Prologue
Threemonthsearlier…
It was supposed to be a routine collection. That was all Lucas could think as he moved through the back alley, searching for his prey. This motherfucker had pulled a knife on him before he saw Lucas had a gun. Now the bastard was hiding. Lucas would find him, and then no one else would. What had he expected to accomplish anyhow? Lucas ran drugs for Prince Noir. No one escaped that guy. Even though no one actually knew—other than Lucas and a few more heavily trusted people—that Noir was who ran Atlantic City, they knew someone did. They knew Lucas worked forthedrug lord here. Surely this guy knew there was no escape. He had to know he was dead.
Lucas carefully picked his way through the trash-littered alley. It was so dark, he could barely see a thing. A solid blow landed onhis back. Lucas swung around. When he did, the worst pain he had ever experienced cut through him. Before he could recover, the gun was knocked from his hand. It was dark. He couldn’t see where it had gone. Lucas fought, landing a few good blows. Each time he was hit in return, the pain was excruciating. Something warm trickled down his back. It hit Lucas. He had been stabbed. Every blow had actually been a knife plunging into him. He couldn’t remember how many times he had been hit, but he was weak. Another punch hit his ribs. Lucas went down. He hit the pavement hard enough to knock what little air he possessed from his lungs. Each time he gasped, it rattled. While shock came for him, he watched his prey vanish again. His mind raced. All he could think about was his mom. He was supposed to be on his way to her so they could celebrate Christmas. It was supposed to be a simple job. This would break her heart and probably kill her. She was in bad health and depended on Lucas to take care of her. What would happen to her now? Maybe Noir would take her in. The thought of Noir had Lucas struggling to reach his phone while he gritted his teeth through the pain. He had to live long enough to beg Noir to make sure she didn’t end up homeless.
Lucas somehow managed to find Noir’s name and hit the call icon. His vision blurred as he stared at the screen and listened to the ringing.
“Prince Noir’s residence. How may I direct your call?”
Lucas coughed. He tasted blood. “It’s Lucas. I’m down.”
“Lucas?” At the familiar sound of Ajax’s heavily accented voice, Lucas’ eyes fell closed in relief. Noir’s longtime general of hisRoyal Guard was Lucas’ favorite person. He was the only person who could hold his own while bantering with Lucas.
Another round of coughing hit. “Help.” It was the only word he could manage.
“I’m on my way. Stay on the phone with me. I’m tracking your location. Just hang on.”
Lucas closed his eyes and tried his ass off not to cry. Ajax was coming. If he couldn’t save Lucas, no one could.
Chapter One
Presentday…
Ajax winced every time he watched Lucas move. He knew it had been three months, and Lucas was probably bored as hell, but he wasn’t fully recovered. The type of internal injuries he had suffered, and actually died from shortly, wasn’t the type of thing people healed from in no time. The doctors claimed it could take up to a year before he was completely on the mend. Still, his stubborn ass wouldn’t rest.
A loud huff left Ajax as Lucas climbed from the bed again. “What now? I’ve checked on your mom. She’s fine. The last I looked, she was beating Lazarus at Gin Rummy.” Personally, Ajax found that hilarious. The prince’s husband was a deadly contract killer. Yet he played cards with Lucas’ mom, Wendy, while laughing uproariously as if there was nothing he would rather be doing.Ajax couldn’t stop. “If you’re hungry, I’ll call the kitchen. If you’re bored, just tell me what I can do.”
Lucas’ red hair was a mess. He had one leg out of the bed and stared at Ajax with laughter flashing in his amber eyes. “I need to take a piss. Do you plan to hold it?”
Rather than backpedal, Ajax never broke eye contact. “If you need me to, then yes.”
A loud snort burst from Lucas, followed by a wicked-sounding chuckle. “While I prefer to hit the restroom alone, you can hold it any time you like.”
Ajax couldn’t stop smiling. “I probably should one of these days. It’s a little sad, knowing I’m the only person on the planet who hasn’t touched your dick.”
Laughter rumbled from Lucas on his way to the bathroom. Even after the door closed, Ajax couldn’t stop smiling. Things had been this way since he’d met Lucas several years ago. They played off each other well. Ajax’s entire life had been dedicated to duty. While there were other guards he liked, he was their general. He couldn’t be true friends with any of them. Lucas was the only person who didn’t look at him and see his boss, even though—technically—he was. While Noir ran Atlantic City, Ajax was his right hand. Everyone who worked for Noir answered to him. Ajax didn’t think Lucas truly bowed to anyone. He would never give up being his own person. Ajax’s smile fell. Right now, that ideology was a bad thing. Every day, he saw Lucas turn a little more calculating. Lucas knew why he had been attacked.He knew where the fault lay, and he wasn’t wrong. Ajax had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Lucas was about to grab his mom and run. Then Ajax would be the person Noir sent to kill him.
The bathroom door opened. Lucas’ hair was combed. He looked ready to drop. Ajax shot to his feet and swept Lucas from his. It was ridiculous how light he was now. He had lost too much weight. Unfortunately, he still couldn’t eat much.
“I’ve got you. It looks like I should’ve held your dick after all. The weight obviously broke you.”
The tired-sounding laugh from Lucas that was barely audible had Ajax grinding his back teeth. Lucas was young and vibrant. He deserved to be those things, goddamn it. Lucas hadn’t been born into this life. He should be on the beach, getting plastered with people his age. Life had been incredibly unfair to Lucas. Ajax wished like hell he could fix it.
“I’m sorry.”
Ajax’s gaze shot to Lucas’ face at the apology. “What?”
Lucas looked sad. “Your jaw is flexing. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you want to be doing. It’s okay if you want Mom to sit with me for a while.”
Ajax tried calling his emotions under control while tucking Lucas in. “I’m not angry with you. There’s no place I’d rather be.I’m outraged on your behalf.” He left it at that. Ajax knew Lucas would blame himself if he kept going.
A bright but obviously fake smile lit Lucas’ face. “Okay. You can give me a sponge bath later.”
Ajax wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t. Every second he saw Lucas weak, bitterness grew inside him. He couldn’t stay silent any longer. Ajax was too angry. He was sick of watching Lucas fade and know he might not survive next time.
“Why did you choose this life?” The question came out harsher than he meant, but Ajax couldn’t stop. “I know you take care of your mom, but fuck, Lucas. You could’ve done anything else. You could’ve had a real life. Now you’ve thrown it away.” He knew he had fucked up by the way Lucas’ features hardened. No signs of the laughing boy existed.
