Lucca

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “Are you saying Lucca’s father abused him?” Eli asked, surprised he hadn’t heard of this before.

  Chaz brushed a hand over his face in a vigorous sweep as to rid his mind of the dark thoughts that plagued it. “I fear Lucca will never learn to respect humans.”

  So this is why Chaz had encouraged him to end Lucca’s life and not give him a second chance to redeem himself. Lucca had tried to kill him. Grigori law gave Eli the right to lay down the punishment for the transaction. He chose to give Lucca a chance to live among the humans and learn to respect them. Only then would Lucca’s banishment be lifted.

  Eli’s gaze leveled on Chaz. “Lucca has befriended a human.”

  “Is that so?” Chaz didn’t seem convinced.

  “A female.”

  This caught Chaz’s interest. “A female? You are sure?”

  Eli sighed. “Yes. He chose the restaurant where we dined last night to have dinner with her. We were there to discuss the recent preternatural killing and what Gideon uncovered with his touch.”

  “I read your report, but there was no mention of Lucca’s presence.”

  “I stuck to the facts of the case. Lucca was not involved with the discussion.”

  “I see. Go on.” Chaz waved his hand for him to continue.

  “Lucca was protective of the woman. His body tensed and was battle ready as if he feared one of us would attack her. I have no doubt, he would have protected this woman if any one of us proved a threat.”

  “Interesting,” Chaz agreed. “But you should tread softly here. If I recall, you dined at Doug’s, did you not?”

  “Yes.”

  “Lucca knows Doug’s is a place you favor. Perhaps his little impromptu was staged to make you lower your guard, to trust him for whatever reasons he may have.” He held up his hand when Eli tried to speak, silencing him. “I’m not saying this is the case, but I would not discount it.”

  Eli nodded. “I have no intentions to do so.”

  “Eli?”

  Eli turned to see Ryden standing in the doorway of the library, looking lovely in her dark colored dress, tights, and boots. He rose from his seat. He glanced at Chaz and the elder waved him on.

  “Go, your mate is waiting for you.

  Eli strode over to Ryden. Her eyes the color of brown sugar regarded him curiously. Reaching her, she slid her arm through his and leaned against him. “Don’t look so worried.”

  “I can’t help it. What did the physicians have to say?”

  “I’m perfectly fine, better than fine. They ran the blood tests. I’m changing, Eli.”

  He pulled away to look at her. “What do you mean?”

  “There are traces of the Nephilim blood in me.” She chuckled and he knew he had not masked his worry from her. “I’m not going to sprout wings or anything, but it seems we are joined in more ways than one. The physicians believe it may be the constant contact I have with your wings. Traces of angel dust are on my skin and have seeped into my pores.” She touched his face. “It’s okay. It won’t harm me. In fact, each caress is bringing me closer to being immortal.”

  He searched her face with concern. “Are you all right with that?”

  Her right brow lifted slightly. “Why wouldn’t I be? Don’t you want me by your side for centuries or were you only interested in a quick fifty year fling?” Her light-hearted words spoke of teasing, but her eyes gave her away.

  “Walk with me.” His hand slipped into hers as they strolled down the halls lined with tapestries and other works of art. He recalled another stroll down this hall not so long ago, when he broke the rules and dared to reveal his true self to a human. It could have ended badly, but the elders gave him a chance to prove he indeed found his soul mate. “I love you, Ryden.” He squeezed her hand and she returned the gesture. “Humans believe immortals live forever, but it’s not true. Immortal has a loose translation in your dictionaries. All beings die eventually.”

  “I know,” she said softly, leaning into him.

