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In any other setting, Lucifer’s reply would have been fair. Typical, even. But in our world, both Lucifer and I were walking a fine line. We were like two children trying to convince an adult to let us do something they’d already said no to—only in this scenario, the adult just happened to be the head of an organized crime family and could be a murderous dick when he wanted to be.
Raphael stood up from his chair and buttoned his suit coat. “Lucifer, you will take my fiancée to church. She’ll be ready at seven.” This time, there was no denying the tenor of his words. Raphael had managed to turn my request around and make it an order. My fiancé was so transparent—pettiness seeped from his pores.
I wondered what else I’d learn about the brothers’ relationship the longer this charade of playing house went on.
Lucifer filed from the room without looking back.
Raphael turned to me. “You’ll be safe with Lucifer. He’d give his life for mine and for anything that belongs to me.”
The devil was taking me to church—how utterly poetic.
I bowed my head in a gesture of submission that I knew Raphael would appreciate. “Thank you.”
When I looked up, gratification trumped his expression. “Now, I must be off, but Sosanna will handle anything that you need. Remember, Willa, you are essentially the lady of this family now, so please make yourself at home.” He cocked his head, giving the impression that he was about to say something thoughtful. “The mansion and grounds are well guarded. We have cameras everywhere except for the bedrooms and bathrooms. My men miss nothing. Everyone is safe here.” Then he turned his reptilian grin to Cillian. “You get to spend the day with me, you lucky son of a bitch.”
Make that two enigmas.
I had an identical set.
The rest of the day was uneventful—even by mobster housewives of Boston standards.
After I’d eaten an early dinner alone in my bedroom, I’d fallen asleep reading the Bible. I’d long since memorized all sixty-three verses regarding murder, but I considered the torment I felt during those daily readings a sort of penance I deserved.
Now it was nearing six o’clock. Lucifer would be here soon.
I’d been battling a horde of confused and nervous butterflies all day. I was both riveted by and ambivalent to the fact that he’d put himself in a position to spend time with me—alone. Would he finally admit he knew who I was? Would he demand to know how I’d ended up married to Tiernan? Would he lay some kind of claim to my honor out of respect for my father’s memory?
I stopped pacing my bedroom floor and nibbled on a chipped thumbnail.
Okay, I was probably reaching with that last one.
But something had transpired silently between us this morning right under Raphael’s scrutinizing nose—right? It wasn’t just my recent sobriety making me jittery.
If I’d learned anything in the last ten years, it was that patience is more than a virtue. Sometimes it was the difference between life and death. I would wait him out. Lucifer needed to make the next move. I wasn’t about to keep putting myself out there like a desperate girl starved for his attention.
Shaking off the incessant thoughts, I slipped into a casual dress and a pair of heels, then tucked a rosary in my pocket. The last thing I did before leaving my bedroom was apply an extra layer of concealer to my fading shiner.
When I didn’t find Lucifer—or anyone else, for that matter—my curiosity led me to Raphael’s study. I glanced at the towering grandfather clock in the hallway and noticed I still had time before Lucifer was due to pick me up.
Raphael hadn’t declared his den of dark deeds off-limits, and I had time to kill.
I wasn’t breaking any rules or having a lapse in loyalty. This was about being an obedient fiancée. Hadn’t Raphael suggested that I make myself at home?
The massive room was more like an office, living room, and library all in one. A sleek bar stocked with the finest spirits made it the whole package. Aiden had a similar setup, so I knew from experience that anything of importance was either secured by digital encryption or in a vault. There was probably a secret entrance behind one of the bookcases that led to creepy passageways and underground tunnels too. If it weren’t for all the hidden cameras, I’d have been eager to check them out. When Raphael had brought up his sketchy monitoring system, I’d wanted to point out that I’d already located seventeen of them. Including the one in my bedroom, which was now hidden behind a framed photo of my favorite Irish Thoroughbred.
Lying snake.
I dragged my fingertips across the polished mahogany desktop as I imagined my fiancé sitting on his high-backed throne behind it looking like a dead ringer for a Disney leading man.
In the sensual lighting, the stone hearth and gold furnishings created a regal, almost romantic atmosphere.
But Raphael was no prince, and this was no love story.
Lucifer emerged from the shadows. “Looking for something?”
He’d changed since the morning. Now he wore dark slacks and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off thick forearms with ropy veins, a spattering of dark hair, and a platinum watch. A hint of expensive cologne woke up more than just my sense of smell.
“A book,” I lied, knowing full well he’d never believe I was looking for a book on Raphael’s desk.
