Chapter 43: CHAPTER 40: PRANAV,THE UNWELCOMED SAVIOR

Neti

Before I could shove Adolph away, a loud, exaggerated gasp filled the room.

“Oh, my innocent eyes! My pure, untainted soul! Have mercy, you heathens!”

I whipped my head toward the doorway just as Adolph let out a sharp exhale, his jaw ticking in irritation. And there stood Pranav, dramatically covering his eyes with one hand while the other rested on his hip like some scandalized noblewoman from a century ago.

"Pranav," Adolph’s voice was sharp, dangerous, but Pranav didn’t even flinch. Instead, he peeked through his fingers and grinned like an absolute idiot.

“What?” he said innocently. “I was just passing by, and oh look! My dear friend, my partner in crime, my brother in arms—being an absolute menace to a poor, helpless woman. Shocking, truly.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, stepping back as Adolph straightened, his hands falling from where they had been caging me in.

“Did you need something?” Adolph’s voice was clipped, cold with restrained frustration.

Pranav hummed, strolling into the room like he owned the place. “Hmm, not really. Just thought I’d drop in and check if you were behaving, which, clearly, you’re not." His eyes twinkled with mischief before he turned to me. "Neti, sweetheart, blink twice if you need me to call for backup."

I gave him a flat look. "You're the last person I'd call for help."

Adolph smirked, tilting his head. “See? She likes me more than you.”

Pranav dramatically clutched his chest. “Betrayal! Stabbed, in my own home.” He turned toward me, sighing. “You wound me, Neti. You really do.”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “You’re so dramatic.”

Pranav grinned. “Ah, but that’s why you love me.”

Adolph pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath in Italian. I didn’t know what he said, but judging by his expression, it was something between ‘I hate this idiot’ and ‘I’m about to commit murder.’

“So, anyway,” Pranav continued, plopping down on Adolph’s bed like it was his own. “Did you guys know it’s a beautiful morning outside? The sun is shining, birds are singing, and meanwhile, here you two are—ruining my appetite first thing in the morning.”

I scoffed. “You didn’t walk in on anything.”

Pranav wiggled his eyebrows. “Didn’t I? Because from what I saw, Adolph was very much in your personal space. And judging by his face, he was about to eat you alive.”

I choked on air.

Adolph let out a warning growl. “Pranav.”

“What?” Pranav blinked innocently. “I’m just saying, I’d appreciate if you two could—oh, I don’t know—NOT traumatize me before breakfast?”

Adolph exhaled slowly, then turned to me, eyes dark with unspoken intent. "We'll finish this later," he murmured lowly, voice dripping with promise.

I swallowed, refusing to let my mind wander to what exactly this meant.

Pranav made a gagging noise. “God, can you not? I just brushed my teeth.”

Adolph finally turned toward him, voice flat. “Then maybe you should brush them again. Preferably with bleach.”

Pranav gasped. “The disrespect. I am not appreciated in this household.”

Adolph grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at him. It hit Pranav square in the face, knocking him back onto the bed with a dramatic yelp.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

“Okay, okay, I’ll leave,” Pranav said, lifting his hands in surrender as he got up. But then, he grinned at Adolph, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Try not to pounce on her the second I leave.”

I stiffened while Adolph just arched a brow. “If I wanted to, I wouldn’t wait for you to leave.”

Pranav fake gagged again before rushing out, cackling as he went.

The moment he was gone, the air shifted.

I turned back to Adolph, ready to glare, but he was already looking at me.

Still smirking.

Still too close.

And I suddenly wished Pranav had stayed.