Page 25 of Falling for Lucifer

“ I can’t believe I missed all that!” Yasmine whined as she stared into the phone, wide-eyed.

Ellodie sat curled up on the couch with Etta sprawled out beside her, surrounded by pillows.

It had been an hour since she’d left her parents’ house, and her head was still reeling.

“It was definitely a lot happening. Right up your alley for sure.” Ellodie spoke to her cousin, but her mind felt a thousand miles away.

“Where’s Lu?” Yasmine asked.

Ellodie tuned back into the conversation. “I think he needed a moment. I can’t believe the mayor is his father, Yas. The things he told me about his childhood . . .”

“I don’t know,” Yasmine uttered. “Uncle Daniel never really liked him. There had to have been a reason.”

“He probably picked up on that negative energy.” Ellodie agreed.

They remained silent for a moment before Yasmine spoke. “You look like you could use a hug. I wish I was there.”

“Me too. Hopefully, Lu will be back soon.” Ellodie’s mind wandered to him again.

The ride back home had been completely silent.

They were both lost in their own thoughts.

Ellodie couldn’t believe her mother. Well, she could, but at the same time, she never thought the woman would go as low as blackmail.

And then there was her father. He’d had a mistress this entire time? The shit was too much.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Yasmine asked, once again snapping Ellodie’s attention back to the conversation.

A slow smile filled her face. She hadn’t talked to Yasmine much over the past month. Her cousin had been busy traveling and living her dream. She had no idea how far Ellodie and Lucifer’s relationship had developed.

“I love him.” It was a simple but powerful statement. One Ellodie meant with everything in her.

Yasmine’s eyes bugged out, and it looked like she almost dropped the phone. “Love? Girl, where have I been?”

Ellodie giggled. “Becoming the next Tyra Banks.”

“Fair.” Yasmine nodded. “But for real. Love? It’s like that?”

“It’s exactly like that. He’s everything, Yas. He treats me and Etta so well. He’s my person.”

“Okay, Grey’s Anatomy ,” Yasmine joked before she stared at her cousin for a moment. “You’re sure about this?”

Ellodie didn’t even have to think about her response. “More sure than anything I’ve ever felt.”

Yasmine’s smile brightened. “Good, because I love him for you. I knew when I met him it wouldn’t take long for y’all to fall out of fake love and into real love.”

Ellodie’s brows rose. “Is that right?”

Yasmine nodded. “Now I just have to find my person since Lucifer took mine.”

“Never that, boo. I’m not going anywhere, and you’ll find your person. Who knows, maybe he’s in Dubai or Paris or whatever other fancy ass place you’re going this spring.”

Yasmine tilted her head back and laughed. “Maybe, girl. Just maybe. But look, I have to get going. It’s late here, and I have to be up early.”

Ellodie sighed. She didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts, but maybe it was for the best. She needed to decompress and unwind. Maybe a nice hot bath would do the trick.

“Okay, thank you for answering,” Ellodie said as she suppressed a yawn.

“Anything for you, babe. Love you.”

“Love you too. Night night.”

They hung up, and Ellodie found herself looking at Etta. Her daughter was the real reason her life had changed for the better. Had she not gotten pregnant, who knew if she would have met Harley and then Lucifer.

With a smile, she leaned down and nuzzled her nose into Etta’s tummy, careful not to wake her. “I love you, sweet pea.”

She wished like hell Etta was old enough to say the words back, but she knew time would go by quickly, and she was happy to savor these sweet moments while she could as she pushed her family drama to the back of her mind.

Hades was the last person Lucifer thought he would seek council from after such a heavy day, but here he was.

“The fuck you want?” Hades asked as soon as he opened the door with Kali in his arms.

Lucifer couldn’t do anything but chuckle softly. “Can I come in, man?”

Lucifer glared at him for a moment before stepping aside to let his brother in.

“It’s my daughter’s bedtime,” Hades grumbled.

“Where’s Harley?” Lucifer asked, ignoring him as they walked up the stairs.

“She sleep. Why you askin’ ‘bout my wife?”

“I was just asking. I have some shit I need to get off my chest,” Lucifer admitted as they made their way toward Hades’s office.

Hades stopped and turned to look at his brother. After looking at him for several seconds, he said, “Go in. I’ll be back.”

