I took Kieran’s huge palm, allowing him to help me get out of the car as I carefully held my black floor-length dress, giving him a small smile and a “thank you”, earning a simple nod from him.
My brother soon joined me also holding out his arm for me to take, showing his million dollar dazzling smile.
“Shall we?”
I nodded in response, tangling my thin arm with his strong muscular one, together walking towards the classy restaurant, following Kieran’s lead.
He opened the big floor-length glass door, waiting for us to get inside and as soon as we did, my brother stopped for a brief moment, giving him precise instructions while I looked around, gazing at the opulent, lavish-styled room.
Golden yellow wallpapers with intricate designs and swirls, neatly polished wooden floors, round white fabric covered tables with symetrically placed golden fabric covered comfy chairs and dimly-lit crystal chandeliers, all that giving it a very relaxing vibe.
“Come Blake,” My brother’s deep voice pulled me out of my daze, his warm hand grabbing my own, giving it a gentle tug as he led me towards our table.
I kept glancing around while we walked, ultimately noticing the whole place was fairly empty, the three males sitting at the furthest table being the only customers besides us.
Once we'd reached our designated table I noticed Gio, one of my brother’s associates sitting beside a younger guy, maybe around my age, his big brown eyes the same shade as Gio’s now shamelessly roaming all over my feminine curves.
However, what intrigued me the most was the other guy’s powerful, leader-like presence, sitting across Gio and his son, his stormy grey eyes attentively watching the whole scene unfold in front of him before they landed on me, sparkling with obvious interest.
“Erick, Blake, I’d like you to meet my beloved and only son, Ricardo,” Gio’s thick italian accent pulled me out of my daze, drawing my attention back towards the young guy beside him, the said guy getting up from his seat and bending forward to place a small kiss on the back of my hand as soon as I reached to shake his.
“Ciao, bella,” He sweetly greeted, smirking.
“And this is my associate, Lucifer,” Gio spoke again, this time drawing our attention towards the other, much more interesting guy.
Wait, Lucifer? Seriously?
This is like, the second weird name I’ve heard of in the span of like, what? Two days?
What’s next? Meeting the whole hell?
I mentally shook my head, clearing out my silly thoughts, focusing on being as nice as possible so I moved closer, also stretching my hand out and giving him a light smile.
“Hi, I’m Blake. Erick’s sister.”
He got up from his seat, curtly bowing like a veritable royalty, placing a chaste kiss on the back of my hand.
Hmm...I like him already.
I then made room for my brother to also shake his hand and walked around the table, sitting right between Ricardo and Lucifer, facing him.
So, after introductions were made, soon we ordered some drinks first and I made myself comfortable, listening to their discussions about guns, drugs selling and other boring stuff like that...until I suddenly felt a foreign hand roaming on my thigh.
What the...
I intuitively snapped my head in Ricardo’s direction, noticing the disgusting smirk etched on his face, changing into a frown as soon as I slapped his hand off, throwing him a murderous glare.
Asshole.
He tried a few more times, each time getting the same thing until I got really annoyed and got up from my seat, turning around, intending to go find the bathroom but suddenly froze in my spot once I felt a hard slap, right over my ass.
What the fuck?
“Gio, will you be kind and tell your beloved son that if he does that one more time, I’ll FUCKING RIP HIS ARMS OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS?” My brother’s audibly enraged tone echoed through the whole place, followed by Gio’s much milder one, repeatedly excusing his son’s inappropriate behaviour before scolding his annoying brat in their native language.
I however, didn’t bothered to turn around and watch them bicker so instead I walked away, finding the bathroom by myself, thanks to my very intuitive mind then went in and did my lady business.
Once I've gotten back to the table, I gave them a light smile, acting like nothing happened, deciding to give the brat a second chance to behave.
I sat in my chair and took the glass of red wine between my fingers, totally oblivious at their boring conversation, inhaling the sweet aroma of cherry combined with grapes, taking a small sip, savouring the flavour until I suddenly felt AGAIN, that idiot’s hand roaming on my thigh.
That’s it, I’m tired of this sick pervert’s bullshit!
I angrily slammed the glass back on the table then stood up, dragging my chair as far as possible away from that idiot, also closer to Lucifer’s.
“Ei bella, dove vai?”
(Hey beautiful, where are you going?) The bastard’s unsatisfied tone shouted after me, followed by my quick reply,
“Ma va fanculo, stronzo!”
(Go fuck yourself, asshole!)
I suddenly heard Lucifer chuckle beside me and I snapped my head towards him, staring at his amused expression.
“You know italian?” I asked, taking a seat beside him, blatantly ignoring the brat’s murderous glare.
He simply nodded, giving me a small, dazzling smile,
“Among other languages,” He added, his deep smooth voice ringing in my ears like a sensual melody.
He then moved his tall and lean frame to the side, trying to make some more room for me.
