Page 127 of Lucian

Sighing, Lucian stood for the final blessing and prayer by Father Peter. Church seemed to be especially long today, even if it did help to have Jordyn there with him. He was glad to see it end.

As the parishioners began to clear out, Lucian heard his mother ask Jordyn, “Are you two coming to dinner?”

The question was loaded with a hell of a lot more than just that hidden below the surface. It was more like Cecelia was picking up on the tension as Lucian’s back was turned, as was Jordyn’s. Apparently even facing each other was too frustrating.

“We should be,” Jordyn replied. “Right, Lucian?”

Lucian’s back straightened at her blatant regard of him. It was the first words she’d spoken directly to him all morning. “Sure, whatever.”

Gio’s guilty gaze met his older brother’s, and the younger man shrugged, almost in an apologetic way. Lucian rolled his eyes and shook his head in a silent acceptance. It wasn’t Gio’s fault they were fighting, not really.

Lucian was twenty-eight and an adult. He knew better than to worry Jordyn half to death by not coming home, and when he did, he probably shouldn’t have been hung-over as shit and still slurring his words. Gio might have been a bad influence with a taste for Molly and good liquor, but Lucian had the ability to say no.

No women were involved, at least not for Lucian. Gio couldn’t quite say the same, which was about the time Lucian left his younger brother to his private party and somehow made his way home.

Jordyn made it clear she didn’t give a flying crap. It was his behaviour and actions that were awful.

Yeah, he screwed up.

Congratulations to him. Every man gets to be a jackass at least once. Right? Apparently not.

A strong hand landed to Lucian’s back, and he recognized it as his father’s before he even needed to turn and see. “Son?”

“Hmm?” Lucian asked, picking up his Ray Ban sunglasses from the pew.

“Confession is a good place to start. It is Sunday, after all.”

Lucian wanted to laugh, he really did. The last time he tried to go to confession, he ended up stumbling out of the church like a bumbling idiot. Besides, he was pretty sure confession was not going to make Jordyn quit the silent treatment, or let him off without groveling.

He didn’t get the chance to say anything to his father, because Jordyn was giving Lucian that damned look again. The one that said his hell wasn’t over.

“I think that’d be a good idea,” Jordyn said, slipping past Lucian to gain access to the aisle. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”

Antony chuckled deeply. “I like that one, Lucian. You picked your better half well.”

Great.

• • •

“Are you going to talk to me, now?” Lucian asked, tossing his suit jacket and car keys to the couch. “Or are we going to keep walking on eggshells for who knows how long?”

The car ride back to the condo was unpleasant. Just like the drive to the church.

Lucian couldn’t handle this anymore. He was dying inside.

Jordyn tossed his a look over her shoulder as she pulled the heels off and set them in the corner.

“I’m sorry, bella mia,” Lucian said, practically groaning. “I get it. I fucked up. How many more times do you want me to say it? Is this a pride thing or something? Just tell me what I’m missing here.”

“Pride? No. It’s a respect thing.” Jordyn huffed, crossing her arms and turning to meet his stare. “You scared the hell out of me. If you want to party, go party, Lucian. If you want to drink yourself stupid, feel free. I won’t be cleaning up your vomit, or lifting your head from the toilet seat, though. I dealt with that shit enough from my mother. You’re old enough to know better, anyway, and I’m not your keeper.”

Lucian nodded, agreeing. “You’re right. And I’m sorry.”

“Good, I’m glad we’ve got that straightened out. But let’s get some other things clear, too.”

“Huh?”

Jordyn waved at him, almost dismissively. “My job with your father isn’t reliant on this relationship. My friendship with your family doesn’t depend on us being together. I didn’t need a man before you to take care of me, so I won’t need one after you. Do you understand that?”