  “But if it’s true and you are truly becoming immortal, you’ll live a very long time, longer than your family, longer than your friends. You’ll look youthful while they’ll grow old. You won’t be able to stay with them. You’ll have to leave and start a new life somewhere else. You can’t live among the same humans for long. They’ll become suspicious to why you haven’t aged.” He stopped walking, and made her look at him. “Can you accept that? Maybe it is not too late for you. Maybe what I’ve done to you can be reversed.” His hands were on her shoulders. His eyes rested on her, gauging her reaction to his news. He saw the emotions flitting across her features. She hadn’t thought this through. In her excitement to be with him, she hadn’t realized the sacrifice. Hell, he hadn’t known the sacrifice. He would have never taken her away from her family and friends. What a selfish fool he’d been. He thought he could be with her and she would still have her life, too. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Ryden was the last person he would ever hurt, but loving her would cause her to sacrifice so much.

  She met his gaze, her chin rising in defiance. “I choose you. It’s always been you.”

  “And your family and friends?” His doubt spoke loudly. “What about Lana?” He knew how close she was with her cousin. They shared each other’s secrets.

  “We don’t have to pack up today, do we?”

  With cosmetics and plastic surgery being readily available to anyone who had the money, they could stay in one area for ten years or more. “No, we don’t have to leave for awhile.”

  She nodded, drawing in a deep breath as she did so. “I can say goodbye when it’s time. Don’t worry. You aren’t getting rid of me so easily.” Her lips curved into a brave grin. Her teasing was meant to disarm him, put him at ease. It was so much like Ryden to think of him first.

  He leaned down to kiss her. Her arms went around his neck, drawing him closer. She thought he wouldn’t notice, but he felt the tears on his cheek. He didn’t doubt she spoke the truth. She wanted to be with him. He felt it in the way she clutched his shoulders as if she couldn’t get enough of him. He felt it in her caress as she gave a little of herself, an offering only to him, but it didn’t mean she would be able to give up her human world so easily. Her tears were for a life she’d have to leave behind. All he could do was hold her and let her mourn.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  As Lucca opened his front door to retrieve the newspaper, Juliet’s blasted cat came bounding in as if it owned the place. “Hey, feline. Stop!” The cat ignored him completely and jumped onto the back of his sofa, staring at him with a look of what’s-the problem-with-you attitude. He narrowed his eyes. “Fine. Stay.” He pointed a finger at her. “But you’re out of here when I leave for work. I don’t need to clean up fur balls when I return. Among other distasteful things,” he mumbled the last part under his breath. Just as he was about to close the door, it flew open again with a shove as Owen came bursting in.

  “There you are Tiger Lilly.”

  He’d forgotten about the cat’s ridiculous name. “See here, this isn’t a way station.”

  The boy’s hand caressed his pet and the feline reciprocated by leaning against his palm and omitting motor-like sounds of affection. Lucca closed his door before anyone else decided to join them.

  “What’s a way station?” the boy asked, his light silver-blue eyes widening with interest.

  Lucca rolled his eyes heavenward. “I’m not a schoolmarm and I have no intentions of becoming one.

  The boy chuckled. “You’re way too large to be schoolmarm.”

  “Smartarse,” he murmured under his breath as he headed for the kitchen. He opened his cupboard and took down the cereal box from the bottom shelf. His kitchen had the essentials: coffeemaker, toaster, refrigerator, and stove microwave combo. A small pine table stood near the window. The cream colored walls remained bare of frivolous artifacts. The kitchen served as a place to eat and nothing more.

  To his dismay, Owen followed him, his feline
padding silently behind on the tan tiled floor. “I like Cocoa Puffs, too.” Owen eyed the box in his hands.

  Wouldn’t it figure? He took down a bowl for him and one for Owen, pouring a generous amount of cereal in each bowl. “You probably like milk also, I suppose?”

  The boy’s head bobbed up and down as he grinned from ear to ear.

  Lucca turned and opened the refrigerated to grab the milk carton. Once he retrieved the spoons, he ordered Owen to take a seat at the table. “Don’t spill,” he warned as he placed the bowl in front of him and he took the seat on the other side facing him. He opened the paper, making a big production of it, too. After a second or two, he stared over the rim of the paper at Owen.

  The boy went to work on the cereal as if he hadn’t eaten in days.

  “You can take a breath in between bites you know. No one’s going to steal your meal.”

