Page 113 of Dirty Hearts

To my surprise, he rested his hand on my shoulders and beamed down at me with his bright blue eyes. Bright like the blue eye Claudius had. They looked a lot alike. Sometimes, if not for the differences in the way they wore their hair, the temperament, and the unusual eye color Claudius had, they could have passed for twins.

I should know since I’d had a twin once.

“I’m fairly certain that when we first met, I said my brother could be a prick sometimes. Who in the world would go to a restaurant this fancy and order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And Jesus, what a terrible pick-up line.” He did that sneer thing Claudius did, and I laughed. “It was, Ava, come on. I guess it worked though. Anyway, you and I both know that Claudius is of a different category, and when he gets like this, all hyped up and whatever, few can reach him. So, let him ride it out. Let him ride it out and do what he needs to. Capisce?”

“Capisce.”

He released me.

We both looked around at the door at the same time when the little bell jingled.

It was Alex. One of The Four.

I thought he was just here to join the crew, but the tension on Luc’s face told me otherwise.

His expression just switched, morphed into instant anger with his jaw set and eyes bearing down on Alex like he’d kill him.

Alex walked up to us.

“You know, Lucian, you can’t look at me like that and not want a fight.” Alex looked Luc over.

And Jesus, I didn’t even register that Luc had moved until his hands were at Alex’s throat and he’d hoisted him up in the air.

People were looking over in horror, but I was watching them.

“Mind your words, boy. Consider this a reminder of who you’re talking to. What the fuck do you want?”

My hands… they started to tremble. I’d never seen Luc like that.

I thought between him and Claudius, he was the more even-tempered brother. Right now, the lines between their differences in temperament didn’t seem all that different.

What did Alex do?

What had he done to deserve this sort of treatment?

Alex grabbed at Luc’s hand, but Luc had him in some grip that weakened him. Didn’t matter that the two were the same height and practically the same built.

Luc’s guys came over seeing the commotion. They looked like him. Ready for battle. Ready for battle while Alex gasped for breath.

“Luc, please let him go.” I tugged on the sleeve of his shirt.

He glanced at me, then back to Alex, and released him.

Alex gave him a bewildered look. “I’m not the enemy here. I’m not. You know me.Youknow me, Lucian.” He stared Luc down.

“Everyone has a price, Alex.”

“Not me. I have nothing left.” Alex adjusted his collar, revealing the cross on his neck.

Who had he lost?

He said he had nothing left. Maybe I was a complete naïve in this, but I didn’t see any ill-will in him.

“I heard on the underground that Goliath’s in town. Thought you should know.”

My already racing heart started to gallop, making my chest tighten.

Goliath… back in town. Just hearing the name made my skin crawl and the hair on my arms lift.