Page 11 of The Clash of the Damned (The Titan Syndicate Saga #2)

Luca

T ime seems to slow after Amelia leaves.

I watch the sun rise through my floor to ceiling glass windows, but when the light becomes too much, I lower my blinds until I’m surrounded in darkness.

The logical part of my brain knows I’m in shock, again.

The rest of me can’t find the energy to care.

My whole life I thought I was the lucky one, that while the other heirs had shitty parents, I had hit the jackpot.

None of it was real.

I don’t know what’s a bigger betrayal, hearing what my mother really thought of me, or hearing the memories I have of my father’s death, the ones I’ve cried multiple tears over, aren’t my own.

There is no rule book on how to navigate grief, and I know I’ve been doing my best. But every time I think I’m going to be okay, I get hit with something like this.

When does it end? I haven’t cried since that night, since I heard Mom was taken from me.

Is this why? Did I instinctively know and didn’t want to admit the truth to myself ?

High heels click against the tiles, and I look up from my spot on the couch to see Jude storming into my apartment with Silva on her tail. “What are you doing here?” I croak, my voice raspy from disuse.

Jude grabs the remote from me and opens the living room blinds before she turns to glare at me with her hand on her hip.

“I know you’re Undead, but living in darkness like this is ridiculous.

” Squinting against the light filtering into my living room, I lift my hand to shield my eyes as they adjust to the unwelcome intrusion.

Jude falls on the couch next to me with Silva following her lead. Almost like they’re caging me in, scared I’m going to run. “Amelia called.” Jude tests the words, knowing it’s a sensitive subject.

“Seems she’s giving me a chance to prove I’m not as selfish as she claimed, even though I hate we need a reason.”

Jude’s mouth opens, then shuts again, as if she’s choosing her words carefully.

Like saying the wrong thing could upset me.

“When she told me what happened, I called Silva to come let me in. I’m taking the night off from my new responsibilities to focus on you.

You’re a priority too, despite what some people may think.

I’m here to remind you that you’re Luca fucking De Greer. ”

I register how dressed up Jude is. Her beautiful chestnut curls are gathered into a high pony with silver hoop earrings, the look accentuating her cheekbones beautifully. Her couture, gray, mini dress shows off her athletic build, and she’s never looked more like the head of the Druid empire.

“Do you know why my parents named me Luca? A unisex name to some, but predominantly male to others?” Her lips purse as she tries to figure out the answer.

“They believed I could do anything I set my mind to, and I shouldn’t be limited by a feminine name.

But what does that say for my future, when the people that supposedly love me most, wanted me dead? ”

Jude puts her arms around my waist and her head on my shoulder, and for a moment, I allow myself to soak in the small, yet temporary, comfort. When she leaves, my small reprieve will leave with her.

“You’re allowed to be sad, L. Druids know this has been a shitty time for you.

But you can’t let the sadness win. I wouldn’t wish heartbreak on my worst enemy, nevermind you.

But we’re both here, and I still love you, and we’ve got each other.

Yes, our empires will have to come first, but we’re going to figure out how to make it work. ”

Jude stands and disappears upstairs into my bedroom, leaving Silva and me. “Did you know? I ask her.

Silva leans back into the couch and sighs, her ever ageless face plain of makeup with her gray hair in a ponytail.

It’s the most casual I’ve ever seen her in jeans and a shirt with sneakers.

“I had my suspicions, but I was never able to prove it. To accuse the Head of the Undead unjustly would have meant my immediate death. The only thing I could do was keep you close in case it was true. Why do you think I encouraged you to work at Tao so soon? It was the only way I could keep you safe.”

It seems the version of Gabriela De Greer we knew was a lie.

We placed her on a pedestal as someone we both loved and cherished.

Yet that version of her existed only in our minds.

Confronted with the truth, neither of us know how to move on.

In desperate need of a distraction from our grief, I switch to a much safer subject.

“How is Tao doing?”

“It’s been better. Business has been slower than normal, and I’m not sure if that’s because you’re on leave, or because of the cult, or both.”

“There’s something else you’re not telling me. What is it? You’ve got that look on your face, the one that looks like you just ate a lemon.” My hands tighten around the couch edge, bracing myself for the news.

“I wasn’t going to tell you; you’re dealing with enough as it is–”

I hold up my hand, cutting Silva off. “I am sad, no heartbroken, at the amount of betrayal I’ve needed to deal with in a short span of time, but that doesn’t mean there is something wrong with my brain. Spit it out.”

Silva doesn’t bother hiding her small grin. “Good to see some of your fire is still under there. One of the humans that uses our laundering services has been accused of fraud.”

“Why exactly do I care about said human?” I ask, my nostrils flaring in irritation.

“Because said human is in politics. The type that could end them up in the White House. The whole country will see this unfold.”