Lucifer walked further down the hall and into Hades’s office before making himself comfortable on the black leather couch.

He allowed himself the moment to gather his thoughts.

Hades was a live wire, so he knew he had to be careful about how he told him everything that went down earlier.

Hades was the type to fuck some shit up first and ask questions never, which made him wonder for the hundredth time why he brought his ass over here in the first place.

He should have called Eris. She was the peaceful one out of the three of them. She didn’t have a violent bone in her body, and it took a lot for her to get riled up. Just when he was about to get up and tell Hades never mind, the man of the house walked into the room and closed the door.

“What’s good, nigga?” Hades asked as he sat on a recliner across from Lucifer and made himself comfortable.

Lucifer thought about if he was really about to tell Hades he saw their father.

He must have taken too long, though, because Hades spoke again, this time in irritation.

“You gon’ spit it out or sit there lookin’ ignorant all night? ”

Lucifer sighed. It was best to just come out with it. The way Hades’s patience was set up, Lucifer was knew he only had about two point five seconds before Hades snapped.

“I saw Henry.”

Hades’s jaw clenched. “I sure the hell hope Henry is your new pool boy or some shit.”

Lucifer wished he could nod, but the slight shake of his head was the honest thing to do. Hades hopped up. His fists clenched and he looked like a maniac as heh advanced on Lucifer, who remained calm. It was the best thing to do when Hades was like this.

“Where that nigga at? He touch you?” Hades asked, looking over his brother closely as he breathed heavily.

Lucifer knew the thought of Henry touching him or Eris was Hades’s worst nightmare.

He had given up his entire childhood to avoid that exact scenario, so Lucifer had to be mindful of what he said to avoid a Hades crash out.

“I’m cool, bro. You think after last time we saw that man he was gonna try something stupid with me? Can you please sit down?” Lucifer asked, gesturing toward the recliner.

Hades seemed to lighten up slightly, and Lucifer could tell he remembered the last time they saw their father.

It hadn’t been pretty for Henry. Hades’s eyes traveled to the painting hanging up on the wall near the door, and he smiled slightly.

Lucifer shook his head with a ghost of a smile dancing on his lips too.

Hades really found someone to paint a photo of their father from the last time they saw him.

He looked terrified, and Hades’s crazy ass just had to capture the moment.

Finally, Hades sat down and asked, “Stop choppin’ your words and tell me what happened.”

“Mincing,” Lucifer corrected.

Hades’s brows pulled in. “Huh?”

“The phrase is mincing your words.” Lucifer knew he was playing with fire, but as his little brother, sometimes he really couldn’t help messing around with him, even when he knew he shouldn’t.

“Man, if you don’t get the hell on?—”

“Aight, aight. He was at Ellodie’s parents’ house. It was her pop’s birthday, and I guess he works closely with the mayor?—”

Hades stood up abruptly again and cut Lucifer off. “Where that nigga at?”

“Aye, man, chill,” Lucifer said. He would never be able to get through this story if Hades kept reacting like that. “Her pops is cool people. It ain’t seem like he was really feeling Henry like that anyway.”

“Then why the nigga was at his birthday party?” Hades asked. He still stood with his arms crossed.

Lucifer ran a hand down his face. “I have a feeling it was more of a formality. That ain’t why I’m telling you this shit.”

“Hell, then why are you, unless you want a nigga handled?” Hades asked. He stayed ready to go to war for the people he loved.

“Because seeing him ain’t ever a good feeling. That’s why.” Lucifer’s words came out in a whisper. Being vulnerable with Hades was never easy because he believed in putting up a strong front and holding feelings in. Lucifer had never been as good at that as his brother.

It was Hades’s turn to run a hand down his face. He looked up at the ceiling and took a few deep breaths before he moved to the couch where Lucifer sat. “He ain’t say shit to you?”

Lucifer shook his head. “Ain’t really give him the chance. Some other shit popped off with Ellodie and her people?—”

“Her mama, huh? That bitch needs her ass beat. Harley ain’t pregnant no more. She better be careful. I been trainin’ her.”

Lucifer barked out a laugh. “Man, gone. You know damn well you ain’t ‘bout to have Harley’s lil ass fighting nobody’s mama.”

Hades thought about it. “Maybe not, but Eris ain’t ever had a problem handling women for us.”

