Chapter 5 #2
Brian’s face pinched in a mix of shock and disgust. “You’re joking, right?”
My ire spiked as I remembered the uneducated, stereotypical, racial comments he made with his friends. Mariachi bands were more common in Mexican culture, but if I wanted to have Mariachi Jalisco de Puerto Rico play all night long, everyone would be lucky to hear it.
“Yes, Brian. I’m joking,” I said flatly, before launching into a lesson to educate him.
“Besides, pinatas originated in China, then moved to Europe, and then to Mexico. Puerto Ricans are no more likely to have a pinata than Americans. And, even then, they’re mostly used for birthday parties. Just for future reference.”
Unfortunately, my lecture fell on deaf ears, pissing me off more.
Brian shrugged and refocused his attention on Lucian. “I heard you recently purchased a part of Quinn Music Group. Just in time, it seems, to make it to an event hosted by the wild girl herself. After how spicy she was in high school, it’s no surprise she’d throw together big parties.”
Lucian’s jaw ticked as he offered a noncommittal hum. Meanwhile, dread coiled tighter around my chest, constricting with each heartbeat until it felt like my lungs might collapse.
Brian leaned in, as if about to impart a secret that would change Lucian’s world. “You know, she appears all buttoned up, but I know how she really is. It might be worth it for you to get to know her better, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Lucian responded, his voice dark and dangerous.
Not that Brian picked up on it.
“Not to bring up the past, Aspen, but…” He held up his hands, like he was offering an apology I knew he couldn’t mean, and laughed. “It’s guy code to let other guys know about women.”
“Brian.” I tried to stop him, but he gave all his focus to Lucian.
“There were videos of her that went around our school, if you know what I mean. Ones of her with her boyfriend,” he explained with his lecherous smile.
“In high school, you could watch them for a price, and man-oh-man, they were worth every penny. This woman was…muy caliente. Isn’t that what they say, Aspen? ”
Every cell in my body wanted to shrink into nothing until I ceased to exist. Until this moment no longer existed.
Everything pulled too tight, teetering on the edge of implosion.
The light jazz band I’d carefully selected months ago dissolved into high-pitched ringing that swallowed my thoughts.
The dim lights, perfectly placed to encourage a relaxed ambiance, swirled into blinding blurs.
My head grew light until everything spun around me.
Oh, fuck. I was going to pass out, and all this work to hold myself together behind a shield of ice would be for nothing.
Oh, god. Oh, god. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fu—
“Thank you, Brian, for sharing such inappropriate information about my fiancée,” Lucian said, his voice as icy as I wished I could be.
“Oh, so you already know. Good for you, man.” Black spots danced at the edges of my vision as I watched Brian’s mouth twist into a gleeful smile and hold his hand out for a fist bump from Lucian.
Lucian glared at the other man’s fist, his lip curled, before slowly bringing his gaze back to Brian’s face.
Shadows gathered around him, the darkness thickening as if his irritation and anger were devouring the light, threatening to swallow Brian whole.
This was the Mr. Dark and Dangerous I’d glimpsed that first day in my father’s office—a man who could make the most indomitable opponent tremble.
“All I know, Ryan, is that Aspen is a phenomenal businesswoman who will take Quinn Music Group beyond what your tiny, insufficient mind can imagine. All I know is that I am damn lucky that this multitalented woman has deemed me worthy of being her husband. All I know is that you are a disgusting, worthless man living in a meaningless past because, despite how meaningless it was, it at least was more than the piece of shit life you have now.” Lucian stepped forward, crowding Brian.
“All I know is that if I ever hear you talking about my wife like that ever again, I will personally rip your balls off and feed them to you.”
My mouth hung open, but no air passed my lips. The blinding lights from before faded, leaving behind Lucian in his all-black tux, conquering a nightmare from my past. Leaving behind a darkness that I used to hate.
Now, taking in his darkness, all I heard was him saying, my wife, and a thrill surged through me, flutters of excitement chasing away the nausea that gripped me moments before.
“I-I-I’m…I didn’t mean…” Brian floundered under Lucian’s assault, floundering like a fish out of water, his mouth flapping open and closed.
“I don’t give a shit.” Lucian’s deep growl, alluded to the calm control with which he delivered the threat, was slipping.
It should have terrified me—watching the man I entrusted with my control begin to lose it.
It didn’t, though.
It sent a shiver of desire down my spine.
“You are officially uninvited from all future events and any others I might see your name on the guest list for,” Lucian stated.
“Y-you can’t do that.”
A deep, rumbled laugh fell from Lucian’s feral smile. “Oh, yes. I can. Now get the fuck out before I remove you myself.”
Brian looked around our group, as if seeking an ally. Instead, we all stood with stony expressions, devoid of empathy. With a huff, he downed the last of his drink and straightened his jacket, proving to be the pompous ass he always was, and turned to leave.
I didn’t dare breathe until he disappeared through the arched exit.
The moment he did, my eyes burned, but I blinked it back and reached for that frozen exterior, digging deep to lock it in place.
I needed it now more than ever. Because I knew the second I turned back to the three of them, I’d be met with questions and—God forbid—pity.
Shockingly, neither look was present. Lucian and Corbin still glared at the exit like they half expected him to come back, while Rose met my gaze with a wrinkled nose and a look that said, well that fucking sucked.
“What a douche,” she announced. “I can’t believe you had to deal with him through high school. I’ve known him for thirty minutes, and I already feel like I need at least ten showers.”
A laugh tumbled free, releasing some of the tension holding me rigid. “That about sums it up.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” Corbin crooned. “I’ll help you get yourself clean again.”
“Promises, promises,” Rose taunted, earning a low growl from Corbin.
Lucian shifted closer, tilting his head to murmur to me without drawing attention. “Are you okay?”
No, I wanted to scream. I wanted to follow Brian and beat him with my heels. I wanted to breathe as deeply as I had before I heard his nasally voice. I wanted…I wanted…
I wanted it never to have happened.
But it had, and I had no choice but to face that reality despite what I wanted.
So, I took a deep breath.
I lifted my chin high.
I pulled my shoulders back.
I slid a simple smile in place.
And I faced Lucian.
“I’m fine,” I answered, my voice calm and serene. His brows pinched with doubt, and his lips parted, but I continued before he could question my false bravado. “However, I do need to use the restroom. If you’ll excuse me.”
With a smile to Rose and Corbin, I extracted myself, already missing the heated weight of Lucian’s hand at my back.
Despite my feigned strength, fine fractures spidered through my armor, and with every second I pretended they weren’t there, they widened.
I needed space—air—to breathe and mend the damage before it spread too far, and I crumbled.
All I needed was a few minutes, and I’d be fine.