Page 98 of Contempt

Lucia’s gaze lifted to meet his. “Oh … the Christian thing?”

“Yeah, like that.”

“I hadn’t thought about that.”

Renzo didn’t blame her.

He also didn’t want her to worry.

“Let’s go see your dad, huh?” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulder. Lucia grinned as he drew her close enough to his side that he could press a kiss to the top of her head. Her arm snuck around his waist, and squeezed, too. “Today’s the last treatment, right?”

“Final round of chemo,” she whispered. “Yep.”

He could hear the fear in her voice.

But the relief, too.

“Everything is going to be great, Lucia,” he told her.

Renzo didn’t feel like it was a lie, either. Something told him that Lucian was going to be around for a long fucking time—probably riding his ass, and reminding him to stay the hell in line. He wasn’t sure if he was going to mind that, or not.

He’d deal with it, though.

After he handled this little business of Lucian being the person who won the bid on him, and took over his life.

You know, that was a big thing.

It needed to be dealt with.

Renzo had zero intention of telling Lucia what he learned, though. He knew that her relationship with her father was just beginning to get back to a good place. He didn’t think something like this would do any good for it.

And sure, he had his feelings about learning Lucian was M, but a part of him wondered if there was more to it than just the man wanting to control him. He wouldn’t know if he didn’t ask, right?

Lucia didn’t need to be involved.

Simple as that.

“Hey, Daddy.”

Lucian looked up to find Lucia standing in the doorway of the treatment room, and then his gaze quickly drifted to Renzo waiting behind her. He was already in the chair, with the IV pole beside him, and the line to his chest was connected—pumping in medicine. Or poison, depending on how someone looked at chemo.

It could go either way.

“And Renzo,” Lucian murmured, arching a brow. “What are you doing here?”

Renzo tipped his head toward Lucia. “Thought I would give her some company. And it’s close to lunch, so someone has to remind her to eat, right?”

Lucia gave him a look.

He stared back, daring her to deny it.

She just sighed.

Lucian chuckled, saying, “Food sounds good, actually. Something cold, I think. Ice cream.”

Lucia’s brow lifted high.

Renzo didn’t miss it.