Chapter 45
Ace
Something bad happened that they aren’t telling me.
“What happened?” I say louder this time, desperation creeping in.
Kian stares down at me, his dark eyes assessing. “Beckett got into an exchange with a security guard at the cemetery. He was shot in the shoulder.”
I gasp, staggering like I’ve been hit. “What?”
When I look back at Luciano, he stares at me with concern.
“He was shot?” I ask, even though I know I heard him correctly. “I want to go with you.”
Shaking his head, Kian doesn’t move. “You’re staying here with Luciano.”
“I want to see him. He was shot because of me.” My chest burns. “Your brother was almost killed because of me.”
“Beckett is going to be fine,” he answers, taking a step toward me.
“I need you to stay with your cousin, though. Until I know everything has been cleared up with your mother, I need you here. Protected. And I swear to fucking God, angel,” he says in a lower voice.
“If you even so much as think about leaving here without permission from me, it won’t only be my hand and the wooden spoon you’re going to be feeling on your ass tomorrow for your little flight to Seattle and armed robbery of our bodyguards.
I don’t think you want me to bring my belt into the mix. Do. You. Understand. Me?”
A shiver runs through me all the way to the tips of my toes as his threat seeps into my brain.
The threat of what’s to come for leaving my house in Vegas after he told me to stay.
I knew the second I walked out of my front door that Kian wouldn’t be happy.
He likes control. It’s how he takes care of everyone around him.
“Yes, Daddy,” I murmur when he raises an impatient eyebrow.
He leans down and cups the back of my neck, kissing me thoroughly and deeply before he finally releases me and nods toward Luciano with a deadly glare.
A warning that he’d better take good care of me.
These men are controlling and overbearing. They’re totally unhinged.
But it feels so good to feel how much they care.
When Kian has gone, Luciano eyes me, then points toward the bed. “You need to rest.”
“So do you,” I say. “You look like shit.”
Luciano narrows his gaze. “I’ve been up all night, brat. And why didn’t you tell Kian that he looks like shit?”
The corners of my lips twitch as I crawl onto the plush mattress and pull the covers over myself. “Because he’s hot. And you’re my cousin.”
When he chuckles, I grin. It’s good to hear coming out of Luciano. The man needs to laugh more.
“What happened to Beckett?” I ask when he sits next to me on the edge of the bed. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have asked you guys to do that.”
Shaking his head, Luciano’s features darken. “You didn’t ask. And Beckett’s fine. He’s a tough kid.”
Rolling my eyes at my cousin, I smirk. “You act like you’re thirty years older than he is. Jeez. You’re barely in your forties. When did you turn one hundred years old? Kid? Seriously?”
He smiles at me, studying closely. The way Kian does.
“Lacey, I’m so fucking sorry,” he apologizes. “I should have paid closer attention and been there for you. If I’d been more involved…”
I can’t help but reach out and touch Luciano’s arm, stopping him. “Your job was to take up your position in the family business. And now you can be as involved as you want with discarding her body. Dump her in a pool of piranhas for all I care.”
The room goes silent for a moment before he glares at me. “Are you fucking with me?”
Bursting out laughing, I shove at him and don’t miss the sparkle in his icy eyes. As much as I’ll never understand it, I don’t think Luciano sees what I do when he looks at himself in the mirror.
He thinks he wasn’t there for me, but I remember the birthday card I got from him every single year, even when he had to sneak it to me inside my private school because my mother didn’t want me to have contact with him.
He feels guilty for not being involved, but I’ll never forget the nights he sat at the very back of whatever venue I was performing in and would applaud the loudest before he slipped out to avoid confrontation with her.
“You’re a good man, Luciano Ricci. You deserve happiness.”
My words make him still before he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, head bowed. “So do you. And Kian’s a good man, Lacey. He’s going to treat you well.”
I shake my head, annoyed. Why do these men have to be so freaking hard-headed sometimes? He’s avoiding talking about his life; I have half a mind to smack him. I don’t give a crap if he’s the second-in-command of the Italian mafia. He’s a dumbass.
“Thanks for your approval of my relationship,” I snap. “But I’m talking about you. Don’t try to brush me off.”
Sitting up, Luciano turns and glares at me. “Watch it. You’re already on thin fucking ice for the stunt you pulled. You’re fucking lucky I know Kian’s going to deal with your ass.”
What?
How rude!
“Just because you and Kian have some sort of tie now doesn’t mean you two get to gang up on me.”
He shrugs. “Wanna bet? We get to do whatever the hell we want, Tesoro. Especially when it comes to your health and safety.”
“Can you just promise me one thing?” I ask in a soft voice that I know makes him crumble. He always does. That’s Luciano for you.
“Hm?” He stares at me blankly. I’m sure his mind is racing after tonight, but he’s sitting here dealing with me instead.
“Be open to love.”
Luciano’s eyes ice over, and he tenses. “The thought is nice, Lace, but monsters like me don’t deserve love.”
My eyes burn, and I can’t stop myself from reaching for one of his tattooed hands. “Then why do I love you so much?”
He looks at me, studying. “Because you’re an angel who no one in this life deserves.”
“You don’t think Kian deserves me?”
Huffing out a breath, Luciano relaxes. “Fuck, no. That asshole doesn’t deserve you. Fucking hate that guy.” He shakes his head and sighs. “He’s not even fucking Italian.”
I laugh out loud. “Does that actually matter to you?” I ask, cocking my head at him.
“No.” He rolls his eyes. “Kian’s a good man. But no, he doesn’t deserve you. No one does. You’re too damn good for this world, Lacey Ricci. I’m glad it’s Kian you’re settling for, though. I trust him to take care of you.”
“You barely know him,” I say.
“I know him,” he answers quietly. “Time doesn’t determine whether he’s loyal and trustworthy. I didn’t like that he challenged me, and he’s lucky I don’t slit his throat for ambushing me. But I respect him for it. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me.”
Tears roll down my cheeks as I throw my arms around my cousin and sob against his shoulder.
“I am. And now I want you to find happiness too.”
Luciano hugs me back, squeezing me so tightly I can barely breathe, but I don’t say anything because I think he needs this.
If there’s one thing I know for sure is that my words matter to Luciano, so even though he isn’t acknowledging it, he won’t forget what I said. I just hope that when someone comes into his life, he remembers.