12. Lancelot
LANCELOT
T he pain in Julian’s voice cut through me like a knife.
I turned into an alley and slammed the car into park.
I was ready to explode with a combination of fear, anger, and concern for Julian.
I had to make Julian understand his life was in danger.
The Carlottis would kill him, and they’d be happy to make him suffer before they did.
“Remington doesn’t live here,” Julian said.
The idea of my fastidious brother living in a dirty alley was so ludicrous I smiled despite the severity of the situation. “No. We need to talk.”
“There’s no point since you don’t listen.”
He had me there. “You’re right. I don’t. I never have.”
“So you’re not likely to start now?”
I shook my head.
“Then I’m done.” Julian reached for the door handle.
I seized his upper arm and yanked him toward me. He fell across the console and used his other hand to brace himself against my chest. When I looked into his eyes, what I saw there broke my self-control. I didn’t see fear or hurt; I saw excitement.
My hands slid into his hair and my lips crashed down on his. He struggled for a moment, then his lips parted, and he groaned, letting himself lean into me.
“Yes,” I whispered against his lips. “This is what you need.”
“Fuck you.” He looked furious now, but he didn’t try to push me away. Instead, he grabbed the front of my shirt and held me against him. I kissed him like I was dying and only he could save me.
I pulled him toward me, sliding my hand under his thighs and trying to get him to straddle me.
The position was awkward. There really wasn’t room in the car, especially considering how long his legs were, but somehow he managed.
When he looked down at me, I took his face in my hands. “I will not let anyone hurt you.”
“No one except you.”
I growled. “Never me.”
This time he initiated the kiss. I held his hips, dragging him against me, needing to feel his hardness against my own.
I’d been sure there was passion in him. I’d known if I kissed him, he would go up in flames, but this was even better than my fantasy. My hands went to the button of his jeans. I popped it open, then a crash in the alley startled us.
“Shit.” Julian pulled away from me, doing up his pants as he fell back into his seat. “What the hell are we doing?”
This had been inevitable since the moment I’d seen him, but I didn’t say that. I didn’t say anything at all.
I restarted the car as I assessed our surroundings. “I don’t see anyone, do you?”
“No.” His voice was still breathless, and that made me smile. The noise could have been made by a cat or a dog, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I needed to get us out of there and take a roundabout route to Remington’s house.
Julian didn’t say a word as I drove a winding path through the French Quarter. Finally, I pulled up to Remington’s and punched in the code to open the gate.
It would be best to hide my car on the slight chance anyone had followed us. I wished there was room in Remington’s garage, but it was tiny and only had room for his precious Ferrari. He wouldn’t dare park it outside. I cut the engine and reached for my door.
“Is this really Remington’s house?” Julian asked.
“It is. Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“I’m not going to be welcome here.”
“You are if I say you’re mine.”
He scowled at me. “Your what? Your prisoner?”
I scoffed. “No. You’re just… mine.” Initially, I’d used the word to push his buttons, but I realized I meant it. I’d put Julian in danger, and that was reason enough for me to protect him, but there was more than that between us. He was mine, and I had no intention of letting him go.
Julian didn’t say anything. He just looked at me like I was a bug.
He was once again the aloof, stick-up-his-ass man he’d been the first time I’d met him, but he couldn’t fool me.
Now that I’d kissed him and felt the passion he hid underneath his librarian persona, he wasn’t going to be able to hide who he was. Not from me.
I circled the car, opened Julian’s door, and held out my hand. “May I introduce you to my brother?”
“I’ve met your brother. It didn’t go well.”
“He’s as stubborn as I am, so I can imagine how that went. How about I introduce you to Tony?”
“I’ve already met him too, and I don’t?—”
“Give him a chance when he’s not in your precious library.”
“The library is important because?—”
“I’m going to do everything possible to protect the library. I promise. You can also meet Remington’s fiancé, Henri. You’ll like him. He’s very different than my brother.”
“And you?”
I grinned. “Yes.”
“Then maybe I will like him.”
I snorted. “You liked me when I was kissing you.”
“I’ve kissed plenty of men I don’t like.”
I froze. “By choice?”
His eyes grew big. “Yes. I didn’t mean… I’ve just made a lot of stupid choices.”
“Haven’t we all?”
He shrugged. “If I ask your brother to take me home, what will he say?”
“The same thing I did. You’re not safe on your own.”
He sighed, but he took my hand and let me lead him up the porch steps.
Remington opened the door before I had a chance to knock. He wore a neutral expression, but his stiff shoulders and tight jaw told me he was furious. I could practically feel the anger rolling off him.
He looked at Julian, then back at me. “What is he doing here?”
“Remington, move back and let them in. It’s hot out there.”
I smiled at Henri’s words. Few people would have the nerve to speak to my brother that way. Watching Henri become more and more comfortable putting Remy in his place was my favorite thing about their relationship.
Henri held out his hand to Julian. “I’m Henri. It’s nice to meet you.” Tony raced out of the kitchen, flying toward me. I scooped him up. “How was he?”
Remy snarled. “You brought this man into my house, you’ve gone dark for hours with no explanation, and you’re asking about your fucking monkey?”
Henri rolled his eyes. “Tony’s been fantastic. Remy and I were just feeding him banana chips.”
“Both of you?”
“Yes. Your brother actually spent some time in the same room as Tony this time.” He winked at me. “I’m working on him.”
“Enough of that,” Remy snapped. “I need to know what’s going on, and I need to know now.”
I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the necklace.
Remington’s eyes went wide. It was rare for me to shock my brother, so I relished the moment.
I was happy to see he hadn’t expected this because it meant he hadn’t lied to me.
He could feign shock with other people, but I knew him too well.
“Where did you get that?” His voice was rough like he was choking on the words.
“This is the information that was hidden in the archive.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Now you understand why I brought Julian with me?”
He nodded. “You sure as hell couldn’t leave him there.”
Henri interrupted before I could grill Remy about what the hell was going on. “Why don’t I take Julian and Tony to the kitchen. The two of you can talk in Remington’s office.”
Remy huffed. When he turned to Julian, I took Julian’s hand and gave him a reassuring squeeze. Remington’s gaze dropped to our clasped fingers. He looked back at me and raised his brow.
“Julian is under my protection.”
“He’s under our family’s protection. I might disagree with the way he runs his library, but I brought this down on us, so I’m responsible.”
Julian scowled. “I really want to know what’s going on.”
“You know too much already,” Remington said. “Go with Henri.”
“You can’t just?—”
Remington glared at him. I stepped between them, then turned to face Julian, laying my hands on his shoulders. “You’ll be happier in the kitchen. I promise. Remy’s going to want to yell. I’m used to it.”
Remington growled, and I glanced over my shoulder. “You used to offer better hospitality than this.”
“Lancelot, go to my office. Now.”
I kissed Julian’s cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, and I’ll take you home.”
“Home?” I hated that he looked so damn hopeful.
“My home.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
Henri gave me a knowing smirk. “Make sure Remy behaves himself.” He ignored Remington’s glare and waved us off. “Go on, boys. Go talk business without us. I assume you’re calling Corbin in on this.”
“He’s on his way.” Remington sounded like he was speaking through a clenched jaw. I refused to think about how he would make Henri pay for his sassiness later and how much they’d both enjoy it.