Page 65 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Lucifer massages my upper arm, and finally, when we pass the neon glow of the666on Mav’s garage, he answers Ezra’s question. “Yeah. I’ve heard more.” His voice is raspy and fucking hot, and I’m suddenly feeling flush all over. But I’m also surprised at his words, and I glance at him in the night, his demon eyes coming to mine. He doesn’t smile, but he holds eye contact with me as he speaks. “We’re all going to meet him soon.”
Maverick laughs, but it’s caustic. “How soon? And when did you plan to tell us that?”
Lucifer shrugs, his gaze back on the street, eyes alert. “Just now.”
Maverick stops walking, and naturally, we all do too. If one of us moves, it seems we all move. I pivot toward Mav, Cain backs up a step so his massive frame isn’t between Maverick and Lucifer, and the two brothers square off against one another, a few feet between them.
Ella is holding onto Mav’s arm, her in a white hoodie, her red hair braided down her back, and him in black, blond hair and baby blue eyes diabolical with the tattoos snaking up from the neck of his sweatshirt.
His eyes come to Lucifer’s and tension sparks between them. They were fine I think, until Maverick saw my bruises. But he hasn’t mentioned them to Lucifer, and I hope he doesn’t now. I don’t know why he thinks it’s such a big fucking deal anyway. It’s no secret I like rough sex.Heknows that firsthand.
Lucifer says nothing, his arm still around me but his body facing Maverick, just waiting for something to come out. I angle the stroller, so we’re all looking at one another.
Mav’s eyes drift to mine. His hard expression softens, his jaw unclenching a little.
Lucifer notices. “You wanna say something to me?” He keeps his voice low, but the snarl is there in his question.
Warning my brother, I shake my head, just a fraction of an inch.
Maverick glances at everyone here. Brooklin, Ezra, Cain, Ella, me and my family. He brings his gaze back to Lucifer. “When are we meeting him?”
I exhale quietly, relief in the breath.
“Tomorrow they’ll let me know.”
My pulse trips in my chest and I look up at him.
He’s already staring at me, an apology in his eyes. I can’t explain how I know it’s there. I just…know. Like I’m finally starting to read him sometimes. “We meet at Sanctum first,” he says softly. “Don’t worry baby girl, you won’t be seeing him just yet.”
“Then when?” Because I hear the unspoken words. And he knows how I feel about strangers in our home.
“You tell her about your uncle?” Cain’s words, shockingly, not Maverick’s.
My body tenses, and I see Ella lift her green eyes, lined in eyeliner, to Cain, who has put his phone away. He’s looking at me, his irises so dark, right now they seem black.
Lucifer grinds his teeth, turning to stare at Cain. “Why don’t you let me handle shit with my wife, huh?”
“Your uncle?” I repeat the words, surprised. He didn’t say anything about any more relatives.
Lucifer rolls his eyes as he glares at Cain. “He’s no fucking family of mine.”
“He’shere,in the States, investigating shit with the 6,” Mav snarls. “He oversees the entire East fucking Coast, and more. Family or not, it’s kind of important Angel knows—”
“How much do you tell Ella?” Lucifer cuts Maverick off, even though I’m agreeing with him, but with Lucifer’s question, silence rings out.
Ella tightens her grip on Mav’s arm. She only comes up to his shoulders, and she’s holding onto him with both hands.
He has his in the pocket of his hoodie, and he looks down for a moment, smiling. Then he steps closer to Lucifer, Ella moving with him.
Maverick lifts his eyes, baby blue against something darker and more devilish. “I think if we’re gonna start counting secrets…” He rakes his gaze over Lucifer’s body, up and down. Then he takes another step closer, until they’re nearly toe-to-toe.“You’re the most likely to drown in them.”
What the fuck does that mean? I want to ask, but I wait to see how my husband will respond. Eventually though, without looking away from Mav, he just smiles, which feels more wicked than any words he could say.
It seems to work too, because Maverick backs off, and together, in silence, we finish up ourfamilywalk.
* * *
In the darkest night, Lucifer is edgy. I can see him pacing on the porch overlooking our renovated backyard, along the covered overhang of our home, heaters built into it. I stand at the opaque glass panes only we can see out of, but he currently can’t look into.