  Owen looked at him and grinned. “Tiger Lilly might.” His gaze shifted to Lucca’s cereal bowl.

  Lucca lowered his paper and cursed as his gaze caught sight of the feline lapping up milk from his bowl. “Shoo, I say. Shoo.” He waved his hand at the cat, but the feline refused to be intimidated.

  Owen chuckled with childish delight, making Lucca’s lips curve into a smile despite his will not to encourage the boy.

  “Tiger Lilly has a mind of her own,” Owen claimed with a mouth full of cereal.

  “Hmm...” He pursed his lips together. How in the world did he become a nursemaid to a child and defiant stray cat who went around adopting people? “Where’s your aunt?”

  “She’s taking a shower.”

  The image did all kinds of things to his libido. Wet, soap sliding over her smooth skin… He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “So, she doesn’t know you’re here?”

  Before Owen could answer, the rapid quick strokes of what could only be a desperate guardian on the hunt of an errant boy interrupted them. He slid from his seat to answer it. Maybe it was just him, but it seemed Juliet was a little over protective of the boy.

  He opened the door to find Juliet standing there. She was incredible to look at even with her wet strands plastered to her face. She looked so young without makeup to heighten her classic beauty. Her frantic search for her nephew left her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide with worry. She had haphazardly pulled on a T-shirt, which she wore inside out and a pair of shorts, leaving a generous amount of skin uncovered. Faux diamond flip-flops adorned her delicate feet. He noticed she didn’t paint her toes like so many females in Southern California did. He approved of the natural look.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you,” her words came out quick but precise. “Is Owen—”

  He stepped aside to let her enter. “He arrived with a friend earlier.”

  She gave him a curious look. “Friend?”

  He waved his hand toward the kitchen and followed her. Tiger Lilly sat on the table, licking her paws, while Owen slurped the left over milk from his cereal bowl. Finished, he looked at his aunt. A milk mustache covered his upper lip. “Lucca invited us in for breakfast.”

  He most certainly did not. He was about to say, but Juliet turned her gaze on him and all coherent words left him. The sun shone through the window, making her reddish strands glisten. Her green eyes lit up as they touched him with appreciation. Damn the woman. She made him a bumbling imbecile.

  “Thank you. I saw my front door open and I panicked.”

  “Owen may come over anytime.” Did he just say that? What the heck? He didn’t need a snot-nose boy and his feline disturbing his peace and quiet.

  “That’s sweet of you.” Juliet’s lips curved and her hand landed on his forearm, warmth radiated through him in areas that had no business feeling pleased at her touch. He stepped away before he committed himself to anything else. She thought he was sweet. Sweet. His mind cringed at the word. He was not sweet.

  Juliet turned toward her nephew then. “Come on, Owen. Say thank you to Mr. Marlowe.”

  Owen looked like he didn’t want to leave, but he pushed back his chair and stood. “Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Lucca opened his mouth to say no he wouldn’t, but the boy bolted past him like lightning.

  “I’ll see you later?” Juliet asked. Hope radiated from her eyes.

  He needed to back off fast. “Sure. I’ll be home around six or seven.”

  She nodded. “The same. I’ll see you then.” She strode out the door, closing it behind her and he just stood there like a lame-arse, wondering what had just happened.

  Mrrrow….mrrow…

  He looked down at Tiger Lilly rubbing against his pant leg and purring like she found a friend. “Oh, no you don’t.” He leaned down and scooped the cat up. Taking sure strides to the door, he threw it open intent on throwing the cat out the door, but Owen stood there, making him hesitate.

  They stared at each other for a blink of a moment before Owen’s outstretched hands demanded he release the feline into his care. Fine and dandy. No arguments there. He dropped fourteen pounds of feline into the boy’s arms. Owen’s lips curved into a huge grin. “Thanks for taking care of Tiger Lilly. She likes you, you know.”

  “What do I care if the cat likes me,” he grumbled, making Owen break out into a giggle. Dear Lord, the boy thought him humorous.

