Chapter 12 Calm Down, Darling #2
Lucius watched him leave, his expression growing darker by the second.
Shane then turned toward Stella, his concern returning to the forefront of his face.
“I’ll take you home.”
Shane reached for her, but Lucius immediately stepped between them. His hand closed around Stella’s arm, and before she could react, he pulled her against his side, keeping her firmly at his hip.
“You are taking her home?” Lucius’s voice dropped into a lethal growl as he stepped closer, keeping Stella locked against his side. “After someone just tried to put a fucking bullet through your head?”
His icy gaze swept over Shane.
“Your people show up with guns because someone’s trying to kill you, and you still think I’m going to stand here and let you take Stella with you?
” His fingers tightened around Stella’s waist. “If your enemies come after you, they’ll come after her next.
And if anything happens to her because of your fucking mess, I’ll make sure you regret surviving this night. ”
He leaned closer, his voice turning quiet enough to make the threat feel even more dangerous.
“So, no, you’re not taking her anywhere.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Get the fuck out of here before I forget that Stella is watching.”
“Lucius,” Stella warned, her frustration sharpening her voice.
“I’m talking to him.”
“She’s coming with me,” Shane said.
“No, she fucking isn’t.”
Lucius made no attempt to release her.
Stella looked up at him, her brows drawing together as her frustration grew. “Shane didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t know they were going to shoot at him.”
Lucius’s eyes snapped toward her.
“So now you’re defending him?”
“He could have been killed.”
“And so could you.”
His voice rose, the anger he had been forcing himself to contain finally breaking free. His fingers tightened around her arm as he glared down at her, his jealousy and fear twisting together until he could barely keep either under control.
Shane stepped toward them, clearly intending to intervene, but Stella immediately turned to him.
“Shane, go home. I’ll come back soon.”
Shane hesitated, his gaze moving between her and Lucius.
“Stella—”
“It’s alright, Shane. I’m fine, I promise.”
He studied her for a moment, clearly reluctant to leave her alone with Lucius. But when he saw the quiet insistence in her eyes, he finally gave in. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the restaurant.
The instant he disappeared from sight, Lucius reached for Stella, closed his hand around hers, and pulled her toward the exit.
“Lucius, what are you doing?”
“Getting you the fuck out of here.”
Nial was waiting beside the car. The moment he saw them approaching, he straightened and hurried toward them.
“Sir, are you all right? I heard strange sounds coming from inside.”
“I’m fine, Nial.”
Lucius’s response was clipped. Without slowing down, he continued toward the car, taking Stella with him. When Nial moved to open the door, Lucius snatched the keys from his hand.
“Go home.”
“Sir—”
“Now!”
Nial immediately stepped back.
Lucius opened the passenger door and guided Stella inside, easing her into the seat with a touch that was gentle but firm. He shut the door, rounded the front of the car, and slid behind the wheel.
A moment later, the car tore away from the restaurant.
Lucius drove in silence, his hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel as the city lights blurred past the windows and gradually disappeared behind them. He kept driving until he reached a secluded area, far from the traffic and the noise of the city. Only then did he bring the car to a stop.
He got out first.
Stella followed, watching him closely as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it, took a long drag, and held the smoke in his lungs for a moment before turning toward her.
“You left me to be with someone surrounded by fucking murderous goons?” he asked, his voice laced with bitter sarcasm. “Is Shane really that fucking good that you were ready to die for him?”
Stella frowned as smoke drifted toward her.
“Stop smoking. It makes me suffocate.”
Lucius glanced down at the cigarette between his fingers. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, without arguing, he lowered his hand and crushed it beneath his shoe.
The tension in his expression eased slightly as he looked back at her. He stepped closer, moved behind her, and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her against his chest.
His chin settled near her shoulder, and when he spoke again, his voice was low and quiet.
“I’m sorry.”
Stella remained still in his arms, her body tense against him.
“Our breakup a year ago was entirely my fault,” he murmured, his voice soft against her ear. “Please forgive me.”
Stella stayed in his arms for a moment, her expression tightening as his words settled over her. Then she pulled away and turned to face him, putting some distance between them.
“You don’t need to apologize. I knew exactly what I was getting into. I chose to get involved with a man who wanted nothing more than sex.”
Lucius’s brows drew together. A bitter scoff escaped him as he stepped back and leaned against the car, folding his arms across his chest.
“Nothing more than sex?” His gaze sharpened on her. “You are saying that I was the one who wanted nothing more than sex?!”
Stella turned toward him, confusion crossing her face. Before she could ask what he meant, Lucius reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of papers.
The instant she saw them, her expression changed.
She recognized the documents immediately. They were the papers she had filed to settle in London.
“Where did you get those?” she demanded, her eyes widening.
Lucius held the documents between his fingers, watching her closely.
“So this time, you’re not leaving Manhattan for just a year?” His voice hardened. “You’re leaving me for good?”
Stella didn’t answer. Her lips parted, but no words came. Instead, she turned away, refusing to meet his eyes.
The silence only stoked his anger.
Lucius’s jaw clenched. Then, with a sudden, furious movement, he tore the documents apart. The sharp sound of ripping paper broke through the quiet as he shredded the pages and let the pieces fall from his hands.
Stella stared at him, stunned.
“Lucius—”
He didn’t give her a chance to say anything more. He stepped forward, caught her by the waist, and pulled her against him, his eyes burning with anger and desperation.
“Stella, I’m not letting you leave me again. I might not mean anything to you, but you are my everything.”
Stella shoved both hands against Lucius’s chest, her anger surging as she glared up at him.
“What are you talking about?” Her fingers curled into his shirt as she pushed against him again.
“Don’t turn our relationship into something it wasn’t.
Ending this now is better than letting either of us get more involved.
We agreed to this arrangement, and now you have no right to stop me from walking away. ”
Lucius’s expression darkened. A muscle jumped in his jaw as his grip on her tightened.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he demanded, lowering his face toward hers. “That I mean nothing to you? You used me, and now you think you can just walk out of my life?”
Stella shoved against his chest again, forcing herself to look away from the intensity in his eyes.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she glared at him.
Lucius’s nostrils flared. He caught both her wrists before she could push him again, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of frustration and desperation.
“Stella, do you really have to keep pushing me away like this?” he asked, his voice turning dangerously low. “Do you have any idea what the fuck you’re making me feel? You treat me like I’m some goddamn dog begging for a scrap of your attention.”
“Yes!” she shouted, her voice cracking beneath the force of her anger. “That’s exactly what you are to me!”
She yanked against his hold, her eyes flashing with tears she refused to let fall.
“I’m a monster, Lucius. Now let go of me!”
She twisted in his arms and shoved against his chest, fighting to break free, but Lucius refused to release her. His expression hardened as he pulled her against him, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly, as though he could keep her from leaving simply by refusing to let her go.
“Stella—”
She continued fighting him, her palms pressed against his chest as she tried to break free. Lucius placed one hand against the back of her head, cradling it as he lowered his voice.
“Calm down, darling. Please.” He held her firmly, his cheek brushing against her hair. “That’s not what I meant. Why can’t you understand? I just want to be with you.”
Gradually, her struggles weakened. Her breathing remained uneven, but her hands eventually fell still against his chest.
Lucius waited until she had quieted before speaking again. His voice was raw with emotion.
“What I meant was…”
He drew back enough to look at her, though he kept one arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close.
“Stella Gibson…” His eyes searched hers. “If you don’t have a husband, can I be yours?”