Page 80 of Devious Lies

“Why? Why would you do that?” I ask, and I turn slowly.

True, I’ve told Luc that I love him. But he’s never said it back.

I know it shouldn’t matter. That the truest love is unconditional. And I love him. Honestly and truly with every bit of my heart.

But he’s moved me into his home without saying those three little words. With no real explanation at all. And now he’s telling me this is all mine, too.

So, I need to know.

Does he love me?

“Why Luc?” I repeat, and his steel-eyed stare pins me in place.

“Because you belong to me, Mia Alejandra Maria Lopez. Daughter of Emiliano and Celia Lopez.”

I gasp.

He knows my real name.

The one I tried so desperately to hide for six long years. And it is mine, but then again, it’s not. I’m not Mia anymore. I’m not sure who I am, really. But I know one thing.

I am his.

I swallow back a sob before I can speak.

“You ran a background check on me?” I ask, and my eyes fill with tears.

He nods.

His silver piercings sparkle in the light streaming in from the huge window. His steel eyes are glittering too, matching the color, and I swear he looks just like Lucifer then.

The Vipers aren’t ugly. I mean, Nico and Angel are good looking men. But they don’t hold a candle to my man. No one does.

Is he my man? Can this be real?

I sniff. My tears start to flow.

And I’m not sure if they are happy or sad tears as they spill over.

I’m aware I’ve told lies. I had to, but that doesn’t make it right.

Luc is a powerful man, and he can’t afford to make mistakes. He has to be sure of me, and I understand how it looks to anyone on the outside.

Me with my connection to the Sanchez brothers and him with his ties to the Vipers.

So yeah, I understand his need to run a background check. He has a lot of people to protect.

I want to be one of them. And more, I want to protect him, too.

Some women give their men safe harbor, but I don’t know if I am the type to sit home and wait.

Sure, I want to mean something to him. I love him.

But I can give him more than a soft place to land. I can give him support. I can help him with the burdens he bears.

I can and I will.

If he lets me.

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