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Shite, I don’t even know what has just transpired. “Come back to us, son,” Burt implored seconds before I pushed him and gave Graham a thrashing.
I grab the crystal snifter off the mantel and pour myself a shot of whiskey. I haven’t considered Jude since his death. I think of Emeli fleetingly, but Jude, no. Just a few sips and I can rid my mind of my boy. He no longer belongs in my thoughts. The dead have no place with the living.
Luxury comes into the room, eyes testing me to react. “Victor, I’m going home.”
“How?” I ask. She stops in her tracks, surely heading for her luggage.
“Burt will take me.”
I chuckle. Made a fucking cock-up, might as well not stop now. “Burt’s under my service, not yours.”
“Graham. Alba.” Luxury’s head is held high.
“Double homicide.” I quip with a laugh. “By all means, Luxury,force meto murder them.”
She scoffs. “You’d murderyourown brother?”
My eyes never waver as I stare at my possession. “We all have to die sometime.”
“Suit yourself, Victor. I’ll walk to the airport. I’m not the brightest, but I didn’t come here with an empty bank account. I can afford to hightail it back home.”
“Very well. Please don’t forget my innocent Little One, you have all the money at your disposal here.” I press forward in my chair and pull the diamond-crusted money clip from my tailored pants. Thousands of euros fly toward her feet. “If you need more, I beseech you to inquire withmyservant. Burt will provide you with extra credit cards or purchase any asset your eyes land on. Burn money if the notion crosses your mind. That still doesn’t permit you to leavepermanently.”
“Hmmm, so I can spend every cent you have? As if I really want your money. Do you know what your problem is?” Her bare feet waltz over the crisp cash.
I down the whiskey and refresh the tumbler. “I don’t bloody care. I’m a royal, Lux, that recuses me from all blame.”
“Oh, you are more than an asshole.” She chuckles softly. “You, the man I’m so mad over, areafraid, Victor Tudor. You are a coward.”
“Is that so?” A derisive brow lifts. “Ifearnothing.”
“Wrong.” Luxury stops right in front of me. “I do not know the pain of your loss. Though so different from burying a wife, there is nothing parallel to losing a mother. But a child should bury their parents, so I can’t even fathom what you—”
She seems to be judging her words as if I need any more consolation. I’ve enough condolences to rival all my liquid assets.
“Very different! Luxury, if there are any more questions burning in that lovely head of yours, you’re seeking them from the wrong person. You’re a very inquisitive young chit.Go bother Graham.”
“Ohhh . . . fucking shoo me away?” Her eyes taper thoughtfully. “Yeah, I’m curious. I’m young. I’m short. You’ve stepped on me enough, Victor. But unlike you, you whofearfalling in love. You fear the very thought of giving your heart away after such tragedy. I have a fucking heart. Call me crazy, but I will wait.”
“Wait?” I bark. My eyebrows crinkle at this daft girl. My mind is sullied by thoughts of another lifetime. Emeli and Jude. They need to disappear.
“I’ll go home for a couple of days, gather my bearings, but Vic, I will come back. I willwaitfor you to love me,” she murmurs the profession with a heart as pure as gold and as innocent as my dearly departed son.
In all my hardness, and the tension reverberating off my being, Luxury reaches over to touch my hand. Before her silky, little fingers can pull emotions out of me, I snatch it away. The pain in Luxury’s eyes is unbearable.
But I meet her hopeful gaze. “You will stay—and because you insist—you shall waitforever.”
45
Luxury
Nightmares chased after me all night. My bones scream once I awaken. Before turning on my side, I feel Victor’s presence. Not the detached tormentor from last night, but a commanding presence, nonetheless.
I was going to leave him last night.
Leave and never return. Yet, in the madness of the moment, I couldn’t. I removed myself from the situation. I thought about all he had lost.
And how he wormed his way into my life and unlocked long-dormant, treasured memories.
