Page 39 of Falling for Lucifer
When they pulled away, she gazed into his eyes with love spilling from every one of her pores. With him by her side, everything would always be okay. All was right in her world as she said, “No more playing pretend.”
Lucifer watched Ellodie take several deep breaths out of the corner of his eye as he parked the car in front of her parents’ house. He could feel her nervous energy, which didn’t sit right with him. Not much got to him because he knew how he could get, so he learned to control his emotions a long time ago. He wished Ellodie believed he was okay. That was where her nerves came from. They were for him, but he didn’t need that. What he needed was for his woman to be at peace.
His woman.It still felt surreal for him. He never thought he would see the day he had a family of his own. He’d hoped for it, though, and then Ellodie Glover came into his life and made it complete. He didn’t know how he even lived before his girls. As he reflected, he realized life was so mundane before. Now, he felt like he had purpose. The only thing left to do was follow through with buying the building next to Underworld Customs, and he would feel completely on top of the world.
After Lucifer parked, he got out of the car and opened Ellodie’s door. Before she could step out, he crouched down so he was eye level with her and took her hands into his. She cocked her head. “What’s wrong?”
“No, love, what’s wrong with you?”
Ellodie looked over his shoulder and sighed before making eye contact with him again. “Honestly? I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to hear my mother’s mouth. I don’t want any of this.”
Lucifer gritted his teeth. Maybe pushing her to come today had been a bad move on his part. “You want to go? We can go.”
He made a move to stand up so they could leave, but she tugged on his hand to stop him. “No, wait.” She let out a long breath. “Look, I’m trying not to be a brat about all this. You were right the other day. This isn’t about my mother. At least not this event. This is about my father. It’s his day, and I do want to see him. I want him to know Etta.” She paused and looked as though she thought of something important. “My grandma would want me here. She always told me to ignore my mother and show up as the best version of myself.”
Lucifer smiled. “I think I would have liked her.”
Tears sparkled in Ellodie’s eyes. “I know you would have, and she would have loved you. She managed to maintain a solid relationship with my dad, despite my mom. I think it’s time I try for the same.”
Lucifer pinched her chin. “I think you’ll be happy you made that decision. You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He helped her out of the car and kissed her deeply. When they pulled away, he could tell she was a little more at ease, which put him at ease. They fed off each other heavily. He didn’t know when that started, but what he did know was he loved being so in tune with someone. They truly moved on one accord, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
After getting Etta out of the car, they walked along the backside of the house where the party was in full swing. Unlike Etta’s party, this one was way more relaxed. Loud music played from the speakers hooked up to the outdoor soundbar. The people in attendance were a mix of older and refined people and younger and ratchet. Lucifer could tell some of Daniel’s colleagues were in attendance based on the stuffy looks they gave the more relaxed guests who were turning up. The crowd didn’t mix at all, which amused Lucifer.
“Aye, what you say yo’ daddy did for a living?” Lucifer asked as they weaved their way through the thick crowd. He was glad he opted to take Etta out of her car seat. He always did that though. To him, she was safer in his arms than dangling in a car seat.
“He’s the city manager. Something about working with the politicians and finances for the city or something . . .”
Ellodie’s voice faded away as Lucifer’s eyes landed on the one person he could have lived with never seeing again. His heart rate kicked up as he swiftly handed Etta over to Ellodie without a word.
Daniel looked unamused as he did his best to entertain Lucifer’s father, Mayor Henry Ashford, as he told a joke. The laugh that fell from Daniel wasn’t genuine, which would have been amusing to Lucifer if he wasn’t so triggered. He had laser focus as he maneuvered through the backyard. Ellodie’s voice followed him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. Seeing his father always felt like he’d been stuffed into a time machine unwillingly. His childhood—where seeing his father rage against his mother and brother had become normal—came into focus. The helpless feeling he’d grown accustomed to as a kid hit him full force, all because he saw his father. It made him feel out of control, and that was never a good thing for him. If Lucifer was nothing else, he was always in control.
When he made it close enough to the man who caused him pure hell growing up, he reached out and snatched him up by his collar. The mayor’s feet left the ground as his son lifted him so they were eye level. His eyes bugged out of his head when he realized whose hands he was in.
“Lu—”
“You need to get the fuck from ‘round here.” Lucifer’s voice was a whisper, but the impact felt like it could have been a roar. His anger simmered just below the surface, and one wrong move or word would make it boil over.
“Baby, what are you doing?” Ellodie asked. He felt her hand on his arm. It grounded him and reminded him that this was her family’s house, but he still didn’t let his father go.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at her. “You know this nigga?”
“The mayor?” Ellodie’s eyes grew in alarm. He knew this probably looked crazy to her, so he decided to nip that in the bud quickly. He didn’t need her thinking he’d lost his mind, even if the sight of Henry caused exactly that.
“My father, Ello. You know him?” His voice softened as he spoke to her. There would never be a situation where he raised his voice at her or lost his temper with her. He had enough emotional intelligence to direct his emotions at the right people.
“The mayor is your father?” she asked, shock written all over her face.
“You know him?” He repeated the question. Before he acted a complete ass, he wanted to make sure his father wasn’t someone Ellodie knew personally. That would be the only thing that saved him at this point.
“No—”
The word barely left her mouth before Lucifer turned his attention back to Henry. “The fuck you doing here?”
“I was invited?—”
