Page 53 of Lucian

“Our cousin and uncle,” Lucian explained to Jordyn before she could ask.

“And who’s this?” Kate asked, peering at Jordyn as if she was all too curious for her own good.

Lucian hated this woman. Despised her, even.

“This is Jordyn.”

“Jordyn who?”

Lucian’s jaw clenched, but Jordyn’s hand slipping into his at his side calmed him instantly.

“Uh, Mom knows Jordyn is at her stove, right?” Gio asked, stepping around his aunt in an almost dismissive fashion.

“Yeah, she knows,” Lucian replied. “Even let her mess with it a bit.”

“What? And the house is still standing?”

“I know. Don’t question it. Probably best you don’t ask Mom about it either.”

“Jordyn who?” Kate asked again, more pointedly the second time. “Is this your new kitten for the month, Lucian?”

“Kitten?” Jordyn whispered. “I feel like that should offend me, somehow.”

It should, but Lucian shook his head to ward off Jordyn’s concern, trying desperately to ignore Kate at the same time. The woman had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. There had never been one female brought into this home by a Marcello brother unless it was a friendship sort of relationship. Jess was an exception for Dante, and that was mostly brought on by their mother, not because Dante wanted her there.

“She’s a good friend of mine.” Lucian tried to sound offhanded. The last thing he wanted was to give Kate more ammo than she already had. Then, just to make himself clear, he added, “Very good.”

“Yeah,” Gio agreed quietly, shooting Jordyn a sly smile. “She might as well be a part of the family.” Gio seemed to register his verbal mistake straightaway, given Lucian was glaring at his brother. “Hey, Sal, let’s go chat with the boss about the guys in Vegas.”

Apparently no business on Sundays didn’t apply to Gio’s friends.

They weren’t gone from the space for more than five seconds before it started.

“Oh, my.” Kate took a step forward, that glinting gaze of hers zoning in on Jordyn way too much. Lucian stepped in front of Jordyn to shield her from the woman instinctually. “Don’t tell me I’m looking at the first principessa of the Marcello family. Am I?”

“Don’t, Kate,” Lucian warned.

“I am, aren’t I? Jesus, you would have thought my sister would have told me about this.” Kate smiled, the sight turning sinister in a flash. “How long?”

Jordyn glanced up at Lucian for direction, her fingers weaved with his tightening.

“Not long,” Lucian answered. “And that’s all we’re going to say about it. Antony’s dealing with other things, and that word doesn’t need to be tossed around like candy right now by anyone who wants to say it.”

“But I’m not just anyone, Lucian.”

• • •

“I’m your aunt,” Kate said, flashing her white teeth in a sneer.

Jordyn wasn’t paying attention to Kate, because she finally got it.

She couldn’t believe it had taken her this long to put it together, and frankly, she felt like a goddamned idiot for not realizing it before.

Lucian’s mother had called him a mafia prince, like all her sons. They considered their family a crime dynasty, ruled by name and blood. It was obvious to Jordyn that all of the Marcello boys were young men with focused goals regarding their business, but the fact remained that they were still considered young.

Possibly too young to be where they were.

But not if their father was the boss.