Page 130 of A Midnight Romance
“Have I told you how proud I am of you?” I tighten my arm around Lux’s shoulder.
Dipping her head into my chest, she rumbles softly with a delicate chuckle. “That means a lot to me.”
I’m grateful to see she’s looking better. She took an emotional beating for this last kill, and all I want is for her to experience some peace. Anger still boils under the surface about putting her in danger, but I try not to dwell on it. I bite back my heartache while we are together, but questions of the future are lingering.
Does she return to her life, while I watch her from afar and dispose of every man who shows an interest in her?
Echoes of familiar voices from the dining room drift into the dimly lit hall and pull me out of my thoughts. Sebastian and Stevie must already be at the table, and depending on how much time they’ve spent waiting for Lux and me, they’re probably deep in the thick of irritating each other.
“If you’re not up to being around everyone and would rather eat in bed, I can bring everything to your bedroom.” I rub my thumb across her skin. “Or mine.”
Lux flashes me a coy grin. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m all right. Being around everyone will ground me again.”
“You got it,” I say. “Tell me if you need a break and we’ll dip out.”
She nods, smiling through the bruise on her face which is more swollen than earlier. It pisses me off every time my eyes land on it. The thing appeasing me is knowing Andrew has been reduced to ashes.
“I’m starving,” I hear Sebastian whine as Lux and I round the corner.
Stevie is sitting on the far left side of our long dining table, sipping water while Sebastian has taken the seat across the table—with a breadth of distance between them. His head is down staring at the phone in his hands. After leading Lux to the first spot on the left, I take a chair at the end of the table.
“It smells incredible in here.” Lux scoots her chair close to the table.
I lean over Lux to get Sebastian’s attention. “Do you know where Aunt Mae is? Will she be joining us?”
“I think so.” He puts his phone on the table, glancing up at me. “She was worried about Lux, I’m sure she’ll be down soon.”
“Your aunt?” Stevie asks. “She’s up at this hour again?”
Suddenly, Mae walks into the room, awake and alert for it being two a.m. She races over to Lux with a worried expression and pulls her into a thoughtful embrace. The scent of Mae’s soft linens and hint of Elizabeth Taylor perfume float past me. It’s a comfort, always reminding me of how my mother smelled when I was a kid.
“Lux, honey, I was so worried about you.” She tightens her hold around Lux’s shoulders. “Thank goodness for Sebastian keeping me updated. How are you feeling?”
Lux pulls back slowly. “I’m doing okay, actually.”
“I bet you were scared.” Her face hardens while she places her hands firmly on her hips. “That bastard. I hope River and Sebastian gave him what he deserves.”
“You could say that.” Lux’s eyes shoot over to me. I try to hide the silent smirk on my lips, letting her handle the response. “I knew they’d find me.”
“Of course they did.” Aunt Mae smiles confidently. “I’m beyond grateful you’re here, and those men can no longer hurt you or anyone else.”
“Me too.” Lux slides her hand under the table to my leg.
I place my palm on top, giving it a subtle squeeze of reassurance.
“Nice to see my nephews.” She switches her tone, walking over to Sebastian. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek, then heads around to me to do the same. “Stevie.” She smiles at Lux’s sister, before taking the spot on the opposite side of the table.
“Does this family ever sleep?” Stevie fires off a friendly quip.
Sebastian glances at Mae and then me. “Sometimes.”
“Clearly not at night,” Lux adds, finding her humor again after the last twelve hours she’s had.
The door to the kitchen swings open as Ben enters, holding two serving dishes. “No, to answer your question, Ms. Stevie, this family does not sleep,” he jokes while placing the food in the middle of the table.
I laugh. “Ben is a professional with our late-night work schedules.”
“That’s true,” he chimes in and adds two more dishes in the center. “I’m like a doctor getting called out of bed in the middle of the night.”
