Page 8 of Goldsin

Adrian’s next words are barely above a whisper, loud enough for only me to hear. “Remember, Julian. She’s off-limits.”

But they only stoke my determination to prove him wrong.

“Excuse me.” Adrian nods curtly and then walks away, leaving me alone with Lucian.

Lucian turns his nose up and curls his lip in contempt as he looks me up and down. His gaze falls to my knuckles, still red from the punches I threw last night. “What a waste of time,” he mutters. “You should focus on more important things, Julian. Like the family business.”

“What I do in my free time doesn’t affect the family.”

“Everything you do affects the family,” he snaps, causing some of the nearby partygoers to glance our way. “You should be grateful for everything I’ve provided for you. Instead you squander your time in those filthy clubs.”

Filthy clubs?I’m tempted to laugh in his face.

“Filthy” are the brothels he runs.

“Filthy” are the parties he hosts as cheap excuses for business meetings.

The true “filth” exists in what he does to my mother every single day.

My clubs aren’t filthy.Heis.

I take a deep breath and look away.

“Enough about that.” He clears his throat, eyes sharp with a sinister intent I know all too well. “There’s something you need to take care of tonight.”

Chills skitter down my spine at his words.

“But before that, have you seen DeMarco?” He gives the room an impatient scan. “He has a room in this goddamn hotel and dares to make a late appearance?”

I press the bridge of my nose with my fingers, already over the conversation. “Can’t say I have.”

“Find him,” Lucian orders. “And make sure you get the job done. You’ll soon know what it is. And remember, you’re a Harrow. It’s time you started acting like one.”

I grit my teeth and nod.

The last thing I want is to follow his order. But my gaze returns to my mother. Her delicate features are in stark contrast to the darkness we’re forced to live in.

She’s my anchor, and I will do whatever it takes to protect her.

Starting with whatever Lucian tells me to do.

“Fine,” I say reluctantly. “I’ll find DeMarco and handle the job.”

“Good.”

As he walks away his presence persists, bearing down on me. He expects me to be a reflection of him, but there is nothing I’d hate more than to become like him. Nothing. I’d take death in a heartbeat before becoming the monster he is.

Sure, I enjoy the perks of being a Harrow, but the price is steep. Too steep.

And once you keep taking, life will soon expect something back.

Dejected, I force myself to get the task done as quickly as possible. Scanning the room, I search for any sign of DeMarco, but I can’t seem to focus. I can’t keep my mind away from Aurelia.

The way she holds herself in the middle of these predators, the way her eyes seem to see right through their masks—it’s admirable.

Intoxicating almost.

I need to keep my head on the task.

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