“The temptation to accept that offer is getting harder and harder to ignore.”She admits, a sheepish look on her face as she blushes.
What she doesn’t know, and what I keep to myself, is I don’t need her consent to claim what I know is already mine.
It’s written in the stars.It’s just a matter of when.
Chapter 25
Lily
Breathe
Anna Nalick
I spendthe rest of the next day convincing myself I can do this.That leaving Larkin with Rita, our bus driver, for a few hours won’t spontaneously combust the universe.She’s sound asleep, and Rita has been part of Luc’s road crew for years.
The reasonable part of my brain knows I need air, time away for myself.The irrational part keeps whisperingbad idea, abort mission, take the baby and run.
But when I looked at Luc earlier, stretched out across the couch, guitar resting against his thigh, sunlight leaking over his bare chest, the fear softened.I knew I could do this.Iwantedto see him in his world.I wanted to see him onstage.
Which is how I find myself at the venue door, breathing like I just ran a marathon I didn’t train for.
“You sure?”Luc asks gently.Not doubtful, just making sure I have an exit if I need one.
“I’m sure,” I lie.My voice sounds two seconds from hysterical laughter, but whatever.We’re here.We’re doing this.
He smirks like he knows I’m panicking and finds it adorable.Annoying man.Inside, it’s chaos; the buzzing, frantic kind.Crew weaving through corridors, radios crackling, amps rumbling through walls.It's alive, electric, and… loud.
A security guard steps in front of us with a clipboard and a stack of stapled packets.“She needs to sign before she can go any further.”Luc stiffens beside me.
The top page reads:
Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement
Pertaining to the private lives of Lucifer Sarris and minor child known as…
“You have a kid?”The guard blurts, blinking over at Luc before I can even inhale.Luc takes one step forward with predatory calm, his voice quiet and lethal.“Say another word and I swear to-”
“Got it, got it,” the guy stammers, thrusting a pen at me like a peace offering.
My throat tightens as I sign.It’s not the NDA.It’s the reminder.Being here puts a target on my child.Onus.
Luc brushes his thumb over the back of my hand when I hand the papers back.“This is just protection,” he murmurs.“Not restriction.Not for you.”
Somehow, that helps.Somehow, it also makes my stomach flip like it’s auditioning for gymnastics nationals.
We move deeper into the venue, and the first crack hits, splintering my false sense of security.The hallway opens near the general entrance, and suddenly we’re caught in a fast-moving wave of fans shifting past barricades.
Security holds them back, but one girl screams when she recognizes Luc.“OH MY GOD—LUC!LOOOOVE YOU!”Another girl shoves in her excitement, bumping my shoulder.Hard.
“Watch it!”Someone yells, definitely not me, but I think it loudly enough.
A guy behind me mutters, “Looks like Luc got himself another backstage toy.”
My spine snaps straight.Heat shoots through me as anger, humiliation, and protective rage I didn’t know I could produce surges.
Luc hears.I feel himhearit.A growl vibrates low in his chest, feral and dangerous, his hand tightening around mine.“It means nothing.Ignore it.”
He shifts, stepping between me and the crowd, shoulders tense, gaze razor-sharp.“You okay?”he murmurs, hand sliding to my lower back.Not possessive.Protective.
