Chapter 7- Lucien
Often, I didn't feel remorse for any of the actions that I caused throughout my day. For years I'd been a brawler for the Safaryan Brotherhood. Beating men within an inch of their lives because Liam or Valentin had demanded it.
I'd killed for even less.
And women.
I used them as a way to scratch an itch. I didn't form attachments. Having attachments could get you killed in this line of business. Attachments were distractions or they were a way for you enemies to get one over on you. It had surprised me when both Liam and Valentin had found women, fallen in love.
Love was a useless thing to me.
However, I was deeply intrigued by it at the same time.
My father had loved my mother. She had often told me so when I asked about him as a young child. However, it didn't mean that I was cut out for love. I was cruel and unkind. My heart was cold and un-beating.
But if it does flutter,I thought.
That it did, I supposed but I wasn't going to read too much into it.
I could still smell the shampoo that Simone had used in her hair. It had filled my senses when I'd slipped into her body. She hadn't fought, she hadn't cried, only shut her eyes. I had watched her breath hit the window, fogging it up with every hard pump from my body. Of course she deserved more than some forced fuck from behind up against the glass of my office.
She deserved silk bed sheets and petals and candles. Shit that romance was made of. But I wasn't the romantic type, was I?
The wood felt like iron beneath my hand as I knocked. I quite possibly knew that after last night, Simone might never want to speak to me again. I had thought long and hard about what I was about to do and decided to do it anyway.
The door opened and she peered up at me. Her skin seemed to be glowing and she had replaced the torn shirt with another one. Her hair hung curly and blond around her shoulders. My eyes went to her left arm...covered in ink. I willed my dick to stay soft.
"Here to torture me some more?" She glared.
"No," I hovered over the door, "get dressed. I'm taking you to work. I think you've been absent long enough."
Disbelief covered her face and she went to speak.
"I will allow you to work at your shop," he stated. "But I fully expect you to return here after work. Every day."
"No!"
"You will, Simone. I demand it. Albert's life hangs in the balance," I again reminded her.
The look on her face told me everything she was thinking. Poor stupid Albert had used up every favor he'd ever have with his sister. Perfect, I thought. This was like watching a disaster cooking show where everything was catching fire.
"Fine," she said after a few moments. "But I'm getting my car after work. I'm not going to just stay here cooped up."
"That's not the deal..."
It was my turn to be shocked but a mask, in the form of a scowl, slipped into place. It seemed to fit my natural face much better than smiling anyway. Simone seemed to walk on her tip toes as she began walking towards the bathroom. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at me.
"I'm changing the deal..."
She gave a shrug of her shoulders and left me speechless. I leaned against the doorway, the scowl still in place but I couldn't stop watching her. I could imagine how her skin would feel under my fingertips and I knew I needed to stop myself. This was dangerous. This was absurd...especially considering the twisted family history between us that no one was aware of.
She brushed her teeth, and fixed her hair in the mirror. Then she came out and tugged on a pair of jeans and the jacket she'd worn. She buttoned it all the way up and then stuffed her feet into the snow boots that she owned.
"We haven't had breakfast yet," I finally murmured.
"I'm not hungry," she shrugged.
"Get hungry," I replied and turned, leaving her to follow.
