Lucien (The Marchesi Family 1)

Lola came to greet me when I entered the house. As she took my coat, she said, “You look exhausted, Mr. Lucien. Can I get something for you?”

I wanted bourbon, but I wanted to see Peter more. “Have a bottle of my best bourbon and two glasses sent to Peter’s room.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

I could tell she wanted to say something else. “What is it Lola? Is Peter all right?”

“He seemed upset when he came in a little while ago.”

“Thank you. I’ll check on him.” I hurried upstairs to Peter’s room, glad for once that Angelo and Devil were rarely home this time of day. I would brief them in the morning about what happened during my trip to New Jersey.

I didn’t bother knocking. When I stepped into Peter’s room, he was lying on the rug by the bed in a crumpled heap.

“Peter?” I sank down beside him. “What’s wrong?”

He turned to look at me, and I saw that his eyes were red and his cheeks tear stained.

“You wouldn’t let me… I can’t go see my uncle… You have me trapped here, and I… I can’t do this.”

“What do you mean I wouldn’t let you see your uncle?”

“I asked to go to his bar after work, and Ralph said he had to bring me here, that his orders were to only take me to the office or back here, so…”

Fuck. I had told Ralph that but not because I intended to prevent Peter from going anywhere else. I wanted to make sure Peter was safe and prevent him from running if he was upset about my insistence he move in with me. Sooner or later, Ricci would find out I’d staked my claim on Peter, and my beautiful boy would become a target.

When I laid a hand on Peter’s back, he flinched and pulled away.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know, but I can’t think when you touch me.”

I couldn’t say I minded having that effect on him. “I did give Ralph those orders, but I’m not going to keep you from seeing your uncle. All you have to do is ask me if you want to go somewhere. I’ll let Ralph know he can take you there tomorrow after work.”

“I can see Uncle Mac alone?”

“Ralph will accompany you into the bar.”

“How did— Never mind. Of course you know my uncle runs a bar.”

I knew a hell of a lot more about him than that. “I wouldn’t bring someone into my home or my business without learning everything I could about them and their family.”

“Is there anything you can’t learn about a person?”

I wasn’t sure if he actually wanted an answer, but I gave him one anyway. “I have to get to know someone to learn how they think, who they really are, and what’s in here. I laid my hand over his heart. A lot of people think most people in my world don’t have a fucking heart. They’re wrong. Most of them don’t ever show it, though, so you have to look closely.”

Peter studied me as if taking my words to heart. “I want to know who you really are.”

“It’s probably best that you don’t.”

Peter shook his head. “You’re more than a cold, hard man who expects to get everything he wants.”

“I’m everything my upbringing has made me. I’m a criminal who’s seen and done horrible things, but I was lucky enough to have parents who truly loved me. My mother”—I paused to cross myself—“God rest her soul, wanted to teach me how to care, not just how to kill, and my father defended me to anyone who thought to dismiss me because I’m gay.”

“If you know how to be a good man, then why have you taken my freedom from me?”

I refused to let him see how much his words hurt. Did he really see me as a monster? “I have a lot of enemies, Peter. It’s not safe for you to be out without protection.”

“Is it really about protecting me, or do you just want to make sure you don’t lose your property?”

“That’s not how I see you, Peter.” I hated the pain I saw in his eyes.

“You said you owned me, and you won’t let me leave.”

I had said those exact words, and I meant them, but not the way he was taking them. “I want you, and that means you’re under my protection.”

“And you always get what you want.”

“I do, but I want to give you what you want too.” More than anything, I wanted to give him pleasure.

“Is this what you think I want? This beautiful room and all these clothes? Jesus, it must’ve cost a fortune, and I’ve never owned so many hair and skin products in my life.”

I let my gaze slide over his beautiful face. “You don’t need them.”

“Why did you buy them for me then?”