Lucian (24 page)

There, he kissed her, making her smile like a fool and fading away worries.

With water lapping at their bodies, silent darkness surrounding them, and the lights casting rainbows of colors across their skin, he loved her. Gentle and soft with his fingers tangled into her wet hair, and then fast and hard with his teeth nipping into her bottom lip to keep her quiet. Maybe being where they were made her body more aware of his and the strokes as they joined over and over, but it was glorious.

Jordyn didn’t have to hear him say it again to know.

They were beautiful.

• • •

Lucian had long since decided Cecelia and Antony Marcello could throw down barriers and party just as hard and as good as any of their grown children. There was no doubt about it, the two could drink like fish and weren’t any worse for wear. They didn’t mind the dance music, or the crushing waves of people flooding the club, and they were the first to start ordering trays of drinks the moment they all stepped into the place.

Celebrating birthdays was a big thing in the Marcello family. They celebrated together, all of them. It had always been that way. None of the brothers minded their parents around as they slammed back drinks in their roped off, platform section of the club. Although with their parents around, it was less likely Gio or Dante would disappear somewhere with a female on their arm.

The invite for the celebration was open to anyone of their family, old friends, and the Cosa Nostra. Jordyn was learning more names than she could keep track of, Lucian knew, but she was enjoying herself, nonetheless. The only rule that really applied to birthdays when it came to the brothers was that they asked for no gifts. They already had more than enough, their wealth could be astounding. Instead, they only wanted people to enjoy themselves.

Lucian also decided he loved watching Jordyn surrounded by people so curious and questioning. She was doing remarkably well and holding her own. Jordyn didn’t seem the least bit overwhelmed by the attention. Frankly, her presence was giving him a break from some of his family he didn’t like all that much, even if he needed to be respectful. Others, like Kate, who unfortunately did show up, kept her voice that could bend steel at a dull roar in the crowd. At least she’d stayed away from Lucian so far, and Jordyn, too.

Plus, Lucian simply couldn’t keep his eyes off Jordyn for too damned long because she looked amazing. A tight red number hugged her curves, showcasing long, smooth legs and creamy flesh. The dress plunged just enough in the front to keep someone’s gaze on the diamonds around her neck, but the deep V that ended just above the rounded swell of her ass put cherry blossoms and skin on display. Lucian was a little more than smug at the fact his girl didn’t have any makeup on but for a bit of mascara to fan those thick lashes and a ruby lipstick that drew attention to the natural pout of her mouth. She didn’t need more. The woman was sexy as hell without it. The matching red pumps only added to her shapely figure, and accentuated the sway in her walk.

Every time she turned, someone was looking.

Lucian was grinning like an idiot. He thoroughly enjoyed showing Jordyn off because something that beautiful shouldn’t be hidden.

As long as nobody touched her.

That was his rule. So far, it’d been adhered to.

He would not hesitate to cut someone if it was broken, though.

Lucian leaned back to a wall, having finally managed to slip away from some of the guests and family celebrating. In the shadows where he could be alone and unbothered, he watched Jordyn intermingle with Marcello people as if it was second nature.

It was only when a form sidled up to his that he tensed.

“Happy early birthday,” Kate said before tipping up a red drink to take a sip.

Lucian didn’t know how many times he was going to have deal with putting up with this vile woman before she finally moved on to someone else to torture. Of course, most times he gave it back to Kate as hard as she dished it to him. It wasn’t like he took her bullshit sitting down.

“I’d say thank you, but coming from you, I know it isn’t genuine.”

“Ah, you’d be correct,” Kate replied with a sardonic smirk. “Nonetheless, Cecelia would be in a terrible fit if I ignored you all night. She notices these things.”

Lucian resisted the urge to grind his teeth. “That would have been a great birthday gift to me if you had. For the record, she also notices when you piss me off. She won’t be pleased if you work my nerves tonight.”