I mouthed a small “thank you” then took a brief glance in both Rick and Gio’s directions, noticing the deep frown plastered on my brother’s face and the visibly embarrassed expression etched on Gio’s, courtesy of that disgraceful moment between Ricardo and I earlier.
“So, do tell, is your name really Lucifer?” I asked like a curious child, trying to open a conversation, urging the others to resume to their previous conversation, also earning an amused chuckle from him.
“Yes, yes it is.
Why? You don’t like it?” He pouted, looking like a saddened kid, playing along.
“Um...I don’t know...
I think it sounds kinda dark, you know?” I thoughtfully replied, making a grimace, earning another deep chuckle from him.
“Well then you can call me however you please,” He shrugged, taking a sip from his wine while I just sat there, thinking, searching for a more adequate name for him until I came with the final solution.
“I know! How about Luc?
It’s just a short abbreviation from your real name, plus it sounds more like, you know, you.”
“Sounds perfect,” He gave me another dazzling smile, making me feel totally satisfied with my choice.
We then continued our conversation, soon discovering that we actually had a lot in common like food and music tastes, among the passion for reading and learning foreign languages.
He ocasionally also talked with my brother and Gio as well but careful enough not to leave me aside, sometimes making me simply stare in awe at his exceptional multi-tasking skills.
However, I didn’t fail to also notice Ricardo’s constant envious glaring at the both of us, accompanied by angrily drinking, glass after glass, bottle after bottle, making me feel more and more anxious, like something was definitely wrong.
Something was about to happen.
“Blake, would you like to order some food?” I heard Lucifer’s deep voice ringing in my ears but obviously failed to answer as I froze in my spot, completely shocked once I’ve noticed Ricardo’s FUCKING GUN pointing straight at my face.
Shit.
“Whoa, no need for violence now gentlemen do we?” Lucifer’s calm but very serious tone was briefly cut off by Ricardo’s menacing, enraged one.
“Alzati!”
(Get up!) He shouted, making me tremble in fear, motioning for me to get up from my chair so I complied, too scared for my life to even dare make a wrong move.
“Ricardo, ma che cosa fai, figlio, sei pazzo?”
(Ricardo, what are you doing, son, are you crazy?)
Gio’s pleading voice went totally unnoticed by his twisted asshole of a son, his hand holding the gun not moving an inch away from me.
“Gio, tell your idiot of a son to take that gun away from her face or this will downright turn into a fucking bloodbath, this I promise,” Rick’s deadly serious tone cut through the silence, followed by Gio’s insistent pleadings towards his son as I just stood there, shaking in fear, not really knowing if I’ll live to see the next day...
Things escalated real quickly, their bicker soon turning into a downright argue, shouting at each other like a bunch of lunatics until I suddenly heard him pull the trigger, so I closed my eyes in the last second, waiting for the darkness to come.
This is it.
I’m so sorry, Ricky...
Bang!
A loud, sharp noise cut through the air, then nothing followed. No pain, no nothing. Just silence.
Rick I felt the life literally draining out of me as I widely stared at her innocent trembling form, her glossy eyes tearing my heart to pieces, making me feel so helpless...So fucking useless...There she stood, facing her possible death, unmoved as I watched the horror scene unfold right in front of my eyes, unable do to anything at all, my heart slamming wildly against my ribcage as I watched that fucking bastard point the gun at her face, smirking like a fucking maniac.And then it happened...He pulled the trigger and my heart stopped for a second, watching everything go in slow motion, wide-eyed, the bullet going straight to...Lucifer’s chest?I stood there frozen for a brief moment, staring dumbstruck at Lucifer’s body standing still, unmoved, shielding my sister’s tiny frame as she kept shaking, her eyes closed shut while I was still unable to register what the fuck just happened.He just...saved my sister’s life...He took the bullet destined for her...The bullet...Quickl
“But...you promised...” I whispered, dejectedly lowering my gaze to my simple black chucks, fighting the tears threatening to spill all over my cheeks.“Yes, and now I take it back,” He stated in a cold, distant tone, not even bothering to raise his sight from the papers lying on his desk.I knew too damn well why he was doing this. After that incident few days ago with Ricardo, he started fearing that the bastard would try to come after me.So he increased our security staff, guarding every single corner of our estate. He even made Kieran my personal bodyguard, instructing him to follow me absolutely everywhere, even at school, this meaning that I was forced to take a ride with his car every morning and afternoon, instead of going with Leila as I usually did.However, I complied and accepted all this, hoping that if I indulge him he would still agree to let me go to that frat party with Leila.Clearly, I was wrong.“Whatever. I’m done with this shit. Don’t even bother to talk to me a
