Breathe

Chapter 25

Cian

Lucie was a jewel in the passenger seat of the Cadillac, elegant in her white dress and glimmering silver jewelry. I couldn't keep my eyes from surveying each inch of her, each curve accented by the dress's fabric, every single centimeter of beautiful brown skin. It was all I could to do to focus on the road.

My hands trembled a little as they gripped the steering wheel; I tried to clear my head, to still the rising tide of apprehension in my chest. In an hour, maybe less, I would be Nick's possession. Was I okay with that? And how would Lucie respond?

"Define 'someplace nice.'"

Lucie's voice pulled me from my own head. Startled, I managed a smile, glancing sideways in her direction. "What?"

"On your not-stalkerish sticky note," she clarified, crossing her arms. "You said you were taking me someplace nice. What is that even supposed to mean?"

"Oh," I frowned. The truth was on the tip of my tongue. "Look, Lucie...I might be...going away for a while. I'm coming back, though, I promise. Right now, I just need you to tell me you won't worry."

I didn't look at her face, couldn't look at her face, but the concern was evident in her voice. "Cian, what are you talking about?"

The car stilled as we pulled up at a traffic light. I forced myself to look at her, the vibrant lights of the city and everything inside of it painting streaks of color in her ebony eyes. I hated to do this to her, but I had a reason. If this was going to be the last night I was...home...for a while, I was going to spend it with her.

It was possible this had been an awful idea, as I hadn't told Nick I was bringing any guests. Regardless, there was no turning back now.

I gnawed at my lip. "Tell me you won't worry, Lucie."

She shook her head. "What is it I'm not worrying about?"

I sighed. This was harder than I'd been expecting. I should've known Lucie wouldn't take anything so vague. "Where I'm taking you tonight," I said, "I'm taking you there because I want to be with you. This may be the last chance I get for a while."

"Hell," Lucie muttered. She turned away, eyes flitting toward the window. The light changed, and I hit the gas pedal, powering the SUV forwards. Caprice's club was coming up on my left, which meant the old concert hall wasn't far from here. Nick's invitation, shoved in my suit pocket, crinkled each time I moved. "This is about that fallen angel, isn't it? The jerk who took Dempsey from me."

I offered a sheepish grin. "Maybe?"

"I'm guessing we're meeting with him?"

I offered another sheepish grin. "Maybe?"

"So much for date night."

"He doesn't have to get in the way," I said. "I won't let him get in the way."

Lucie grumbled under her breath in reply. I knew that grumble—it was Lucie's way of letting me know she was on the verge of frustration, and lately, I'd been getting that grumble way too much.

The concert hall loomed up ahead, the neon sign in operation just for tonight, it seemed. Golden fluorescent bulbs shone down on the street, spelling out the hall's name: The Destiny. There were no cars parked in front of it, no evidence of any event tonight, none other than an unpromising shadow lurking near the double-door entrance. Unease creeped up my spine, plucked at each hair on the back of my neck.

I parked the car a few blocks away, where it was untouched by any streetlight or sign's illumination. Around here, the night was subdued, Black Winged Nightclub the only pow-wow place for night owls to run free in this area. The music from Caprice's place thumped all down the avenue; I could feel the bass jumping in my blood even from here—at least a half mile away.