“I’m sure.” Kate sighed, setting a hand to her hip as she followed Lucian’s gaze out to the crowd where Jordyn was laughing at Antony’s side. “Jordyn does look lovely in red.”

Lucian almost swallowed his tongue in shock. Truthfully, Kate and Jordyn had only interacted a handful of times. Usually during Sunday dinner at the Marcello home after church, and they were both mutually respectful, though the disdain was clear. He wasn’t sure if he should thank her for the compliment or not. Kate’s next comment brought back her usual attitude to the forefront, reminding Lucian everything she did was only for her image.

“It just goes to show, I suppose.”

Oh, Lucian didn’t even want to know.

Because he was clearly in the mood to be annoyed, he asked anyway. “What’s that, Kate?”

“Trash can be shined into something useable and pretty,” she said, sighing. “But, I shouldn’t be surprised. Just look what my sister and her husband made of you.”

For a brief moment, Lucian was far too stunned to speak. His hands balled into tight fists at his sides. Never had he wanted to hurt a female like he did this one. The gull of her was unbelievable. If there was ever a perfect example of someone who needed kicked the fuck off her pedestal, Kate was it. Then, the anger took over the shock.

“Did you just call Jordyn trash?” Lucian asked, his tone taking on a threatening quality.

Kate didn’t seem affected by it in the least. “I did my research on her. Just curious, you see, as Cecelia and Antony both told me to mind my manners and stay out of it.”

“As you should have,” Lucian spat. “My private life is not, nor has it ever been, your business.”

“I understand why they wouldn’t want to talk about her now, of course. It’s almost downright shameful that’s the kind of woman you’d pick considering the choice of females you have. It’s crazy how much you two have in common, so I’m not surprised you get along so well. Lost little orphans, practically. Playing around with people far beyond your league. Fathers who didn’t want either of you. Whores for mothers. Two peas in a pod, you and her. I’d be willing to bet your children will be lovely little brats—a spoiled throwaway for a father, and garbage for a mother.”

Lucian pushed off the wall so fast everything around him was a blur. Before Kate could move out of the way, he’d crowded her to the wall, glaring down on her like the bitch she was. The fury in his body tightened his chest to a point where he couldn’t breathe. Never had Kate been as vicious in her words as she was tonight.

“You cunt,” Lucian snarled lowly.

“Ouch, that’s a nasty word, Lucian.”

Lucian sneered. “If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably a fucking
cunt
of a duck.”

Truthfully, Lucian knew Kate was only looking for a reaction out of him and she’d gotten it. He couldn’t even find it in himself to care at that moment.

“You are nothing but a used up, disgusting, bitter bitch of a woman,” he told her, enjoying the flash of fright in her eyes. “Everyone is so entirely over your pity party and you just can’t handle it, can you? Poor Kate, her husband messed around; now she’s a widow. Hasn’t had a child of her own, or another man to carry her through life with his wealth. Cry me a river. You did this to you, not me or anyone else. What have I ever done to you?”

“You were born,” she hissed.

Lucian’s jaw ticked at that admission. “Throw your stones at me all you want, Kate. I am more than a big enough man to take the hits. I have for years and I’m not any worse for wear because of it. But let me make this one thing so clear between us it’s like looking through crystal. Don’t ever turn your vile self on Jordyn like that again, certainly not in front of me. If you want a quick way to piss me off enough to end your useless life, that’s a great way to start.”

Kate laughed snidely. “You don’t have the balls.”

“Do you want to test that theory?” Lucian asked. “Who protects you, now? No one.”

“Don’t you think they’d know, Lucian?”

“Frankly, I don’t give a good goddamn at this point. You haven’t had the chance to hurt someone I love since I was a child, but I’m not a little boy anymore. If you think I’d make it easy on you to die, I wouldn’t. For my mother and my father, I’d watch you bleed and enjoy it. But for Jordyn? For her, I’d slit your vocal cords so I could watch you scream for days and not hear a fucking thing. You have no idea what I am capable of doing for that woman. And you really don’t want to find out.”

