Lahat ng Kabanata ng Velvet and vengeance: stripped by the enemy : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Lucian's PovI never thought I'd see the day where I was this caring and compassionate towards anybody. My heart, I thought , was purely made of stone but this sarcastic man I held proved me otherwise.When the thunderstorm had passed and it began to drizzle, he got up from the couch, saying he was sleepy and I muttered goodnight.I didn't go to bed immediately. There was work to do and I was really hungry so I called the receptionist and asked that food be brought up to the room.Minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I rose from the couch, stretched a bit because my body was still heavy from sitting too long. Jace stirred on the bed, half-asleep, his hair mussed and eyes blinking at me like a child caught between dream and waking.“Room service,” a voice called. "The receptionist asked me to bring up a tray." You could never be too careful. A lot of people wanted me to breathe my last.I cracked the door, peeped to be sure it wasn't a trick before letting the woman in. She wh

Jace's PovThe next morning.........The first thing I perceived was the smell which was sterile and antiseptic. Where am I? I clutched the side of my stomach that was hurting badly. This wasn't the hotel as far ss I was concerned, I muttered to myself as I looked around. Not anywhere I’d been before. The walls ... .The IV I was hooked to. One more look at where I was, and the clothes I had on made me realize that I was in a clinic or a hospital.Lucian was slouched in the chair at the far end of the room, his shirt was buttoned up half way and his sleeves rolled up with a bandage on his hand. "Lucian," I called out to him but he didn't respond. On the second call, his head tipped forward like he’d passed out sitting there. “You look worse than me,” I muttered, resting my back on the pillow. “How are you?”His head snapped up and his dark eyes cut to me, sharp and awake instantly. Relief flickered there before he masked it with a frown. “You’re awake?" I nodded and he added, “I a

Lucian’s POVMorning came too damn early. I hadn’t slept much, not after the chaos of the night before. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the graze of that bullet slicing across Jace’s arm.Rosaline on the other hand had not made things easy with her threats. Jace's injury wasn’t fatal, barely more than a warning, but it had been close enough to make me feel something I hadn’t in years.Fear. I hated this word so much but I'd felt it after so many years and it was all because of him.So instead of sleeping, I gave orders to have a temporary chef brought in. By sunrise, a private chef was in the mansion’s kitchen, sharpening knives and lining up ingredients on the counter. I'd gone through the applications myself. He’d been vetted, loyal and knew better than to talk. If Jace wanted food, he would have it, hot and perfect, without having that caregiver Petra hovering around like some saint sent from above.Petra. Just thinking her name put a sour taste in my mouth. I’d made a mistake

Lucian’s POVIt had been one week since the night of the gunfire at the hotel. One week since Jace’s blood had been on his hands and in all those days and nights, I had not forgiven myself.The penthouse wasn’t just an escape from the mansion and Rosaline’s poisonous tongue. Business had become much better since there was a level of secrecy. It was safer and I'd be able to take care of Jace myself without anyone seeing.There was going to be fewer people, tighter security, a fortress above the city. Jace and I could breathe here and most importantly I'd have him all alone to myself. Jace didn’t complain about the move, it was as if he was very happy like he'd been waiting for an opportunity like this to present itself. "Boss, I need a glass of water." Jace would say to me while stretching on the bed like he owned the place. He'd go further and start tossing sarcastic remarks every time I tried to remind him he was still supposed to be resting.That evening after meeting up with my b

Jace’s POVThe next morning....I tossed and turned in bed until i was forced to sit up. My head was pounding and I pressed a palm to my forehead. The last thing I remembered was playing drunk Jenga with Lucian, whatever happened after, I couldn't recall.I just hope my drunk ass didn't say anything stupid last night, I prayed as I turned in the direction of the aroma that wafted through my nose.Beside the bed was a tray with a cup of coffee, a plate of fried eggs witj fresh bread and some tablets too. Lucian, the caregiver, was really taking his job seriously.Then the door opened, and my mouth went dry when he stepped in. Good heavens, this man had no business looking this damn hot so early in the morning.Lucian strolled in wearing nothing but grey joggers, his chest slick with sweat, his muscles taut from whatever gym exercise he called a workout. He had a towel slung around his neck, his hair which was damp were sticking to his temples.Lord have mercy. I forced my eyes to the