  “I don’t mean Tiger Lilly. I mean my Auntie Jules.” He turned and ran back to his apartment, leaving Lucca staring after him.

  “Humans,” he said and slammed the door. She likes you. The boy’s words followed him in like a trailing ghost persistent to make contact. Against his will, the words nestled inside his heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Juliet dropped Owen at school before going to work, picking up a coffee on the way in. Her vanilla latte tasted like heaven, hot and frothed with a topping of milk foam, just the way she liked it.

  Seated at her desk, she worked on neglected paperwork, hoping to weed through the files that needed her attention.

  She’d panicked this morning. All coherent thoughts left her brain, but when it came to losing Owen her heart threatened to stop.

  At work, the top priority was the Leroy Fennings’ case. Only she knew they would never find the perpetrator. His file would be put in the cold case bin and eventually forgotten. She wondered how many of those cold cases had actually been preternatural business?

  She reached for her coffee cup, indulging as she waited for the caffeine to kick in. The noise in the office was at a minimum this morning—phones ringing, chattering about what people did last night, and file cabinets being opened and closed. As she worked, her mind kept wandering to Leroy. She missed the Angel with his quick human quips and warm embraces. God, she hoped Zaiden found the S.O. B. who killed Leroy and eliminated him.

  She took a ragged breath, wondering when she had decided being a vigilante was okay with her, but there it was.

  Leroy dealt with humans and preternatural beings, a likable sort on both realms. It didn’t sit well that someone wanted him dead and ended up making it happen.

  “I need to let this one go.” She tapped her pencil on her desk. It wasn’t like she could arrest anyone. The preternatural beings would have better luck apprehending the one responsible. They tended to take care of their own.

  Leroy’s death had to be the result of something the Angel was involved in since no one came after her and Owen. Everything remained quiet, maybe too quiet.

  Raziel hadn’t contacted them in a while, but it didn’t mean anything had happened to him. Raziel disappeared on occasion. He didn’t recognize time as she did. She understood he needed to keep his distance. If he showed up on their doorstep too often, it would draw attention. Besides, if she had to, she knew how to contact him. She hoped she never had to resort to the S.O.S. he gave her. If she did, it would mean an extraction.

  She liked it here. Owen had made friends at school. She met Lucca, too. Whatever that might mean in the future, she at least wanted the chance to find out.


  Fate has a way of finding you. Leroy’s last conversation with her made her wonder again what he wanted to talk to her about. He asked her if she met the neighbors as if it was somehow important that she did. Had he meant Lucca? Leroy would have liked him, probably had liked him. He trusted him enough to call him when he thought he was in danger.

  Lucca was a private man, a little rough around the edges when it came to relationships, but he was intelligent, versed in the arts, and enthusiastic about literature as she was. Owen adored him, too. Even knowing all this, she still didn’t really know the man. He was keeping something from her. She couldn’t pinpoint what it could be, but she’d been hiding long enough to recognize the signs of someone keeping secrets.

  “We got a call.” Tony Squires called to her from his desk.

  She looked at him.

  “There’s been another murder. Looks like the same M.O. as the Fennings’ case.”

  Same M.O.? If so, another Watcher had been murdered.

  “You coming?” Squires stood donning his jacket. The guy’s suits fit him well, always neat and pressed. He was a regular nice guy. She knew he went home after his shifts, if he wasn’t meeting some of the boys after work. Why hadn’t she fallen for him? No, she had to fall for a guy with secrets.

  Juliet pushed back her chair with a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I’ll meet you out front,” she called to him.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The house was on Lakeshore Drive in Orange. Tony Squires drove the unmarked Chevrolet Impala, the cruiser that had been assigned to them. He parked the vehicle in front of the house.

  The forensic team was already there. Officer George Channing was keeping the curious neighbors at bay. He nodded to them as they entered the front of the one story house where Tim Hammond, a rookie, stood in the living room, sporting a nice shade of green over his surfer’s tan. He and Channing were the first on the scene.