The Dangers of Beauty
Headlights cut through the cover of darkness.
Kate’s book dropped to the floor with a thud. She whirled around to where Lucien had been sitting in his armchair in front of the roaring fire, but found it deserted.
He was already at the tiny front door window, fingers drawing back the curtains to peek past them. “Fuck.”
Whoever was on the driveway, it wasn’t a welcome sight.
He dropped the piece of cloth, wheeling around to face her. She lifted her eyebrows in question, but even as she did so, a shiver raced down her spine. His face was devoid of amusement, no grin she’d come so used to seeing. Only cold calculation, and maybe even… fear.
It could only mean one thing. Bad news.
But who could he possibly fear? And more importantly, why?
His deep voice snapped her back to the moment. “I need you to go to your room and lock the door behind you.”
“But-”
He raised a single hand. “No buts.” His green eyes cut into hers, a hint of something dark in them, as if they had turned to ice. The same look he’d worn when they met, when she’d crawled out of her hiding space on Christmas. “Please, do as I say.”
It set her on edge just enough to gather the blanket around her. The headlights were cut off, leaving them in the dimly lit living room that had been Lucien’s sanctuary a minute ago.
He turned, movements smooth and fast, as he picked up her book and shoved it back in its place. Dropped her glass in the sink, wiping his black shirt over the round circle her glass had left behind.
He strode back over to her, covering the distance between them in two steps, firmly gripping her shoulder. “Whatever you do. Don’t make a noise. Don’t give a hint that you’re here.” Her gut tightened into a ball as he squeezed again. “Understood?”
She swallowed, throat dry. Lucien traced the tiny movement that betrayed her fear. The sharpness in his eyes retreated briefly, lifting the veil to show the man who had helped her overcome a panic attack. “We’re going to be fine.”
She could only nod her head. At a loss for words, she stepped out of his grasp.
Bare feet tapping on the floor as she rushed to her room.
The second she’d slipped inside and turned the lock, a rapid knock beat across the house.
Not a normal sound one would make at this hour of the evening.
No. It carried the tune of a children’s song.
Kate slid down the door. Heartbeat hammering in her chest, in rhythm with the haunting melody.
Who the hell was out there?
***
Lucien
The engine had betrayed the owner.
What the hell was he doing here?
Will and plain logic had taught them that limiting physical visits as much as possible would help safeguard their lines of work. Their very lives.
The last thing a killer for hire wanted was a nose meddling in on their affairs. He better have a damn good reason.
Molding his face to one of neutrality, he gripped the cool handle and pushed it down. Quieting the obsessive knocking into silence.
The wind rushed by, forcing him to raise a hand to his eyes. They narrowed at the man who was tapping his foot on the treacherous ice-covered steps.
“Took you long enough, Lucien.” His breath came out in wisps of smoke. Max knocked his boots against the wall before setting foot over the threshold.
Always. So. Goddamned. Loud.
Oh, what a day it would have been, if dear Max had tripped and fallen down the icy stairs. Lucien pictured the event in the papers. Accidents do happen. Maybe he should’ve helped his colleague with a teeny tiny push.
Too late. He squinted as Max brushed by, boots leaving behind small wet puddles. Any other day, he’d have said something. But, given the circumstances, he would give Max a pass. Just this once.
His colleague’s eyes scanned the room. Lucien followed suit. Amber flames licked at the air, their shadows dancing across the walls. A lone glass of liquor waiting for its owner, a book… discarded on its side.
All the signs of a lone man enjoying his evening. Max’s nostrils flared, as if he smelled Kate in the air. Better keep him occupied.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?”
The man in front of him ignored the question. Firing off one of his own as he continued his search. “What were you doing, brother? Your door is always open before I even set foot outside of the car.” He whispered excitedly. “Is there a lady friend here I should meet?”
Lucien snorted, face remaining impassive. “You know me, a lonely fox. No female company would hold out for long in my presence.”
Max chuckled as he rubbed his hands together. “Old habits don’t die, do they?”
“I guess they don’t.” He motioned for Max to follow him to his study. The man trailed behind him. Lucien lazily stretched his arms out above him in a show of relaxation. But he was ready. Ears piqued for the footsteps behind him to speed up and knock him over the head with brass knuckles.
As spine-chillingly annoying as Max was, Lucien knew what he was capable off. Committing the most atrocious act yet remaining human on the outside.
Is this how Kate feels? To be surrounded by a predator, remain on high alert in hopes of catching the blow before it falls?
He was no saint either. The things he’d seen and done. He wasn’t even sure if he could still pass for human. A beast skulked within him, waiting to rear its head.
He held the door open to let his colleague pass in front of him and shut it with a resounding click, successfully sealing them off from the rest of the house.
Max plopped down in a chair, face a cruel, twisted mask in the light of the desk lamp.
Not a mask, his true face. Lucien held up a bottle of Whiskey in invitation.
Filling it generously before handing it over.
