Coming Home (The Surrender Trilogy 3)

position in the public eye. She’s a fool for throwing the first stone.”

Evelyn shook her head. “Calling her stupid doesn’t take away what she did. This won’t just get

swept under the rug, Lucian. We have enough challenges on our own. All our crap is about to be

thrown out on the lawn for everyone to see.”

He considered her words. She was right. This wouldn’t just get swept away. People would want to

know. But he had nothing to hide. He merely wanted to shelter Evelyn. “What is it you are afraid of

them finding out? Is it Pearl?”

She gaped at him. “It’s all of it, Lucian. I’m an embarrassment to you! I was homeless for Christ’s sake. I ate out of dumpsters and slept in the dirt. My mother fucked strangers for drugs. I was born

addicted to heroin. I was illiterate until I was in my twenties and I can barely read now. You’re Lucian fucking Patras. Do you have any idea what this will do to your reputation?”

Rage seethed inside of him. His jaw clicked. Her voice had grown shriller with each proclamation.

He gently shook her. “Listen to me. You are not worthless. All of those things, they may be true, but look at you now. Who fucking cares about the past? You’ve overcome more obstacles than almost

anyone I know. I refuse— refuse— to sit here and listen to you degrade yourself. Do you understand me, Evelyn? You do that, and all those assholes who told you you’d never be anything more, they win.

Do you want them to win?”

“No.” She was breaking, but he needed her to see herself the way she really was.

“You have pride in spades, Evelyn. Don’t let them shake it. You’re smart, determined, beautiful,

and caring. Anyone who doesn’t see that is a fucking asshole. And as far as all those other accusations, I’ll come out with a statement and own up to every single one, just give me the word. I don’t give a

shit about what conclusions they draw. I love you. You, Evelyn, all of you.”

His words seemed to sink in. She nodded. “Okay.”

“Good.” He hugged her. He didn’t let her go until they reached his sister’s. Climbing out of the

limo, he reached for her hand.

“Will Isadora be upset we popped in?” Evelyn asked, adjusting her clothing.

“She’s used to it.” He led her to the door and Sophia, Isadora’s maid, greeted them.

“Good evening, sir.”

“Sophia.” He nodded. “This is Ms. Keats.”

“A pleasure,” the maid replied. “Isadora’s in the kitchen cursing you at this very moment.”

“Wonderful,” he commented, leading Evelyn to the kitchen. Escorting Evelyn through the grand

entrance, he found his sister chopping peppers at her granite island, a scowl marring her otherwise

pretty face. “Isa.”

“Do I look like one of your employees, Lucian?”

He walked over and kissed her cheek. “Stop. We had a situation and needed to get out of the city.

Evelyn was starving and we couldn’t go to the restaurant where we had reservations.”

Evelyn smacked his arm. “You’re blaming me?”

His sister paused from chopping. “What situation?”

“Let’s eat first and I’ll explain over dinner.” He plucked a slice of bell pepper from the butcher

block and popped it in his mouth.

She scooped the peppers and dropped them over a salad, which she proceeded to toss. “Evelyn, will

you tell me what’s going on?”

She sighed. “Lucian got involved with a she-devil—”

“I told you to stay away from Nicole. That girl doesn’t do casual dating. She can misinterpret a

wave as a marriage proposal.” She turned to Evelyn. “He never should have accepted her invitation to

the Slavonia affair last week.”

“Not helping, Isadora,” he grumbled in a warning voice.

His sister arched a brow. “What? You’re completely in love with Evelyn. You should have worked

your crap out before involving that spoiled little Pomeranian.” Turning to Evelyn once more, she

added, “I never liked her.”

Evelyn’s dimple appeared as she allowed herself a conspirator’s smile. Wonderful. “Well, I don’t

like her either. She ‘looked into’ me—whatever that means—and she got the paparazzi involved. We

were nearly trampled leaving Patras.”

Isa poured a glass of wine and offered them each one. They sat at the table and she sighed.

“Dinner’s in the oven. You’re lucky I have casseroles on hand. So, what kind of dirt did she find?

You’re very lucky you come from an ordinary background. The press can be relentless once they sink

their teeth in.”

Evelyn nearly choked taking a sip of wine. She wiped her mouth and blushed, then looked at him

with panic in her eyes. Here goes. Lucian took a deep breath. “Evelyn’s past isn’t exactly ordinary.”

Isa stilled. “What do you mean?”

“She actually has quite an extraordinary story, but it’s hers to share.”

His sister looked at Evelyn. “Will you share it?”

“Don’t pressure her, Isa.”

“It’s okay,” Evelyn said quietly. “I’d rather her hear the truth from me than some distorted version

of it from the tabloids.” She cleared her throat. “I was born in the wintertime, I think twenty-three