Page 80 of Made in Malice

“Yeah.”

“Is there anything else you have to watch out for?” Nox questions.

I shrug because there are a lot of things, like staying hydrated, watching my diet, and not drinking alcohol, but those things aren’t that big of a deal. I think he knows I’m uncomfortable, because he picks up the remote and settles back into the sofa before saying, “I’m glad you’re okay,” and leaving it at that.

I relax a little, happy that he’s not asking me for more right now, but even more relieved that Lucian isn’t around to demand it.

NOX

Nova scoots her legs to the side when Lucian eventually returns to the room and lowers himself onto the seat near her. I watch her chest rise and fall while she tries to peek over at him without him noticing.

I wish I knew what was going through her head as easily as I do my brother’s. He was standing near the door, listening to her confession about her parents, after having returned from the bathroom, but instead of coming back in and possibly interrupting what she was saying, he waited a while after she finished to return to the room.

After several seconds of Lucian not doing anything other than sitting somewhat near her, Nova finally begins to relax, and my obstinate brother pounces as if that was exactly what he was waiting for. “I expect you to tell me if you see the woman again.”

“What wom… Oh.” Her eyes dip down to her lap. “I don’t even know how to go about finding her. It’s not like I can tell my work I need a couple weeks off, then hang out in the parking lot every night, hoping she will show up. I’m probably going to get fired anyway.”

“You shouldn’t be working there to begin with,” Lucian decrees. I know it’s going to piss Nova off, and I’m sure he does too. It’s undoubtedly why he said it.

“Why not? Because it’s a bar?” She narrows her eyes on him.

“Partly, but the fact that the Umbras are making you work sickens me.”

“They aren’t making me,” she denies. “You might not understand the concept, but I earn my way.”

“Oh yeah? How did you earn that Macan you’ve been driving around then?” Lucian’s voice is dark with jealousy, but to someone who doesn’t know him as well as I do, he would just sound accusatory.

“How did you get the cars in the garage?”

“I bought them.”

“And where did you get the money to do that?” she pushes.

“From my bank account. Now answer my question.”

“From a trust fund you mean, and that money was given to you, just like the car was given to me. But you know what? I would take it every time. That doesn’t make me a whore or desperate. It makes me smart.”

“You’re making a lot of assumptions, lamb. I haven’t touched a penny of my trust fund since I was sixteen, haven’t needed to, but in this particular instance, I’m more worried about what he’s expecting in return.”

“Nothing, he hasn’t asked me for anything,” Nova replies.

“Yet. But no matter, you’ll be riding with us from now on.”

She explodes. “I will not!”

Lucian looks up and makes eye contact with me. It’s my cue to step in. “Just for now, Nova. We need to make sure everyone knows you’re a founder, not to be messed with, and we don’t know who this person who approached you is. She could be dangerous,” I reason.

“No, I can take care of myself.”

“I thought you wanted to know about your mom and why she left,” Lucian tempts her.

“I do.”

“We’re the only ones offering to help, Nova. We want to help. Let us.” I hope I can appeal to her need to know what happened to her mom.

“So I have to let you take over my life to accomplish that?” She’s shaking her head. I can already tell he pushed her too hard, too fast.

“Yes. I told you, you’re either with us or against us.” Lucian doesn’t let up at all.

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