He slid into a chair of his own, swirling the amber liquid around as he asked.
“Why have you come here?” He made sure there was no hint of welcome in his voice.
Lest his visitor got the wrong impression.
Max tasted the veiled question slowly before answering. “You know I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need to be.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and stared into Lucien’s eyes. He smirked. “You’ve made a mistake, brother.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“You missed one.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ghost padding over to the door, head tilted slightly, almost as if he was…. listening to something.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Oh, Kate. He was going to rip her a new one. A flash of disappointment hit him in the chest. One thing, he’d asked her one thing. For her own good.
“Care to elaborate on the mystery?” He murmured while catching Ghost’s eyes, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side. Sensing his quiet command Ghost’s nails clicked against the wooden floor, coming to sit down next to him. Good boy.
Max’s eyes shot to the dog. Unease rippling through his shoulders. Lucien felt the man shake himself inwardly. Just a dog.
“That contract involving the family poisoning?” He waited for Lucien to nod. “The girl escaped.”
He let a hand graze over Ghost, fingers disappearing in the long white fur. “Which girl? To my knowledge, there was an assignment for five individuals. Last I checked, those have all been dealt with.”
Max sneered. “There was another girl there. Foster child apparently, she got away.”
Lucien nodded. “There was indeed an unknown girl. She left before the festivities started, probably off somewhere to weep over her sorry life.”
“You should have gotten rid of her!”
Lucien studied the man in front of him for a moment. Letting the weight of his stare do the talking. A slight hunch in Max, near invisible. But there, nonetheless. Good. “Max… I did my job with the information you…” He trailed off, letting that sink in. “Delivered.”
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingertips together. “It is not my problem, if false information is spread around.”
Max’s eyes widened at the accusation.
He never did handle criticism very well. It is part of the reason he has never risen beyond third-in-command. Anderson doesn’t need a ticking time bomb handling his affairs.
Lucien went on undisturbed. “Before you come here and accuse me of botching an assignment.” He glanced at the whitening knuckles of Max as they clenched around his chair. “I’d take a good look at the messenger.”
Max snorted a laugh. ‘‘You’re slipping Lucien, I would get it together before our dear employer…” He trailed off.
Lucien leaned forward at that, his eyes burning into Max’s. “Before Anderson does what exactly? Replace me with you?” He scoffed. “I don’t see that happening.”
He knew that would trigger the last of the man’s slipping composure. Remaining in control of one’s emotions is key to surviving this job. Being able to play others’ emotions? Equally as important.
Max shot up from his chair, towering over Lucien.
“You know what Lucien? I think your soft spot finally tied the noose around your neck. I think you’ve offered the little mouse a way out.
” He shook his head, spittle landing at Lucien’s feet.
“Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve skirted around the rules. ”
How awfully hygienic. And… truthful at the same time. Soft spot indeed.
Lucien sighed internally. Wooden floor, bodily juices. Not a good mix. A certain scarlet life giving fluid would have been better. At least that would have been worth the clean up.
Max’s blood-shot eyes turned frantic. Skirting around the room as if the girl would just pop up. “Where is she, huh? We’ve been searching every damn nook and crevice for a trace of her, so I know.” He barked out a low laugh. “I know you did something.”
His finger stretched out to Lucien. “You have something to do with it.”
The poor man was panicking. Fearing the very noose he mentioned. He had fucked up with intel. It wasn’t something Anderson took lightly. Mistakes were not accepted in their line of work.
Lucien got up, drawing his shoulders back. Max strode forward until they stood face to face. Outstretched finger still pointing. He could see it, the desire burning in the man’s eyes, short breaths.
His own pulse raced at the thought. A din rushed through his ears. Oh, if only. All he needed was a tiny little push. Lucien lowered his voice to a sweet whisper. “You’d do well to remember who you’re threatening… brother.”
A shudder of excitement ran through Max’s body. Shoulders tensing, muscles bracing, he leaned his weight back.
That’s it. Come on.
A low growl split them apart. Ghost stepped forward, pulling up his lips, light flickering across his pearly whites.
Max went deathly silent. Frozen as he stared in the large dog’s face. Twisted in challenge.
Lucien could see it. The assessment. Could he whip the gun from his holster and shoot Lucien before the dog was upon him or, could he shoot the dog before Lucien tied the noose around his neck?
The answer was no. Not if the man had a death wish.
Max knew it too. He shook his head, mumbling. “I’d watch your loyal bitch, both of them. Lest something were to happen.” With that he turned on his heel. Hand reaching out to the door handle, Lucien beat him to it. Inching the handle down slowly. Giving Kate a head start.
His colleague had flinched back. Eyes ablaze.
“My house, remember? It’d do you good not to touch anything.”
The man chuckled. “You and your OCD loving ass, brother. Combine that with your soft spot.” He glanced at his chest. “They’ll be the death of you.”
Judging by the shadow slipping into her room.
He is right as rain.