Page 68 of Midnight Revelations

Lucas stood up and paced to the window. “Do you have any idea what type of man Matteus is and what happens to brides in the Blackwood household?”

I didn’t until recently when I was initiated into it. It didn’t sit well with Dad that I walked away and refused to join in the ritual.

“Last week I had to clear a house of slaves that Dad was training. He wanted them dead and all evidence of their existence eradicated. They are currently in a safe location in therapy.” Lucas turned to study me. “My cousin Josh got married, so yes, I’m aware that we are supposed to hand over our brides for every Blackwood male to have a turn with. I walked away then and if any of my family tried to touch Lucrezia, they would have a bullet in their head.”

I’d beaten Michael half to death for putting one slimy hand on her. If his dick had been involved, he would currently be decomposing somewhere he would never be discovered.

I met Lucas’ dark, penetrating stare. “Neither of us are good men, but we have one goal in common: that Lucrezia is safe and happy. It’s as simple as that.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “She is too headstrong,” he said. “My youngest daughter was supposed to stay with me into my old age. I did not want her snapped up by a wolf masquerading as a man.”

His sullen expression forced a laugh from me. “Lucrezia is headstrong. She had me wrapped around her finger before I knew what was happening. She’s it for me, Lucas. Game over. My men are currently in position, which means when I send her home with you, they go too.”

“Send her home?”

“Michael is trying to sell the Council out to the police and enemies are crawling out of the woodwork. I trust my men, but I trust you and me more than them. We would die to protect her.”

His eyes narrowed but I refused to even show a hint of my current discomfort. Lucas had terrified me from the first moment I met him, but in my profession, fear made you weak.

“Perhaps I have misjudged you,” he slowly replied.

I shrugged. “Most people do. She’ll be pissed that I’m sending her back to Tuscany, but I can only do what I need to do if I know she’s safe.” I stood wearily. “I don’t want us to be enemies. She’s a special woman who only ever sees the good in people. I never want that to change.”

“Agreed. But I still expect a ring and a piece of paper because Lucrezia deserves the best in life.”

My lips tipped up at one side. “I might know a jewellery designer.”

“Then I suggest you commission a very expensive piece.” His right eyebrow rose in challenge.

“Consider it done. Any issues and I need to know, Lucas.”

His jaw tightened but he nodded once. “Communication needs to go two ways.”

There was nothing more to say and I had a huge amount of work waiting for me. So, I left and returned home to our townhouse. Lucrezia’s studio was still at the business premises because the reason I put it there was still valid. She had brought what she needed and set up camp in the kitchen to make the piece for the charity.

She glanced up. “Papa didn’t kill you.”

I grinned at her calculating expression. “What if he castrated me?”

“Is it wrong to admit that I love your cock and his abilities?”

“I wouldn’t say that to your papa.” I was lucky to be alive right now. He was probably still planning my demise up until I obeyed his command and put a ring on Lucrezia’s finger.

She wrinkled her nose and returned to placing a stone in the necklace she had created. “He would understand, he has one too.”

Every damn day she surprised me and made me laugh. I wandered chuckling into the pantry where she tended to leave all her baked goods. A tray of caramel squares sat waiting for me to eat. Still chewing the chocolatey goodness, I returned to the kitchen.

“I’ve set up a meeting with Seth since you needed more stones,” I informed her.

“Are they going to cost another car?”

“Probably a house this time,” I deadpanned.

“And what is it going to cost me?” she enquired.

I took another bite of my caramel square. “What offer is on the table?”

She stood up and walked across the kitchen until we were toe to toe. “One night in the Twilight Rooms. I had to listen to Cassandra and Megan talk about them.” She took a bite off my traybake before returning to her work.

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