Page 198 of Like Grim Death: Part One
“Tell him.” My words are kind of slurred. I think of the papers I tucked away upstairs, Samson’s photos and posts. The ways I meant what I told Ella. Lucifer would never let anything happen to Rain. It’s why all of that talk can wait until tomorrow. “Tell him he’s a good dad.”
Maverick’s baby blue eyes seem to search mine and I feel a yearning under my skin for him to speak before Lucifer doubts himself, but I hold on tight to my water bottle and fight it.
“You’re the best dad any of us have ever had, that’s for fucking sure.” He turns to look at his brother as he says it.
Lucifer’s head is still tipped back, the cigarette pinched between his index finger and his thumb, but he stares at Maverick, and I see his lips twitch, not like he’s going to smile. “I’m not sure that’s any better.” He swallows, then pulls from the cigarette.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You know you’re good.” Maverick’s words are serious. He turns to look at me, baby blue eyes on mine. “Take a shot with me.”
“You don’t even like to drink.”
“I do tonight.” He leans over, pulling another shot glass next to my used one, then he tips vodka all the way to the top, some seeping off the sides. He pushes mine toward me, extends his legs under the table as he grabs his between tattooed fingers.
He turns to me and I pluck mine up, spilling vodka everywhere, but I don’t care.
“Cheers. To Lucifer being a good dad.” He smirks.
“And my wife being a fucking MILF,” Lucifer adds, even though he isn’t drinking at all.
I almost snort through my nose, but I just tap my shot glass to Mayhem’s and together, we drink. It actually tastes good, which is probably a bad sign.
“Where’s Ella?” I ask quietly for the second time tonight, my words slurred. I set my glass down as he does, and he pours me another, Lucifer watching us carefully.
“Stop.”
“No,” I protest, feeling brave and talkative now that I’m buzzing. “What’s going on with you two?”
Maverick stares down at the table. I remember how he lost himself last night, his fists flying. The blaze from the car warms across my mind. “I should have never brought her into this life. She would’ve found someone far better than this.”
My throat feels tight with his answer. I don’t know what to say, but before I can think of anything, he speaks again.
“God, she’s so fucking jealous of you.” The words seem to come from nowhere, then again, watching Maverick toast me once more, vodka spilling everywhere, I guess we’re just that fucked up. He shoots the alcohol back, and I follow.
I glance at Lucifer, lazy trails of smoke swirling around him as he keeps his eyes on us.
“She thinks since Rain was born, you and I have only gotten closer.” Maverick sets his glass down, but he’s so drunk, it falls over, rolling until it clinks against the bottle of vodka.
He slouches down, then wraps his arm around me, pulling me to him. Everything is a little wavy around me, and I let my eyes flutter closed, but I hold on tight to my shot glass.
“She says I look at you like…”
I hold my breath, knowing Lucifer is watching.
Mav drops his mouth to my ear, and the little hairs along the back of my neck stand on end as he speaks. “Like I want to fuck you.” He articulates each word carefully.
Lucifer doesn’t say anything. I crack open one eye and see his demon blues staring back at me.
My stomach swoops as Maverick cuddles me closer, until I’m half on him, one leg wrapped over his.
“What do you tell her?” My voice sounds raw. My mind is spinning, but I don’t stop staring at my husband.
Maverick is quiet a long moment. I watch Lucifer pull his phone from his pants pocket. He does something on the screen, and music starts to play in here before he puts his phone back, eyes never leaving mine. “3 AM” by Kamiyada+. We listen to this song together a lot.
“I deny it.” The words from Mav sound rough as he pulls back, staring down at me with glassy eyes. I have one hand on his chest, the other holding my glass, and he puts his palm on my bare thigh.
My nipples tighten, my heart racing.
I feel Lucifer glaring.
