Lucius (Acquisition Series #4) - Celia Aaron Page 0,67

hope for the best while I’m not.” I follow him to the bathroom where he wets a washcloth and brings it to my face. “I hate to do this, but I suppose I must.” He sighs as he cleans me up. “All gone.” He kisses me.

I glance past him at the clock. “Shit.” I whirl and start throwing on my clothes. “I’ve got to go.”

“Just promise me you’ll come back.”

“You’re that worried about losing epic head?” I laugh and grab my car keys as I sprint toward the stairs.

“I’m worried about losing you.” He follows me.

“Not happening.” I run back to him, kiss him again, then dash down the stairs.

When I drive away, he’s standing in the broken window—now covered with clear plastic—still naked. How can one man be so aggressive and yet so sweet at the same time? I’ll never know.

I reach the end of his drive and turn right, the sun still low on the horizon. My foot pushes on the gas a little much, but I refuse to be late.

Trees whoosh by, and I’m making good time.

Until a black car shoots out into the road right in front of me.

I hit it broadside. I close my eyes at impact, and the last thing I hear is the sound of a horn blaring.

30

Lucius

I hop in the shower, then get dressed. Time ticks by slowly as I wonder how Evie is doing at Stella’s bootcamp. I hope Evie doesn’t come back too banged up. Then again, Stella knows what it takes to survive. Evie can only benefit from her knowledge. Something niggles at the back of my mind. Worry. But I have to let it go.

Pouring myself a coffee, I eye my liquor cabinet. There have been plenty of mornings where I add a little kick to my caffeine. I’m tempted to do it right now. But I already told Evie I’m trying to be a better man for her.

I stare a little while longer, then sip my coffee. “Okay, fine. I’ll be a fine, upstanding gent who doesn’t drink until lunchtime.” I toast my reflection in the mirrored bar cabinet and take a bigger gulp. It burns. Like alcohol. Good. I’ll just pretend it is.

After checking my emails and doing some work—mostly signing contracts and checking in with the sugar farms—I leave off and glance out the window, hoping to see Evie coming home. Home. I’m already thinking of this place as our home. I wonder if she thinks of it that way too? Or will she want to leave again? I wouldn’t blame her, but my roots are here, just like hers. We’ll work it out.

I flip over to my high security server and check my other emails. One of my contacts has been working on repairing and then breaking into the iPad but has had zero luck so far. She’s sent me an update of “still can’t fucking get this thing working.” I’m growing tired of waiting, but I have time. I’ll wait as long as I have to in order to find all those assholes and wipe them out.

I finish my coffee and check the clock. It’s almost ten in the morning. Shouldn’t she be finished by now? Stella must really be working her over. Maybe I should head over there, make sure Evie isn’t maimed or anything too serious.

Grabbing my keys, I head down and start up the Lambo. It purrs so beautifully for me. I might name it Evie. The sun is already getting up high in the sky, the humid day cloudless and sticky.

When I turn toward Sin’s house, the niggling sensation returns. I don’t know why, but I speed even faster down the back road, sending up dust as my tires prowl across the tired pavement.

A few miles from my place, I see some marks in the road. They’re new. I pull up beside the spot and get out. Tire marks, radiator fluid, oil, and gasoline. Bits of metal and fiberglass litter the roadside, but there aren’t any cars.

That niggling in the back of my mind turns into full-blown fear. I get back into the car and dial Stella.

She picks up on the second ring. “If you’re calling to apologize for your new girlfriend ghosting on me this morning, I don’t accept. I got up at the—”

“Evie never showed?”

There must be something in my voice, because Stella stows her sassy tone. “No. What’s wrong?”

“She left hours ago. Coming straight to your place. She was so worried she’d be late, and she