Lucifer shook his head. “I don’t think she gon’ be in the picture much longer anyway. But check it. You remember when you stepped to him about Harley’s ex and fixing shit with The Obsidian Riders?”

“How could I forget?”

Lucifer nodded. “He kind of offered to help me out like that too. Ellodie’s ex ain’t about shit, and I’m worried I might have to catch a body, if you know what I’m sayin’.

Especially since he’s Etta’s real daddy.

He has rights, feel me? But he wouldn’t if Henry could somehow make the issue disappear.

I threatened her ex once already, but I can’t be too sure he’ll stay away. ”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You think I can really trust Henry with helping me?” Lucifer asked.

Hades looked like he needed a moment to choose his words wisely.

Finally, he said, “He helped me.” Lucifer had to admit to himself that Hades was right.

Still, he felt unsure. “I ain’t saying trust that nigga, but if he can help you make that shit disappear without adding to your body count, I say do it and then never speak to him again.

It’s literally the least he can do. He did me one solid, and that’s all I’ll ever need from him.

I promise that. I feel good about it now that I’m on the other side of it. I think you will too.”

Lucifer soaked in what Hades said before nodding slowly.

Seeing his father always rattled him, but to hear him offering to help him and seeing that brief look of regret on his face unsettled him.

He didn’t know what to do with those feelings, but maybe it was as simple as Hades made it seem.

Henry clearly wanted to try to right some of his wrongs on some level, so Lucifer should let him.

He would never have to speak to him again, and he could comfortably move on with Ellodie and Etta, who would never have to worry about growing up without a father.

Even if she had questions in the future, he knew he could be honest with her as long as he laid out the terms to his father to keep him with a clear conscience.

“You must be getting old,” Lucifer joked. He wanted to clear some of the heaviness in the space. “You’re wise now. Gotta be those gray hairs in your beard.”

“Aye, get out of here. Ain’t shit over here.” Hades mumbled some under his breath before they dropped into a silence for a few minutes.

Lucifer struggled with what to say next, but the words bubbled out of him before he could really give them thought. “I’m in the process of buying the building next to Underworld Customs.”

Hades glanced at him knowingly. “Yeah?”

Lucifer nodded. “What do you say to Underworld Repair? A mechanical shop for bikes, run by me?”

Hades nodded slowly before a ghost of a smile flickered on his face. “I’d say about damn time.”

“What you mean?” Lucifer cocked his head to the side. He wasn’t sure what he expected from Hades when he told him the news, but it wasn’t this.

Hades sighed. “Underworld Customs was always for me, Lu. I opened it so we could have a good income and something to our names, but I always knew you would find something else you wanted to do with your life. Never thought it would take so damn long.”

Lucifer chuckled. “Whole time I thought you wouldn’t want to see me go.”

“Nah, you can honestly get the fuck up out my shop anytime.” Hades scoffed, but Lucifer chuckled because he knew his brother didn’t really mean that.

“Real talk, though? I’m proud of you.” Lucifer let those words sink in.

Hades was always hard on him but loved him more than anyone—that much Lucifer knew.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever heard his big brother tell him he was proud though.

That hit different. He sat with that for a long while before Hades spoke up.

“You wanna go for a ride?” A smirk spread across his big brother’s face.

Lucifer’s heart smiled way bigger than his face did. Riding his motorcycle always cleared his mind. It was a fact Hades knew all too well. “Yeah, man. I would like that.”

“You brought your bike?” Hades asked, and Lucifer nodded. “Bet. Go ‘head and get ready. I’ll be down in a minute. I need to check on my babies.”

Lucifer chuckled. “You done gone soft, man. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Hades looked angry, but only for a moment. When he spoke, his words came out calmly. “Ain’t nothin’ about me soft, baby bro, but I know Harley and everything she gave me rounded me out a lil bit.”

Lucifer smiled at his brother. “I’ve said it a million times, but I’ll say it again. I love her for you.”

“Me too, man. Me too. I’ll meet you down there.”

Lucifer watched Hades walk out of the office before he left too.

He walked slowly and allowed himself time to absorb his brother’s wisdom.

By the time he got to the front door, his thoughts shifted to Ellodie.

He knew she would be asleep by the time he got home, but he thought that might be for the best. They both had a lot on their minds, and a good night of sleep and cuddles would do their hearts some good.