Part 24 (1/2)
p.a.w.ns The weakest pieces in the game Isadora put out a beautiful spread. Distraction was easily found in a.s.serting his skills of intimidation over Antoinette's date. Peter Cross was a slimy little crawler with a knockoff Rolex, who liked to touch his baby sister a little too much.
”You're rotten, Lucian,” Isadora teased as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink.
”Quite, but what's brought about your scrutiny today?”
She laughed melodically as she transferred the remainder of turkey into a disposable silver tray.
”Poor Peter's going to need a new pair of underwear by the time he leaves here.”
”I don't care for the way he handles Antoinette. He should have respect. He's in our family home.”
”They're twenty-two and in love, Lucian. It isn't like he's groping her a.s.s at the dinner table.”
”He better not be,” he growled, tossing a dishtowel on the granite countertop.
”She's not a baby anymore, Lucian.”
That was true. She was the same age as Evelyn, yet Antoinette still seemed like a little girl in pigtails.
Isadora sealed a lid over the leftovers and turned. ”I talked to father today. He and Tibet send their regards and apologize for not making it back to the States.”
”Like we ever expected them to.”
Tibet was his father's mistress. She'd basically come with his father's marriage to their mother, like an unfortunate stowaway they all turned a blind eye to. When their mother pa.s.sed away, when they were all under the age of twelve, Antoinette merely a toddler, Christos Patras had abandoned his children and legacy and taken off to Europe to fornicate with his mistress, where he wouldn't be under the judgmental eye of his and Lucian's mother's upper-crust circle.
Lucian's teenage years had been a navigation of misplaced anger and rebellion at being abandoned by the only parent he had left. Isadora took on the role of nurturer. Tutors saw to his education, ensuring he had the proper well-bred edification of any baron apprentice. He'd earned his master's just after he disenfranchised the company he saw as his father's last standing pride and joy, and earned his first million independent from his legacy shortly after.
The Patras name was plenty a foundation to stand on. By his midtwenties Lucian had held the impressive prestige of men twice his age, because none of them could compete with his family's worth. Their name had been a trusted brand since the turn of the century, when his great-great-grandfather had opened a charming little inn that catered to the upper cla.s.s within the limits of a little metropolitan town called Folsom. They now had a fleet of luxury hotels spanning the globe and more money than any of them knew what to do with.
Lucian pulled his thoughts from the past with an effort. After the remainder of the meal was dealt with, they gathered in the great room to watch a little of the game. Although his eyes never left the television, minus the sidelong glances at Peter and his wandering hands, he wasn't even aware which teams were playing. His mind was focused on Evelyn.
Was she eating a turkey feast? Did the shelter acknowledge the holiday? What was she thankful for? He thought about the young man named Parker. It wouldn't surprise him if the two of them found comfort in each other's company. He cared for her very much, that was obvious in the longing way he watched her, whether Evelyn saw it or not.
Lucian's gut twisted at the thought of someone else holding her, touching her, kissing her. He didn't want to think of those silver-blue eyes staring into someone else's face with the same awe she sometimes looked at him with. The boy would never be able to provide the right type of life for her, the kind that would extricate her from the gutters of Folsom and put her where she deserved to be.
Parker Hughes wasn't really a boy, though, was he? No, he was a man with a disadvantage. The p.r.i.c.k that Lucian was, part of him wanted the other man to stay down so he'd never have her. He should be hoping Parker ran into some luck so Evelyn could maybe find some small measure of happiness, but he was selfish. She was his.
Evelyn was intended for something better. Everyone saw it, except for poor innocent Evelyn herself. He bet she hadn't even realized what a ruckus she had caused at the bar the other night. What would she have done if she knew not only that clinger hovering at her chair was hoping to get a piece of her, but her friend from the salon, Patrice, also would've been more than willing to follow her to bed that night?
When he arrived at Vogue after Dugan received a call from the manager that a woman was using his card, he wanted to stomp in there like a possessive animal and mark every inch of her. Eyes from all directions were crawling over her body.
