11
Peter
I never expected Lucien to want me in his bed all night. I’d assumed that once he was done fucking me, he’d expect me to sleep in my own room. But not only had he wanted me with him, he’d held me and just talked to me, telling me about his restaurant. I could hear the excitement in his voice as he described it. He didn’t sound like a cold, hard, mobster; he sounded like a man filled with passion. When I’d started to doze, he’d carried me to bed and held me against him as I’d fallen asleep. Despite the numerous times my brain tried to remind me how much danger I was in and how crazy I was to have chosen to stay, I slept more soundly in Lucien’s arms than I had in a long time.
His room was even larger than mine, and he had a balcony. He’d told me he loved to eat out there, but it was far too chilly for us to do so the previous night. We’d talked and laughed, and I’d felt at ease with him. When he was relaxed, it was easy to forget how scary he could be in his office. I stopped thinking about all the things he’d done and the illegal businesses he was involved in. He was just a gorgeous man sharing stories about his childhood.
When Lucien’s alarm went off in the morning, it woke me with a start. I felt like I’d only been asleep for a few hours, and honestly it hadn’t been much longer than that. Lucien and I had spent longer talking than we should have, and it was very late when we went to bed. Lucien shut the alarm off and stood, seeming to go from sound asleep to awake in seconds.
“Couldn’t we snooze that?” I asked.
He just laughed. “I’ll get in the shower first. You stay there until I’m done.”
What felt like only seconds later, Lucien shook my shoulder. “Come on, sleepyhead. It’s your turn in the shower. I’ve got a hell of a day ahead of me, and I can’t be late.”
I bit back the response that since he was my boss, he could give me permission to be late and dragged myself from the bed. When I stepped out of the shower, Lucien was standing at the long bathroom counter shaving. I wrapped a towel around my waist, leaned against the counter, and used my hands to hoist myself up so I could sit and watch him. His gaze met mine. “What’s so interesting?”
“You. I’d enjoy watching you do just about anything.” I reached out and touched his cheek. “You missed a spot.”
He held his razor out to me. I took it and scooted closer to him. I held his chin with one hand, wanting to be sure he stayed still, then I very carefully slid the razor down his cheek, scraping away the shaving cream and leaving behind smooth skin. His hand wrapped around my wrist. I looked up and saw intense heat in his eyes, but there was something else there too, something softer that made my heart flutter.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” My voice trembled, and I held out the razor to him. He took it from me and rinsed it in the sink.
“Sometimes I wonder if there’s any point to this. I’ll need to shave again by lunchtime.”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t mind you all scruffy.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t.”
A few moments later, I was dressed in a blue shirt and gray dress pants which Lucien had picked out for me while I showered. I was almost ready, but I couldn’t get my tie right. I was tying it for probably the fifth time when Lucien stepped up behind me, his body close but not quite touching me.
Seeing him in the mirror and feeling his warmth sent need zinging through me. I wanted him to fuck me again and then stay here with me all day. He’d be different at the office, harder, and I wanted him to stay like he’d been the night before. He reached around me and captured my wrists, pulling my hands down to my sides. “Let me.”
He pressed himself fully against me as he reached for the ends of my tie. The way he held me felt as intimate as everything we’d done the night before. I held my breath as he effortlessly tied a perfect knot. “That’s better.”
I nodded mutely as I watched him in the mirror. The look on his face wasn’t predatory at all now. It was tender and… caring? I shouldn’t let myself think that way, but as he leaned into me and slid his lips over my temple and down along the line of my jaw, I shivered. My cock began to swell as I imagined him doing what I’d longed for last night but hadn’t gotten, kissing on the lips. I’d dreamed about Lucien’s mouth on mine since the first time I’d seen him.
“Come on. I told you we can’t be late today.”
His voice jolted me from my thoughts. “Oh, right. Sorry, sir.”
“You’re way too fucking tempting. I don’t know how I’m going to get any work done with you there.”
“I can always go back to—”
“The fuck you can.” His arms tightened around me. “You aren’t leaving. You made a choice.”
“I just meant that I don’t have to work in your office.”
“Yes, you do. I made a promise to protect you. Keeping you with me is part of it.”
“Okay.” He took my hand and tugged me along behind him. “I need my bag, and wh-what about breakfast?”
“You’re bag will be waiting for you by the door, and I never skip breakfast. I prefer to eviscerate my enemies on a full stomach.”
“Um… I’m not sure how literally you mean that.”
“I’m very serious. Also, Lola might seem sweet and innocent, but try leaving without letting her feed you, and you’ll see a new side of her.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the image of her berating Lucien for skipping breakfast.
“After I lost my mom, she took over making sure Angelo and my father and I took care of ourselves, not that she has to worry too much about me, but my father has a heart condition now, and my idiot brother and cousin seem to think they can survive on coffee and alcohol.”
The heaviness of his sigh had me wanting to comfort him, but I wasn’t sure he’d accept that, so I tried teasing him instead. “So they’re the problem, and you’re a pure and good soul?”
