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The rest would just have to fall into place.
As soon as we stepped back inside, Lucifer’s ears perked up and a low growl rumbled in his throat. I glanced around the darkness but found nothing out of place. Until we got to the stairs.
My father was leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets and a smug fucking look plastered on his face. I should have known. Lucifer was never wrong.
I stopped a few feet in front of him. “I don’t remember inviting you over.”
He pushed off the wall, then ran his hands down the front of his tailored suit. “When your name is on the deed, you don’t need an invitation.”
Just another reason to sell this motherfucker.
Lucifer fed off my energy—hatred and disgust—and trotted over to where my dad stood. He bared his teeth and growled, and I swear to God, Dad nearly pissed his pants. All the color drained from his face. His eyes grew wide as saucers as he looked at me for help. It took everything in me not to laugh.
I let Lucifer give him one more growl before I intervened. “Easy, boy.” Then I clicked my tongue to the roof of my mouth, calling him back to my side. As much as I would have enjoyed watching my dog rip him apart, I wanted to be the one to do it.
Dad cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “I know she’s up there.”
I grabbed my dick and narrowed my eyes. “You’re going to need to be a little more specific.”
He clenched his teeth, the veins in his neck straining with his words. “Lyric, you little asshole. I know you took her from Grey Van Doren. I don’t know how you found her, but I know she’s here. I saw you walk in with her on the cameras.”
Cameras? The fuck? This building had no cameras. Thanks to my illegal addictions, I’d made sure of it. There was no way to know who came in or who went out.
“You’re lying about the cameras. Try again.”
He laughed. “Did you forget I own the building across the street? Come on, Lincoln. You didn’t think I’d leave you completely unsupervised, did you?”
Mother of all fucks.
I didn’t budge. I kept my face as hard as stone and controlled my breathing.Do not let him know he’s got you.
“We’re prepared to make a deal… to let you keep her,” he continued as he took a step toward me.
Let me keep her.Like she was a fucking stray I found on the street.
Lucifer growled.
I held a hand to the top of his head.It’s okay. I’ve got this.I tipped my head to one side, eyeing him. “Lyric is dead. Or did you forget?”
“Stop playing coy, you little shit. I’m trying to help you.” He was seething now. Sweat was beading at his brow, and his face was red. His nostrils flared with every angry breath.
Help me? He never helped me a day in my life. He was a disease. No. A plague. Corrupting everything he touched.
I clapped him on the shoulder, even though what I wanted to do was rip his goddamn throat out. Anyone who lived without demons would never understand the strength it took to keep them at bay, to command a power that only wanted to destroy. “Good talk, Dad. Maybe next time, don’t start drinking so early in the day.” I gave him a wink and walked toward the stairs.
“This is the only way out for you,” he yelled after me. “… For both of you.” I spun around and he continued. “She has to leave this building at some point. Even if she doesn’t, you do. You can’t watch her forever, Lincoln. The moment she’s alone and unprotected, they’ll have her. And what they do with her won’t be pretty.”
He saidtheyas though he wasn’t one of them. Fucking liar.
The girls in the forest flashed in my mind, sending my heart on a rampage in my chest.
“Everyone knows about your habits, son. About your recklessness. No one would bat an eye if something happened to you.”
Yes, everyone knew about my habits. I didn’t bury them in darkness and hide them behind fake smiles the way he did. He kept his secrets locked up tight. But not so tight that Caspian couldn’t find them.
I glared at him. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m trying to help you!”
And I’m about to destroy you.
Lucifer growled again, and this time I didn’t stop him.
“We’re done here,” I said, then I took the stairs two at a time, not able to get back to Lyric fast enough.
My father’s voice echoed up the stairs after me. “Oh, we’re far from done.”
I waited until I was back inside my loft and heard the shower still running before I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Chandler. He answered on the first ring.
I let out a deep breath. “It’s time.”