While everyone else had painstakingly chosen designer duds and invested extra time in their appearances in order to patronize the ritzy bar, Evelyn had worn nothing but a cotton T-s.h.i.+rt and jeans with those s.e.xy f.u.c.k-me pumps. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Not because she was underdressed, but because even without the effort made by the others, she was easily the most beautiful creature in the room.
His jaw popped and he unclenched his teeth. She was no longer his and he'd have to accept she would always gain the notice of other men and women. She was stunning and sweet and made it incredibly easy for him to go the extra mile and do something generous he normally wouldn't even consider. He'd do anything, just to see that look of admiration in her eyes. But what if that meant letting her go?
He realized the game had ended when Peter stood.
”Well, Annie, you ready to head home?”
This douche bag . . .
Antoinette lived in a cozy little condo at the top of a sw.a.n.k establishment he had finished just in time for her twentieth birthday. Lucian had no doubt Peter was making himself quite at home in her condo, using her cable, eating her food. He reminded himself, again, that Antoinette and Evelyn were essentially the same age and she had as much of a right to live her life the way she chose as Evelyn did. It didn't help.
Slapping Peter hard on the back, Lucian squeezed his shoulder until he winced. ”Why don't you come down to the city sometime, Pete? I'd love to show you what it is I do, let you get your feet wet in the real world for a day or two, see if you got what it takes.”
”Luche, Peter isn't interested in industrializing the world. He wants to be an instructor,” Antoinette said with doe-eyed affection for her boyfriend.
”An instructor of what?” he asked.
”Martial arts,” Peter chimed in, an unreliable worldliness to his voice.
Lucian's gaze narrowed as he skeptically took in his lanky build. ”What belt are you?”
The younger man s.h.i.+fted his feet apprehensively. The motion was a complete contradiction to his upturned chin. ”I'm not any belt yet, but I'm planning on starting cla.s.ses this spring.”
Good grief. Antoinette needed to drop this moron. Quick. ”Well, good luck with that,” he said, not bothering to disguise his unimpressed tone.
Once they all made their good-byes and his sisters promised they would get together in Folsom sometime before Christmas, he headed to his Rolls and planned to take the scenic way home in order to take in the open land. Hopefully the crisp air would erase the images of silver eyes and chestnut waves filling his head.
Chapter 29.
Cover To protect a piece, perhaps by placing the king in check It was bitterly cold on Monday when Lucian returned to the city. Climbing out of the limo, he hustled up the steps to Patras, the bl.u.s.tery wind chapping his cheeks in the mere seconds it took him to reach the warm interior of the lobby.
”Good morning, Mr. Patras,” numerous attendants greeted as he pa.s.sed quickly to the elevators. Sniffles and coughs filled the air, mixing with the low chatter of normal check-in traffic. Winter had arrived.
Entering the condo he found his mail and several messages awaiting him. He checked his phone and saw that Slade and Jamie would be arriving any minute. As he sorted through the mail, the soft chime of the elevator sounded and he moved to answer the door.
”s.h.i.+t, it's miserable out,” Jamie said as he undid his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair. Slade moved with quiet stealth, not needing to state the obvious like Jamie so often did.
”You guys eat?” Lucian stacked the mail on the heap of papers on his desk for later.
”I'm good. Coffee would be welcome though.”
Coffee was ordered and they jumped right into business. Jamie took the signed contracts he'd been waiting for and Slade sighed with relief. This deal was one they'd all been anxious to conclude.
Papers were sealed in envelopes and a messenger arrived to deliver them directly to the Realtor finalizing the deal.
”Well, it's good to see that finally over,” Jamie said, leaning back and exhaling a long-held breath.
Slade snickered. ”It's just beginning now. This is going to be a nightmare once we get into zoning.”
”It'll be fine,” Lucian commented, wanting to move on to more important issues. ”Slade, I'm having a s.h.i.+pment of winter clothing sent over to St. Christopher's tomorrow. I spoke to Paula and she said to check with you to make sure someone's there to receive the delivery.”
Slade's expression became unreadable. An unsavory sense of dread ran through Lucian's veins.