“Such violence,” Kate said with a
tsk
. “Do you kiss her with that mouth? Does hers taste as dirty as yours?”

“Don’t push me, Kate. I’m so done with your bullshit.”

Lucian bared his teeth in warning, but the tender placement of a hand lying flat to the spot between his shoulder blades stopped him from saying more. Jordyn’s touch calmed him instantly. He would know her smell, her aura, and her presence anywhere without her even needing to say a thing.

“Lucian?” Jordyn asked quietly. “Everything okay?”

No, he wanted to say. It was far from okay.

Fact was, he was too close to Kate and for her safety, needed to move away.

Jordyn’s arm curling around his side and pushing him backwards so she could move almost protectively in front of him saved him the time. Really, it only irked him more, because now she was too close to the bitch against the wall.

“Good evening, Kate,” Jordyn greeted, her hand fisting into Lucian’s dress shirt to keep him rooted in place behind her. “We haven’t had the chance to speak tonight, so let’s do that now.”

“I’d rather not,” Kate said. “I think I’ll go find my sister.”

“Oh, no, I think you won’t,” Jordyn responded severely.

“Sweetheart …” Lucian started to say.

“Shush.” Jordyn’s one word effectively quieted Lucian from opening his mouth again. “Do you know how much his brothers adore him, Kate?”

When Kate said nothing, Jordyn flicked Lucian a look over her shoulder that showcased a gentle smile.

“Enough that they barreled into his room at seven in the morning to douse him with cold water because he hadn’t gotten up first to do it to Dante. I didn’t know, but it’s a tradition between the three. Too bad I was in the bed and they didn’t think about me. Funny thing is, Lucian hasn’t been soaked on his birthday morning in years because he’s never been able to sleep as well as he does beside me.

“And Cecelia,” Jordyn continued in her same, soft tenor. “She knows he’s a grown man who certainly doesn’t need to be babied or coddled, but she still kissed his cheek good morning and sang him happy birthday, just like she did for his brother. What about Antony? Lucian didn’t want gifts from his family, but his father didn’t listen. The custom watch he’s wearing with the Marcello crest engraved in the face … just another reminder of where he belongs.”

Kate looked as if she’d swallowed cyanide. “What is your point?”

“It eats at you, doesn’t it?” Jordyn asked sweetly. “That they love him and hold him so much closer than they do you. It must be awful to know he’s succeeded, thrived even, in this world that should have been yours. The nightmares you must have knowing his father made damn sure he would never want for a thing, but the man couldn’t even be bothered to leave you the marital bed he fucked you in.”

“You little bitch—”

“Oh, I wouldn’t start tossing names, Kate,” Jordyn warned. “Because I guarantee the names you have for me won’t compare to the ones already labeled and stuck to you for the rest of your life. Don’t you see? You can call me anything and it’s really not going to make a difference. Unfortunately for you, it doesn’t matter how much silicone and plastic there is under your skin to make you pretty, everybody still knows exactly who you are underneath it all. You’re so dirty. That feeling on your hands you can’t get off no matter how many times you wash? That’s called filth. It’s ingrained in your pores. It’s never coming out.”

“Jordyn,” Lucian murmured, squeezing her waist gently. “It’s all right,
bella
.”

“No, I don’t think it is,” Jordyn replied, shrugging. “I think someone needs to say it.”

“I don’t have to listen to a thing from you,” Kate said, trying to sound dismissive but failing miserably. “You’re certainly not worth the effort.”

“Aren’t I?” Jordyn scoffed quietly. “Take a good look at me, Kate, and then look at him, too. God, it must cut you up inside to think he’s happy. That makes you an awful, terrible person.”

Lucian decided Jordyn didn’t need him to step in after that. People were far enough away not to overhear the conversation, and she hadn’t raised her voice once. She was the kind of woman who didn’t need to shout to get her point across and that made him all the more proud of her.