The glare he gave me had my pulse speeding up. Had I gone too far?
I knew I hadn’t when he started to laugh. The sound echoed as we entered the large dining room. “Of course I am. You must know that after last night.”
“Is he trying to tell you he’s smarter than God?” The question had come from Devil, who was lounging back in a chair with his feet up on another one.
Lucien slapped him on the side of his head. “Put your fucking feet down and show some fucking manners.”
“He’s not all that, you know?” Devil continued. “Being the oldest doesn’t make him the smartest.”
Lucien glared at his cousin, and I was glad that chilling look wasn’t directed at me. “Don’t forget who’s in charge here. You take orders from me. Don’t make me regret giving you more responsibility.”
“Lay off him, Devil,” Angelo said, entering the dining room behind us. “He’s got his new man here. Let him enjoy it.”
Devil snorted and gave me a slow once-over. “How long do you think you’ll last here? I’m surprised Luce hasn’t chewed you up and spit you out already.”
Lucien grabbed Devil’s shirt and yanked him to his feet. I was shocked by how easily he manhandled his much larger cousin.
Devil didn’t look intimidated though, he just grinned. “Fuck. Angel was right. Now I owe the bastard.”
“You and Angelo stay out of my business, and if you insult Peter in any way, expect there to be consequences. You got that?”
“Yes, sir,” Devil said, his tone mocking.
“Watch it. Pop’s already threatened to kick you out. You push me too far and you’ll lose your place here.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Jesus, I was just teasing.”
“Stop.” Lucien pushed Devil away from him.
Devil just laughed and headed for the door.
“You haven’t eaten anything,” Lola scolded, entering the room with a pot of coffee in her hand.
Devil smiled at her. “You know I don’t like to eat first thing.”
She huffed. “That’s no good. You need so
me protein to start the day.”
“I do all right,” he protested.
“Don’t be late for our meeting this morning,” I called after him. “Vinnie says he’s got some news.”
“I’ll be there.”
“On time,” Lucien insisted.
Devil tossed a dismissive wave over his shoulder and left.
“You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” I asked after Lola had poured us coffee and we’d filled our plates from the offerings on the table. I noticed Lucien took two chocolate croissants and a cinnamon roll. Apparently, he really did love sweets.
Lucien sighed. “He’s unpredictable. I don’t like that.”
I wanted to ask more questions, but I doubted Lucien would say more. “His real name isn’t Devil, is it?”
Lucien grinned. “No, definitely not.”
“And you’re not going to tell me what it is.”
“Fuck no. It’s one of our most closely guarded family secrets.”
A few moments later, Lucien’s aunt Sabrina joined us. It was difficult to guess her age. She could easily pass for midforties, but if she were close to Lucien’s father’s age, she was more likely at least a decade older than that. She was tall with long, curly dark hair. She wore an elegant dark red dress, reminiscent of a 1940s film star. Lucien introduced us, and I noticed that her presence seemed to calm him. We chatted with her until Lucien rose, saying it was time to leave.
The next few weeks passed quickly. Lucien and I rose early, breakfasted together, and went into work. I visited my uncle a few times. He hadn’t seen Jimmy since the day Jimmy had told me about the job at Distinguished Properties, but I’d told him to let me know if he did. I’d tried to contact Jimmy several times, but he didn’t return any of my calls or texts. Was he ignoring me like I’d done to him, or had something happened to him? I wanted to figure out if the “better offer” he’d gotten was from one of the Marchesis’ enemies.
The days passed quickly. Carla kept me busy, and occasionally Lucien called me into his office because he needed my “help.” This help was usually given on my knees or bent over his desk. I was almost starting to get over my fear of someone walking in on us.
I preferred the days when Lucien stayed at the office. Every time he left on some type of business, I worried about the danger he was heading into.
Working for him was better than any job I’d had, but leaving with him in the evenings was like a dream come true. He took me out to the best restaurants in the North End, where a word from him got us seated immediately. He also took me to some little hole-in-the-wall spots. Those were my favorite because we’d sit at intimate corner tables where the lighting was low, and Lucien would talk to me like he did at home. In those places, he had no need to perform for the public the way he did at the finer spots, where he was always recognized by someone. On those occasions, he had to be on guard for anyone who might question his authority if he didn’t appear thoroughly in control.
The nights we stayed in were the best of all. Lucien never failed to take his time with me, making me feel cherished and wringing more pleasure from me than I thought possible. I knew I was living a fantasy, and it could end any moment. I tried to remind myself that I had no real hold on Lucien, but no matter how hard I fought it, those moments when I had him all to myself were drawing me deeper under his spell. I wasn’t going to be able to walk away with my heart intact.
12
Lucien
“Angelo and Devil are here to see you.” Carla had barely finished speaking before there was a loud bang on my door.
“It’s us. Let us in,” Devil demanded.
“Thank you. I’ll deal with them,” I told her.
I hit the button to unlock the door. The knob turned, and Devil pushed the door open. He and Angelo stepped inside. I didn’t say a word. I just glared at them.
