“Can I come in?” I nod and open the door wider.
I didn’t imagine him looking like this. He has that classic all-American boy look about him—strong jaw, perfect bone structure—but there’s something about him that doesn’t match the packaging.
Pretty face or not, this is the kind of man mothers warn their daughters about.
“Where’s Phoenix?”
“Not with me.”
“Clearly,” I bite back, and he spins to look at me. I sigh, drop onto the couch, and curl in on myself, pulling my knees tight tomy chest. “I’m sorry. I haven’t slept, and no one’s telling me anything.”
“We found him, and he’s okay.”
That’s all it takes for my chest to cave in on itself, my breath hitching as I fight the urge to break down in front of him.He doesn’t exactly look like the kind of man who’d know what to do with a woman’s tears.
“Where is he?”
“Thankfully, he was banged up where we knew people who owed us a favor.”
“Have you seen him?”
“No, not yet.”
“Okay, well, let’s go.” I shoot up from the couch, adrenaline replacing logic, but Lucien’s already stepping into my path like a wall.
“Not necessary.”
“What?”
“We’re staying here.”
“We’re absolutely fucking not.” I try to step around him, but he doesn’t budge.
“We’re waiting here until I hear from my brother.”
I want to tell him to go fuck himself.
Instead, I slump back down on the couch, pissed off and completely powerless. He has the information, and all I have is this desperate need to see Phoenix with my own eyes.
I can feel Lucien’s eyes on me, but I refuse to look up until I watch him drop down onto the couch across from me.
“So… you’ve known Phoenix for a long time.”
“Not as long as you have. But yeah.”
“He told me about you and your brother. He said you’re the closest thing to family he’s had all these years.”
“He’s as much a brother to me as Cain is. I’d trust him with my life.”
“And he trusts you with his.”
“Correct.”
The front door suddenly flies open with a bang, and Lianna storms in, kicking her heels off and shrugging her jacket down her arms when her eyes land on Lucien sprawled on my couch. She stops mid-strip, one arm still caught in her sleeve.
“Who the hell are you?”
Lucien stands, letting out a quiet chuckle as he closes the distance between them.
