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“Very well, Mr. Kennedy,” one of them says. He glances back at Marcus and then sighs. He shakes his head as he walks back to his car, his colleague in tow.
“How?” Lucian asks, his eyes filled with admiration I haven’t seen in years. I smile at him and ruffle his hair.
“Connections, Luce,” I murmur. He doesn’t need to know just how dirty I get my hands for our family.
Elena drops her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her.
“Let’s go home,” I say.
Elena and Lucian both nod. They look exhausted, and I’m not surprised.
“Take care of him,” I tell my men. “Make sure he doesn’t talk.”
Lucian looks back at Marcus one more time, his eyes red. Then he turns resolutely, renewed confidence in his eyes. He looks up at me gratefully, and I smile at him as I open the door for him.
Marcus is going to regret messing with my brother.
Chapter 36
Alexander
Lucian stops me as I’m about to walk to my bedroom, his hand on my sleeve. Elena glances at the two of us and slips away, a sweet smile on her face.
Lucian looks nervous and stares down at his feet. “I… I just wanted to say sorry,” he says. “I caused so much trouble today, but you didn’t hesitate to help me. Not just that… I know Elena and you have been arguing. I know I came between you two, and I could’ve fixed everything if I’d just spoken up, if I told you the truth… but I didn’t.”
I place my hand on his shoulder and smile. “You’re my little brother, Lucian. I will always have your back. Always. I’m sorry I wasn’t someone you could confide in.”
He swallows hard and nods. “You—you’re okay with it? You’re not ashamed of me?”
I frown at him. “What? No. Why would I be? Nothing has even changed. You’re still my baby brother, Luce.”
He looks at me in confusion. “But, Alec… I’mgay. This isn’t a phase. I’ve tried all my life, but I’llneverbe attracted to a woman. At some point, the world will find out.”
I smile at him. “Well, when you’re ready to tell the world, I’ll be right there with you, if that’s where you want me. I’m not very good at this, Luce. I’m just not. I don’t know what the right thing to say is. I don’t know what you need to hear. All I know is that you’re my brother, and I’ll always love you the same. I don’t care who you sleep with.” I narrow my eyes at him. “So long as it isn’t my wife.”
Lucian’s eyes are filled with tears, but he bursts out laughing. “You were worried about that, huh? Elena has always only ever had eyes for you. Always, Alec. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up sooner. She has a heart of gold, and she wouldneverbetray you.”
I’ve been married to Elena long enough to know that, yet I let my past blind me. I smile at Lucian and nod in acknowledgment.
“Does Mom know?” I ask carefully.
Lucian blanches and shakes his head, his expression anguished. “No.”
“Do you want to tell her?” Lucian looks at me, and the longing in his eyes is clear as day. “Do you want to tell her together?” I add.
He nods, and I ruffle his hair. It’s been so long since my little brother looked this cute. “Just say the word. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be with you.”
Lucian nods. He hesitates before taking a step closer, throwing his arms around me suddenly. I stand there, frozen for a couple of seconds, before I hug my brother back.
He pulls away, visibly emotional. “I’m sorry,” he says. “Thank you. For today. For being there. I’m grateful to have you as my brother.”
He smiles tightly and turns to walk away, looking a little flustered. It seems like today’s events really took a toll on him. His usual confidence is completely absent, and I hate seeing him look so vulnerable.
I watch him walk down the stairs, and I can’t help but worry that Marcus scarred him. Even worse, I don’t know how to make it better.
I’m still worried about Lucian when I walk into my bedroom, stopping in my tracks at the sound of the shower. Elena… fuck. I’ve gone out of my way to make her feel like she’s nothing to me, like she is indeed a mere tool to me. I fucked up. Badly.
I undress quietly and hesitate before walking through the water curtain. Elena looks up at me in surprise, and I pause to look at her. She looks so fucking beautiful standing there, water running down her body. I’ve missed her. I’ve missed her body against mine, her smile.