“I told him not to knock,” Angelo said.
“Why do we have to—”
“This is an office, Devil. Legitimate associates come here to meet with me. You know this, and my father and I have told you to conduct yourself like a professional when you’re here. You failed to do that today.”
“See,” Angelo said. “I told you.”
Devil held my gaze, but he didn’t say anything.
“You’ve got five seconds to respond appropriately.”
I counted slowly in my head. When I hit four, Devil lowered his head, gaze dropping to the floor. “I’m sorry, Lucien.”
“If you want to be part of this family, then you’ve got to show more respect. You got that?”
“Yeah.”
I raised my brows.
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re running out of chances.”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right. Sit down, both of you.” I gestured toward the chairs in front of my desk.
Angelo flopped into one, making it tip.
“Hey!” Devil said. “Luce likes his furniture.”
Angelo rolled his eyes. He made a big production of standing and then slowly lowering himself to the seat like he was a Victorian matron. “Better?”
“Barely,” I answered. “You said you had something serious to discuss in private?”
Angelo nodded. “We’ve got a snitch fucking up our investigation of Ricci.”
That was a serious accusation. “Evidence?”
“Every wife, child, or niece we’ve attempted to approach has suddenly left town in the last few days or is locked up at home, and there’s no way we’re getting access without fighting our way in.”
“I was all for that,” Devil said. “But Angel said that didn’t count as keeping a low profile.”
I decided not to acknowledge that comment. I wished I could believe this was a coincidence, but I wasn’t that naive. “Anything else?”
“Every single non-family connection we found…” Devil paused. “Dead.”
“Fuck.”
Angelo held up his hands. “Right?”
“It’s fucking Marco,” Devil said. “I know it is. Vinnie’s already expressed his own reservations. Let’s take the bastard out.”
I shook my head. “I want something concrete on him.”
“Why?”
“Because if it’s not him, killing him will only give us false reassurance.”
“I’d enjoy it though,” Devil said.
“What’s the deal between you two?”
Angelo shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
I glared at Devil, but he held up a hand. “It doesn’t affect you or this whole thing, I swear. “
I decided to let that go for now. “What we should do is make him believe we still trust him, while passing information to everyone else without including him.”
“So we’ll fake our meetings with him?” Angelo asked.
“We tell him meeting as a group is too risky if we don’t want his uncle to know when we’re making a move. Then we’ll give a little real information, but nothing significant.”
“We could make a move on Sandrini’s clubs since he’s put himself in with Ricci. He’s an easy target,” Angelo suggested. “We’ll keep it from Marco. If there’s no leak, he’s likely our man, but if there is, then we keep looking.”
Devil nodded. “I like it.”
I considered Angelo’s plan. Sandrini had gotten sloppy from using too much of the drugs he sold in his clubs. He was desperate for someone to prop him up, and when I’d cut him loose, he’d turned to Ricci. Making a move against him would be easy enough, and it wasn’t likely to cause problems with anyone else since Sandrini had already pissed off most of his allies. It wouldn’t prove anything one way or another, but it would be a good indicator. “Let’s do it.”
“You do know the snitch could be Peter, right?” Angelo said.
Devil stared at him with an oh-fuck-no-you-didn’t expression. They’d obviously discussed it, but even Devil hadn’t dared go there.
Anger burned through me. “It’s not Peter.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
“I’ve got someone watching him all the time. When would he have gotten information on us?”
“He could have overhead something, or he could be working with someone else. Are you checking his phone? Did someone listen in on his conversation with his uncle.”
“Drop it, Angelo. It’s not Peter.”
“Lucien, you’ve got to be realistic. That piece-of-shit that sent him to us is a known associate of Marco’s.”
“So we find out if Marco is the leak, and if so—”
“Why does he associate with scum like Jimmy if—”
I squeezed my hands into fists, longing to punch my fucking brother. “He doesn’t.”
“Then how—”
“Drop it. “
Angelo shook his head. “Lucien, I need to know you have your priorities straight.”
I dug my nails into my palms. My brother was right to question me. I would do the same to him, but that didn’t mean I had to let him persist with this.
“Our family is my top priority. I’ve not forgotten that, and I won’t. Have I ever given you reason to think otherwise?”
Angelo shook his head.
“I’m not going to do that now.”
“So if Peter were the leak…” Devil said.
“I’d take care of him.”
The thought of that sickened me. I remembered the way Peter had looked at me when I’d joined him in the shower that morning. The surprise, the soft smile, and then the heat in his eyes when he realized no matter how many times I’d had him the night before, I couldn’t go to work without more. I’d fucked him against the shower wall and then washed him thoroughly as he leaned against me, dazed. I would never let anyone fuck with my family, but I trusted my instincts, and they told me Peter was truly as sweet and innocent as he appeared.
I hated the little voice in my head that asked me how I would know what sweet and innocent was like since I’d never been either. Why did I think I deserved a man like Peter if he was the real deal?
Lucien Page 8