I laid in my large comfy bed with my hands ducked behind my head, watching Leila stare at me, gaping like a fish on land after what I’ve just told her.“He’s throwing a party, just for you?” She incredulously shouted, earning a simple nod from me.“Yup...”The truth was I myself still couldn’t believe it. In less than a week, Luc and I became really good friends. He even managed to get under my brother’s skin -how he managed to do that I still have no idea by the way- and now he was going to throw a party at his place, just to make me happy.Crazy, huh?“Wow...Who is this guy? I totally have to meet him!” She gushed, smiling slightly dazed, squeezing the small pillow in her arms a little tighter,“By the way, do you think he would mind if I tag along?” She asked, tilting her head to the side, raising one eyebrow.“No, of course he wouldn’t. You’re my best friend after all. And you know best friends have special privileges,” I winked, giving her a toothy grin, seconds before she quickl
Unknown“And now you’re telling me?”“Excuse me, but I was on a little “trip”, turning Heaven and Hell upside down, searching for anyone who could possibly know anything about this! I even asked the Elders!”“And what did they say?”“Seriously? Do you really think I would be here, if they gave me any ounce of information?”“But what were you doing there in the first place?”“I told you, I was tracking a demon who happened to kill a human right in that campus. And apparently, she was the only one who actually ever interacted with the victim, so I was supposed to question her when that happened.”This was boring...like really boring...I laid sprawled on the couch, watching my dear brothers argue over some random human who apparently managed to touch Azrael and remain pretty much alive...This really was something, given the fact that no human being ever succeeded on doing that without having a one way ticket straight to Heaven or Hell, depending on the case.“So...are you a hundred per
Wow...I totally didn’t see that coming...I blankly stared at the three of them, utterly dumbstruck for a couple of moments, not really knowing what to say or do.I actually almost forgot why I even came here in the first place...“Blake?” Luc’s voice suddenly pulled me out of my daze, noticing the faint hint of concern plastered on his features.“Hmm?” I mumbled, this time focusing solely on him.“Are you ok?” He asked, taking a step closer, gently brushing his fingers against my arm.“Yeah, sure. I’m fine,” I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile, then averted my gaze back to his siblings, Azrael, who was still intensely staring at me, that deep frown never leaving his beautiful features, seeming like he was trying to somehow figure me out while the other guy, Raphael, was busy scanning me up and down from head to toe, seemingly searching for any flaws.“Okay, enough with the-”“Blake!”Shit!Luc was abruptly cut off mid-sentence by my brother’s angered tone, the sound of my name be
After that short “pep-talk” in the bathroom we hurried back downstairs, entering the grand living room, only to find a young woman, looking around her early thirties and dressed as a maid, wiping clean a small glass coffee table.We approached her and as soon as she raised her sight, I greeted her with a warm smile.“Excuse me, ma’am but do you by any chance happen to know where the four “happy friends” left?” I nicely asked, also earning a small chuckle from Leila at my choice of calling them while the young woman simply smiled back.“Yes, they are currently sitting in the dining room. Come now,” She motioned for us to follow her,“Master instructed me to escort you there,” She explained, that warm smile still etched on her soft features.Master?? What the fuck? He’s asking his maids to call him master? What are we, in the early 1920′s?We followed her through the large hallway and as soon as we reached our destination, she opened the huge wooden doors for us, motioning for us to
Shit.“Blake, are you in there?” Rick’s angered slash worried tone rang from behind that door, making me slightly cringe, followed by the sound of the doorknob twisting.“Shit!” I muttered under my breath, already freaking out, squeezing my brains on how to get out of this nasty situation without anyone getting hurt.I know!The single logical solution popped in my mind, like a crazed person lightly nodding to myself in approval while Azrael stared at me like I’ve just escaped from a nuthouse.He wouldn’t dare to hurt Luc’s brother for this.Luc was the one who saved his baby sister, after all.“Blake, I know you’re in there, now open this damn door!”Shit!I have to hurry up.Without a single warning or explanation I pushed Azrael back against the desk then grabbed the sides of his shirt and in one, quick movement all the buttons flew open, revealing his muscular chest and swoon-worthy six-pack.“Hey! What are you-”“Shut up. You’ll thank me later,” I cut him off then grabbed the hem
That oddly familiar, fresh masculine scent engulfed my every sense, completely relaxing my body and mind, my eyelids slowly fluttering open, suddenly finding myself gazing into those deep blue irises, lovingly staring right back into mine, his perfect plump lips slightly curling up in a warm, affectionate smile, making my heart flutter in excitement.Wait, what? What the fuck is he doing in here?I suddenly jumped like a scaredy cat, falling off of the bed on the hard floor in the process with a loud thud, escaping a small shriek.Untangling the sheet covering my bare legs I slowly sat up and carefully peered on the bed, only to find no one there.What the hell? Now I’m imagining things?I shook my head, trying to clear my clouded mind then slowly got up, stretching my numb limbs.The events from last night kept replaying in my head, making it hard for me to fall asleep...I've been laying awake on that bed almost the entire night…I couldn’t even remember when I eventually did manage