Lucien (The Marchesi Family 1)

I raised my gun. Peter gasped when I stepped out into the open, but I didn’t hesitate. I sent a bullet into the back of Damian’s head, and he dropped to the ground.

For a moment, everyone but Angelo, Devil, and Marco seemed stunned. They all stared at each other, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Stefan turned, gun ready. Before I could react, a shot exploded and red bloomed across Stefan’s chest. He fell down beside Damian. I turn to see Peter, still holding up his gun with shaky hands. He glanced at me. “I told you I wanted to take care of you.”

When no one else moved against us, I laid my hand over his, encouraging him to lower his gun. “You did, baby. That was perfect.”

“Th-thank you.” All the color had drained from his face. He didn’t look any more steady on his feet than I was.

I took his arm and pulled him to stand next to me. A few of Damian’s men still had their weapons out, but I didn’t think they were a serious threat now.

“This is your one chance to ask forgiveness. After tonight, consider yourself my enemy.” I gestured towards Damian and Stefan with my weapon. “You see what happens to my enemies.” One by one, the men gave in to the inevitable, kneeling and begging me to forgive them. They would be punished, but they would live.

If I hadn’t had Peter by my side, I’m not sure I could’ve stayed on my feet long enough to hear their pleas. Between the adrenaline coursing through me and the incredible strength of the man I loved, I stood there through it all, being the leader my family needed.

When everyone but my true allies had been dismissed, all I wanted to do was take Peter home, wrap myself around him, and give him the comfort I knew he needed. He’d never shot a gun before, and he sure as hell had never killed a man. I’d grown up in this life, but this wasn’t who Peter was, yet he’d done what he had to for me.

I couldn’t go home with him, though. I had to clean up this mess. We needed a story for the police, and I’d have to call my contact in homicide so things could get taken care of quickly. I was also sure Angelo and Devil wanted to know what had happened while I was Damian’s prisoner, and we needed to make sure Mario was rounded up along with anyone else who might still be following Damian’s agenda.

And while I didn’t want Peter to worry over my injuries, I knew I needed a doctor and some time to heal. Comforting Peter—and myself—would have to wait, and it would be best if he went away for a few days, because as much as I wanted to argue otherwise, I was in no shape to keep him safe.

31

Peter

I’d argued with Lucien when he’d said he wanted me out of the city for a few days. I wanted to stay by his side and take care of him while he healed, but weariness and pain showed clearly on his face. I knew arguing with him would make things worse, so I’d given in and agreed to go to a safehouse with Sabrina until he’d regained his strength and his family had made sure all Damian’s allies had been tracked down.

He’d said little as we’d ridden back to his house. I knew he was in pain and doing his best to hide how bad it was. He held my hand and that was enough to comfort me as I replayed the events of the evening in my head. I’d killed a man. I’d shot him and watched him die without even trying to see if he could be saved. I was shaken by it, but not as much as I should have been. Stefan would have killed Lucien, and I’d kill him again to save the man I loved.

Lucien had kissed me goodbye before sending me off with his most trusted guards. I’d gone to bed as soon as I reached the safehouse which was hidden deep in a forest, but it had taken me hours before I could fall asleep. I dreamed of Lucien, confined in a cell, all alone and in pain. I jerked awake just before dawn, terrified that I’d only imagined rescuing Lucien and he was still at Damian’s mercy.

Sabrina knocked on my door a little while later to see if I wanted some breakfast. She hadn’t come with me the night before, but Lucien had assured me he’d be sending her. I knew I wouldn’t get any more sleep, so I agreed to join her.

She made us pancakes and bacon. I thought I wasn’t hungry, despite eating little since Lucien had been captured, but once I’d taken a bite, I changed my mind and polished off a tall stack of pancakes.