“You have never looked the part to play well with my demons. Until now. Come. Let us get this over with.”
After bundling her in a warm wrap, it was with some apprehension that he brought her out to the car. The nagging feeling remained during the drive to the clearing where the chopper waited, and was still with him when they landed in Bucharest and headed to the casino.
♦ ♦ ♦
They hadn’t been in the building more than ten minutes and already Lucian was ready to take a scalpel to the eyes of men just like him who thought they had the right to whatever was before them because being wealthy frequently made it so. They ran their practiced gaze over his pet, cataloging the flawless image she presented. Some of them hid their lust. Those were the ones who recognized the significance of her single piece of jewelry, which was noticeable in a room where most every woman in attendance positively dripped with diamonds. The others did what he’d expected them to do; covet. How could they not?
A couple brushed by them, sending Yasmeen deeper into his side. She slipped her arm around his waist and remained. “I’m not usually bothered by crowds, but these people are like you. All this money makes me uneasy.”
He would never have guessed. “You have a convincing mask.”
She nodded, taking his comment seriously in that way she often did. “One of a few. You said you have business here. You sure this isn’t your way of giving me a taste of the South of France without actually taking me there?”
“No, draga,” he murmured, his attention captured by a man standing a few feet away—one he kept in his periphery. “If I wanted to give you a taste, I would do so with the real thing.”
“I know you would. So, how long do we have to stay here?”
He focused on her. “You would rather be somewhere else?”
“Sure. Okay. I’ll give your ego a boost it doesn’t need. I’d actually like to go back to Fane manor and curl up in front of the fireplace. I’d even make some noise when you played with my hair to let you know how much I love it.” She scanned the faces around them, adding under her breath, “It’s slightly less judgy there.”
When the invasive stare coming from only yards away went down for the third time and locked on Yasmeen’s ass, Lucian placed his hand on the work of art. The block was successful in shifting the man’s attention, and Lucian and his demons gleefully stared the idiot down.
Protection closed in to form a barrier when Hector Sala had the skin to approach. “Well, if it isn’t the man himself. How are you, Lucian?”
“Hector.” He didn’t shake the hand that was offered and it was dropped.
“I wasn’t aware you’d come home. Will you be here long?”
“Why do you want to know?”
Bleached teeth flashed when Hector smiled. “Just making conversation since we’re in a social situation. You shouldn’t stay locked away in that palace you came into too easily. Maybe you’d remember your manners.”
“Only to waste them on someone like you?”
The cocky grin slipped. “Right. I heard about Markus.”
Lucian stilled as Yasmeen’s body stiffened against him.
“Sucks. You consoling yourself with this one?” he asked, reverting to their language. “I’ve never seen you with a whore. Goddamn. She must be setting you back thousands. But the good ones are well worth it. Isn’t like you can’t afford her.” He chuckled and continued to strip Yasmeen with his offensive stare.
Sorin took offense to that, and for the first time in memory, deferred his position to Spencer and stepped around to blatantly cut Hector’s view off.
“Such a sweet meathead you have,” Yasmeen whispered to him as she gave Sorin’s wide shoulder an appreciative pat.
Lucian agreed and took out his phone to send a text that would put their cleaning crew on standby. “Is your father here tonight, Hector?” Will he witness your death?
“The old man doesn’t leave the house much since I took over.” He straightened, and did his best to pull in his protruding gut. “That’s why we’re not lining your pockets anymore, Fane, because there are some brains at the helm now.”
“Brains. Yes.” All over the floor. “Excuse us.”
Sorin bulldozed a path, and Lucian placed his pet in front of him before he traveled it. Patience. He was definitely learning it.
“Who was that?” Yasmeen asked, her tone now freely reflecting her distaste.
“Hector Sala. His father used to come to