coat and felt the page from the library book. “Oh yeah. Sure.”