Page 81 of Lucian

Antony shrugged, his back still turned. “I’m morally bankrupt and have been for a long time, so I don’t think I’m the best person to ask that, Jordyn.”

His honesty was startling. “I’ve never really asked Lucian his thoughts, but how do you deal with feeling that way, or rather, being … this way,” she finished with a wave between Antony and the television.

“I pray.”

Jordyn’s brow rose. “Pray?”

Antony nodded. “And I ask for forgiveness. Though it may not seem like enough to apologize for the choices I make daily, and all the wrongs I’ve done before, it’s enough for me. Confession and penance are my greatest friends. Well, that and my angel of a wife. Her understanding, love, and acceptance of me in this life is a constant, unwavering cornerstone I need to survive. She is the one soul on earth I couldn’t stand to see hurt because of me, so I make sure she doesn’t ever have to.”

Jordyn didn’t get the chance to ask anything else. The arrival of three, loud Marcello brothers ended the conversation. Both Antony and Jordyn stood from the table to greet them.

Antony smiled, any worry in his features gone instantly. “Good day?”

“Perfect,” Dante responded. “Tell me you ordered already. I’m starving.”

“I did. The usual.”

“Awesome,” Gio muttered, pulling out a chair.

Jordyn couldn’t help but notice how they were all dressed in their usual suits, clean and unbothered. The television continued to play the news broadcast, but none seemed to care.

The one she wanted to talk to the most was the quietest. There was tension in the frown Lucian sported, an anger in his gaze. Lucian offered his hand to Jordyn and tilted his head to the side as if to ask her to come with him. She did, following him to the other side of the room where they were afforded some privacy.

“I’m sorry,” Lucian said quietly.

“What for?”

“It’s not over, sweetheart. I was hoping it would be, and I could tell you that, but it’s not. And I’m sorry.”

Will wasn’t gone.

“He’s going to try again. Something, I don’t know. We’ll be ready. I don’t want you worried over him.”

“Okay. I was more worried about you, Lucian.”

Lucian smiled tightly. “You shouldn’t be. How was your day?”

“Busy. Antony kept me moving.”

“He’s good for that. Anything new to tell me?”

Jordyn snorted. “Antony now has an assistant.”

Lucian cringed. “Yeah. Good luck. I’m not saying you can’t do it, but he’s got a bad habit of chewing them up and spitting them out.”

“He needs someone to tell him to shut the fuck up every once in a while.”

“And you’re good for that. It’ll be an interesting match.”

This conversation felt all too normal and calm for Jordyn. Maybe she thought there would be some emotion or possibly guilt from her lover. There was nothing. Just like the other three men sitting behind them at the table, joking and laughing.

What kind of a woman did it make her that she was perfectly fine with their behavior?

“This is pretty,” Lucian noted, his fingers coming up to graze the diamond necklace Jordyn now wore. She was seriously trying not to think of the price tag on the piece. Never mind the other gifts Antony had sent back to the condo. “My father?”

“Did you know it’s highly offensive to his sensibilities when someone denies his gifts? That’s what he said. Highly offensive, Lucian. You can’t even argue with him because he just looks at you like your opinion doesn’t bear any importance to his final decision.”

Lucian nodded. “Welcome to my life. The necklace suits you well, I’m impressed. Antony has good taste.”