Page 19 of Run, Starlight (The Royal Ballet Presents #3)

LUCKY

Her weight is nothing in my arms. She feels especially weak, like she’s not eaten or drunk since long before the performance, which is not even over yet .

What the hell was he thinking in that fucked-up brain of his?

I normally have more patience for him, but I can’t imagine what he thought he stood to gain.

Why would my brother do this of all things?

Marcella’s gossamer skirts are layered in vibrant blues, draping from my arms like I’m suddenly a part of her performance.

I have never looked at things like that.

I am not my brother, and I don’t need to imagine beauty in every evil act I do.

I’m not an artist, and I’m not a prop in her show.

I’m violent and a killer. Despite the fact he doesn’t want to face it, my brother is the same.

The soft straps of a peasant’s corset cover the leotard clinging to her upper body, and puffy little cap sleeves make her especially innocent.

She’s too innocent, pale like death from fainting.

She looks more like one of the corpses tossed into the incinerator than something living that will make it out and thrive again. How the hell could he do this to her?

My hands are so full with her it’s hard not to notice, even in my anger. Her ass rests against my arm and her wetness seeps from her leotard, dampening the fabric. I look at my brother with a whole new accusation poised. He didn’t just bring her here, so why is she wet like she already came?

“This was wrong, Enzo,” I seethe, not able to put voice to more of my feelings right now.

I have always considered him my greatest ally in this world despite being responsible for him, despite owing him too damn much. This was a step too far.

“Only you would be bold enough to think you get to rewrite destiny.” His pupils are blown out like he’s on some serious shit, but I know he’s not.

He would never even take his meds, since he doesn’t like how they change him.

Can’t he see how he’s changing in front of me right now? Things are only getting worse.

“Only me? Are you aware of what normal people are even like? Everyone fights destiny every day. It’s you, brother, who pursues what you see as destiny no matter what it costs to other people.

” I lift her in my arms to make my point.

I am so very tired from always carrying his weight; hers is nothing, yet he felt the need to bring her into this, to force her into this.

Maybe he does count this as a betrayal, but what about all the times I’ve betrayed myself for him?

Her breaths come softly, and while I’m sure she’s alive, I’m growing extremely concerned with how long it’s taken her to come out of it.

She’s not built for this life. She proved that over and over again.

A girl full of phobias shouldn't be in a place like this, but my brother rarely sees reason.

There are so many germs in this one room alone that if she could see the reality of it, she would likely never wake up.

This is where the worst people come to die, and for some reason, he thought he could bring a fucking angel to the party.

“What the rest of the world does matters little to me,” he waves me off. “We have to bring her to Bianchi Bay.”

I snort a laugh. Many times over, I took his lunacy seriously, and now I see that our position is my own fault. I didn’t create the monster standing in front of me, that was our father, but I handed him the damn key—a man who isn’t interested in reality. If anything, her blood is on my hands too.

“I’m not kidnapping her,” I clarify. No one is going to Bianchi Bay.

About two hundred miles east of here lies an old family property that we don’t often visit because it’s filled with cruel and painful memories.

We aren’t the first monsters in our bloodline.

Bianchi Bay was a refuge for us as children, but it’s also the site of the worst moment of our lives.

I don’t think about what happened to our mother often, and I refuse to face the place where it happened just so Enzo can play God once again.

“Destiny isn’t kidnapping. How long will I have to suffer you refusing to see the divine plan!

” His voice rises, showing he’s truly frustrated with me for the first time in years.

Usually, whatever game he’s gotten himself caught up in is much more interesting than his own brother standing beside him.

“Divine? Brother, if there is a God, we will never be in his favor.” I was raised Catholic, but I’m not a believer. I've seen and done too many wicked things for that, but I know where my brother lives, and I have to meet him in the middle if I want any chance of him seeing reason.

His face cracks as the words spill from between my lips.

He’s not used to me confronting him. He’s used to me standing by and letting him do what he wants, cleaning up the fucking blood he spills like it’s a gallon of milk and I’m stopping Dad from beating him.

He’s claimed many times that God had a plan for us, and I never argued.

At least it gave me some way to reach him, and it shows where that’s gotten us now.

“Shows what you know! All the divine asks of us is to fulfill our true calling. I am called, and I answer . When do you answer even your basest instincts? Who do you live for because it isn't Lucciano?!” He’s shouting now, and my own anger is so intense that if it weren’t for the woman in my arms, I might have hit him.

“I’ve lived for you, and that’s been a damn mistake.”

I expect his anger, fury even, but he seems happy with my answer.

“Then live for her , Brother. I know you want to!”

My mouth hangs open, and I’m not sure what to say. I’m considering a lot of options when her eyes flutter open.

“What’s happening?” she asks, her voice soft and airy, disconnected like my brother, and I resent that I even had the thought; she’s not a part of his destiny. She can’t be.

I reach for her, my hand over her warm, soft cheek. Her eyes turn to me, and she blinks softly. Little flashes of the prettiest brown peek at me.

“Tell me your name,” I say, hoping more than anything she’s still okay in there. I promised to protect her, and I’m beyond disgusted that I managed to fail that task so quickly.

“You tell me yours,” she bites back, taking the worst of my fears. That’s still her inside there.

“Lucciano.” I allow my Italian accent to fully color it. Despite what I told my brother, I want her to know me, the real way you say my name. Lucky is easy, it’s what I give everyone, but maybe part of me wants more from her .

“Lucciano.” She tastes my name on her tongue, and a deep protective urge swells inside me. I’m a trustworthy enough person. Despite all the killing, I’ve helped enough old ladies cross the street to get a Boy Scout badge or two, but for her, I want to be something more.

“I’ll bring you back,” I whisper back to her. She’s going back to her big pretty dorm, where she belongs.

Marcella gasps, her eyes roll back, and her mouth falls slack. Panic hot and ripping tears my insides apart as I search her face for the cause of her passing out again, finding nothing, I lift my eyes to my brother, looking for his help. That’s when I see he’s stuck a needle in her arm.

“What the fuck did you do?” I roar.

“Bianchi Bay,” he replies, standing.

“We can’t bring her! She has a life here! Her career!”

“Her life is with us, Lucky,” he repeats, as if I’m the child not listening. “And the clock is ticking. We don’t have much time.”

“Destiny is keeping time?”

Enzo looks down at his watch and back at me. “Cygnus knows I took her. He’ll come for us soon.”

My eyes fall closed, and frustration grabs me by my throat.

When I open them again, I take a long look at the man in front of me.

I notice his eyes and features like mine.

I pay attention to his expression, and I wonder how we got here.

He pushed me into a corner. He knows Bianchi Bay is the only place we can go now that Cygnus is looking for us.

I rise on my feet, Marcella still in my arms, and nod to my brother.

He starts packing. There’s not much he would miss, but I hear him stuffing it all in a bag.

I wait by the door with her, my stomach sinking when I think about what we’re doing.

What I’m letting him do. I don’t worry about clothes or guns.

Our car has always been packed, waiting for this moment.

I always knew Enzo was too wild to stay here under someone’s thumb, but I never thought I would load a woman in the car with us.

We make our way out of the warehouse and to his car. I put Marcella in the back seat and make sure she’s okay before taking my place in the driver's seat. I turn on the key and look in the eyes of my insane brother.

“We can’t keep her,” I warn him.

But he won’t listen. He never does.