Lucien (The Marchesi Family 1)

“I swear to you. It’s a real honest-to-God paying job in an office. Just go.”

“If this job is so good—”

“Sorry, got to go. He’s a little put out with me right now.” He tilted his head toward Mac who was heading our way. When I turned back to say something else to Jimmy, he was gone. I caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared into the crowd.

Mac scowled at Jimmy’s retreating back. “That son of a bitch hasn’t paid his tab in months, yet he keeps getting the other bartenders to give him drinks.”

“If he didn’t know how to be charming, he’d probably be dead by now.”

Mac huffed. “Fucking asshole.”

I started to tell Mac about the job Jimmy wanted me to take, but I thought better of it. Mac would tell me to forget about it and try to convince me to work for him again. I didn’t feel like arguing with anyone else. It had been a really long day.

I stepped outside with Mac and talked to him while he took his smoke break, then I gave him a hug and said good night.

As I walked home, I felt weighed down. It was all I could do to lift my feet and keep going. Maybe I should do what Jimmy suggested. I didn’t know for sure that he was lying. What if this was my big break? I knew better than to get my hopes up. Most likely, I wouldn’t even have the nerve to show up at Distinguished Properties. The best thing to do was head back to the temp agency and hope to be sent someplace where the people were just incompetent rather than vicious.

I sank onto my bed, not even bothering to take my clothes off. Maybe I’d just stay there under the covers. I was so fucking tired. I’d been supporting myself since I was eighteen. There had been some lean times, but I’d always pulled through without having to ask for help. I was proud of that, but sometimes, I wished I had someone who would take care of me or, better yet, a fairy tale prince who would rescue me from the endless day-to-day struggle of trying to find a job and a little respect.

2

Lucien

I straightened my tie and gave myself one final look in the mirror. Satisfied with the cut of my new suit and assured I’d exerted my usual level of control over my wavy hair, I went in search of my brother and my cousin. They weren’t passed out half-naked in the foyer again, which was something at least. I heard a sound from the dining room, but when I walked in, it was only one of the maids bringing in a chafing dish.

I didn’t know why I’d thought Angelo and Devil would be eating at this hour. When I was especially bad as a kid, our mother would send me to wake up Angelo. It was one of my least favorite punishments. And Devil’s idea of breakfast was a whiskey and a blow job.

I already wasn’t looking forward to this day, and now I had to track down those assholes if I was going to have their backing for a meeting with our allies. I read through some unpleasant messages while enjoying one of the chocolate croissants our housekeeper made especially for me and taking in enough caffeine to face the day. Then I went in search of Angelo and Devil.

I heard laughter coming from Angelo’s room and opened the door without knocking. “What the fuck are you two doing in here?”

Angelo was lying sideways across the bed, and Devil was stretched out on the sofa in the sitting area.

The only response I got to my question was more laughter. They were the only people who would dare show me so little respect. “Have you been to bed at all?”

Devil frowned. “I don’t think so. Angel, did we go to bed last night?” I still used my brother’s full name, but the two of them had been known as Angel and Devil since they were little kids.

Angelo shook his head, then groaned and rolled to his stomach.

“If you’re going to puke, get the fuck into the bathroom,” I said.

Angelo held up a hand. “I’m good.”

“No, you’re fucking not. You’re both supposed to be ready to go downtown. We’ve got business to attend to today.”

Devil huffed. “You mean Damian Ricci coming after you? That’s not business. That’s pest control.”

“If he were working alone, that’s all it would be, and I would’ve taken care of it without even involving you two idiots, but he’s been putting feelers out to anyone with a grudge against us. It’s like he’s finally realized he needs some strength behind him if he’s going to make any kind of move.”

“Who would listen to him? He’s weak as fuck.” Angelo sat up and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “And he’s a fucking moron.”