Page 80 of Goldsin

I step away from the dead man. His eyes are still open, staring blankly at where I was standing. I drop the gun to the floor and wipe my hands clean on his shirt. Then I send a quick text to Valentine to come clean up this mess.

Heading outside, I put my helmet on and turn my bike back to life. I need to go home and tell Lucian that everything has been taken care of. Then I need to find Aurelia.

There’s one perk of buying her the dress ...

Since I bought it, I get to rip it off.

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The corridor is pitch-black except for the artificial fireflies of the city lights at night glowing outside the windows.

I’m heading toward Lucian’s office, leaving behind a trail of bloodied footprints on the marble floor. The squish of my leather boots is the only sound as I turn the corner.

I need to be quick. The noises that came from her lips through the earpiece are now forever stuck in the crevices of my brain. I can’t unhear them. And the more I wait, the more my dick strains against my jeans.

Much as I like a little pain mixed with pleasure, this is a new level of torture.

I’m done being a patient guy. I have been for ten years.If you don’t count that night.And I don’t count that night.

I stretch my neck, combing a hand through my hair as I push away the memory ...

The taste of her lips ... The feel of her curves ... The smell of her hair ... The look on her face when she came.

Well, fuck. I didn’t even make it a second without falling into the trap.

A warm golden light filters out from under the imposing doors of Lucian’s office, but my mind is elsewhere. My lips stretch upward as that defiant little look Aurelia gets crosses my mind.

Ironic, isn’t it? The woman who breathes life into me is the same one stealing it away from others.

My hand is a millimeter away from the doorknob, eager to get this over with as quickly as possible, when a deafening shriek reaches my ears.

A scream I recognize all too well.

Bursting through the double doors, I search frantically for her as everything inside of me slowly decays. Whatever warmth was spreading through my chest is now replaced with a cold wash of dread.

“Mom!” I hear myself exclaim. She’s standing across the room, with her hair twisted around the fist of a man as his other hand roams every single inch of her.

A frown twists my features, legs trembling with pure rage. “What the fuck are you doing?” I roar, and the asshole leers, his meaty hand groping my mom’s breast.

I flinch to the side and crush Lucian with my gaze. He’s standing behind his desk, gratification playing in the sinister smile he sports.

“Ah, Julian, I was wondering when you were going to show up.” He rounds the desk, taking a step toward me. “I’m just doing what every dutiful husband does: exploiting what belongs to me.” He answers my question mockingly, hands outstretched as if to prove his innocence. As if what he’s doing is acceptable and I’m the insane one for questioning it.

That only fuels my anger.

“You sick bastard!” My voice is thick. I clench my fists and aim for his smug face. My elbow’s rising when my mom’s plea halts me.

“Please, Julian ... don’t.” Her voice wobbles. Tracks of tears run down her cheeks, and my face contorts as I watch her.

Why are you letting him treat you this way?I ask her through the sadness flitting across my face.Why aren’t you fighting back?

“See how weak you are, boy?” Lucian’s raucous laughter prickles my skin. “Just like your mother.”

I keep my stare trained on my mom. Her eyes beg me not to fall for his jeers as a wave of helplessness begins to swallow me whole.

Inhaling a deep breath, I tune myself as far out as I can get. But something must be leaking inside of me tonight, because when Lucian says, “Go ahead—have your fun with her,” I lose it.

One fragment after another. An agonizing pain.

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