Page 103 of Lucian

“I said no! That’s the end of it,” Lucian yelled.

“Son, listen to me,” Antony said, pleadingly. “It would only be for a little while. Long enough to afford me some time to work through what all this means and try to figure it out.”

“We got nothing from Fraser,” Gio added to the conversation. “The idiot willing took money from someone he doesn’t know and can’t identify, plus was going to get a double payday off the money you brought for the Lexus. The guy who paid him didn’t give reasons as to the hit, just said it wouldn’t come back on the dealership. We have nothing to go on, Lucian. Not even a hint as to who this is. Hell, it could be one of us and you wouldn’t even know. Dad’s right, slipping out of state for a while and cutting off the outside world might be the best choice for now.”

Lucian barked out a bitter laugh. “Go to hell. I’m not hiding from whoever this is like they’ve turned me scared. That might be fine and great for you, but it doesn’t work for me.”

“Lucian,” Antony warned sharply. “He’s only trying to help.”

“My answer is no.”

“And you don’t get the final say,” his father retorted just as fast. “The facts we know are clear. Very few people knew you were going to pick out your car today. That does narrow down our list.”

“To them and every person they told,” Lucian growled. “It doesn’t narrow it down that damned much. I have work to do here. I can’t afford the time to up and leave it. Besides that, I have to consider Jordyn, too.”

“Jordyn will be fine to stay with your mother and me, or even here, if she’s more comfortable,” Antony said.

“Like fuck!”

“Lucian Johnathan—”

“No,” Lucian said, interrupting his father. “And don’t give me the full name spiel. I’m too old for it. Do not ask me to leave the state and hide, and then in the same sentence, ask me to leave her behind. Why, Dad, so whoever is trying to off me can go after the next best thing to draw me out? Is that what you’re trying to do here? You wouldn’t risk Cecelia like that, so don’t expect me do put Jordyn in that position, either.”

“I’m not. She’d be watched, and I would have a guard on her like your mother has.”

“But you are,” Lucian argued. “That’s exactly what you’re asking me to do and I won’t. End of discussion.”

“Hey, you could always ask Jordyn,” Gio started to say.

“I said no more. The answer is no. Stop pushing it.”

Antony sighed heavily. “Lucian … You’re my son. My one job is to keep you safe, no matter what. I’m not giving you a choice here.”

“Please.” Lucian’s voice came from right outside the closed office door. It sounded painful, making Jordyn hurt that much more. “Don’t make me do this.”

“You have until the morning to decide where you want to be for the next couple of weeks,” Antony responded in a tone that said his decision was final. “If you fight me on this, I will force your hand and take you out of state without your consent. I’m sorry.”

“But, Jordyn—”

“Until morning,” Antony repeated. “I’ll bring your mother over before you leave. She wouldn’t forgive me, otherwise.”

“Just get out,” Lucian all but hissed. “Go.”

“Inside, you know I’m not doing this to hurt you, son, only to help. We will figure out who it is doing this.”

“If you want to help, stop wasting time with who is trying to kill me, and figure out why. I guarantee the why will lead you straight to who.”

Jordyn waited until it seemed quiet outside the office before she got up from the couch and went to open the door. Instead of finding Lucian standing on the outside, she found him with his back pressed to the opposite wall and crouched low to the floor with his head in his hands. She was on her knees in a flash, pulling his clenching fists from his face.

The pain in Lucian’s hazel eyes was unbearable as he stared at Jordyn. “I won’t go.”

“It’s okay. It’ll be fine. Maybe they’re right.”

Lucian laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “No, I seriously doubt it.”

Dante was right, Jordyn realized. Lucian didn’t think clearly when she was involved.

“Come on, Lucian … please try to look at this objectively. If they can’t find you, they can’t hurt you. Jesus, you almost died today. Don’t you understand that?”