Fuck. Rubbing my temples, I make a quick decision. “Call the Rogues.” I’m careful not to use either Amelia or Sebastian’s name. “They owe me at least one favor; get them to take care of it. A human will talk, and we can’t have that. We’ve had enough attention on the empires as it is.”

Silva nods and hesitates as if she’s not done with the confessions yet.

“Yes?” I prompt her. She motions to the empty space next to my couch, which would be perfect for the two shrines missing from my life.

“I know. There should be one for both my parents. But how do I honor our dead when how I lost my father was a lie, and the mother I thought loved me, was the very reason for it?”

Jude takes that as her cue to come down from my bedroom with three dresses slung over her arm. “That’s why we’re going out tonight.” She offers her other hand to help me up from the couch .

“Remind me how a night out is helpful again? I am not getting it.”

Jude pops her hip out, like my question has insulted her in some way, before she tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Because it’s great PR, obviously. Not only does it promote a message of stability to our empires, I know those influencers always want to see what the famous Luca is up to.”

“It’s not a bad idea, Luca; we could use the promotion,” Silva adds.

Pointing to the dresses, I ask, “I assume one of them is for me?”

Jude smiles at me. “Pick one and get ready. We’re going out in thirty minutes.”

Tensing, I prepare my argument. “I don’t want to–”

Jude cuts me off. “You’ve wallowed enough. Time to be fabulous again.” She slaps me on the ass, and I yelp.

I run up the stairs to my open plan bedroom and bathroom ensuite and make quick work of showering while Silva and Jude wait for me below. “Where are we going tonight?” I yell out.

“A rooftop party that will benefit a charity. It will be good for us to be seen there as anyone who is important will also be in attendance. It will help reassure the public that we’re not the monsters that the cult is making us out to be.”

I towel my hair and decide to let it air dry while I add a thin layer of make up and grab the first dress that Jude offered me. A little black number, classic Luca. When I’m done getting ready and join them downstairs again, Jude smiles at my newly improved appearance.

“If there was one thing I can agree with Amelia on, I have been a poor friend to you. I hope you can forgive me as we try again?”

I notice the sparkling rock on her finger that wasn’t there before.

“Damn, that diamond nearly blinded me.” My lame joke doesn’t sound nearly as funny as it did in my head.

“When did he officially propose? If I missed this, maybe I’m not a great friend either.

” She waves at me, dismissing my thought.

“He did good. It’s almost three carats, a yellow diamond.

He picked that, knowing it was my favorite.

I catch myself staring every now and then because I can’t believe it’s real.

” Jude grabs me in a hug and adds, “Maybe we’re all just trying our best, but we aren’t perfect, and sometimes, that’s okay. ”

***

Silva seems to be relieved to get back to Tao as Jude and I drive to the rooftop party in her convertible. Shaking off my despair, I catch up on what I’ve missed. “How did Jayden propose?”

Jude smiles, but never takes her eyes off the road, and I wonder if something more could grow between them. “He kept it between us, just like I wanted, and he also understood I wanted a girl’s night with you. I can see how things could be good with him.

“My turn,” Jude continues. “In case we’re asked tonight, how did you explain your mom’s death, because I still don’t know.”

I swallow the emotion building in my throat. It would be inconvenient to cry now. “She’s retired and gone on an extended cruise.” I pause, collecting myself. “I’m hoping this gives me a bit more time to come up with something solid because right now, I’ve got nothing.

“If Eden is there tonight, be careful, okay? She has come for my family already and is far more dangerous than she appears. While now is not the time to go into details, I just need you to be careful, please. I can’t lose you too.

” Squeezing her free hand, I assure Jude she won’t.

We park at the event and are immediately greeted with an unwelcome sign.

“The Vance Family Welcomes You?” I read out loud. “We can leave right now. No one will ever know we were here,” I tell Jude.

She bites her lip as she deliberates, then pushes the button on the elevator.

“We’ve come this far. I don’t run anymore; that was the old me.

May as well show our faces.” The elevator takes us to the rooftop, and the perfect summer evening greets us with a no-expenses-spared party and a champagne shower at the entrance.

We both grab a glass of champagne as we adjust to our new situation.

It doesn’t take long before unwelcome company finds us.

“Jude, Luca, I would like you to meet my fiancé, Sloane.” I can’t very well kill Dom in public, and he knows it.

But I do placate myself with the idea of it.

I can think of three different ways to kill him, slowly and painfully in the time we’ve arrived at the party.

Which is why the coward is cornering us here.

They look like the perfect power couple, him in his signature three piece suit, and her with her stunning red hair; I just don’t care.

“Charmed,” I respond before turning on my heel and grabbing Jude’s arm, dragging her to the bar with me.

Champagne isn’t going to cut it; I need something stronger.

I signal to the bar tender for two shots of tequila, and without needing any prompting, Jude chases the bitter liquid with me.

When we turn back towards the event, I finally see the dreaded Eden in real life.

She looks smaller, less harmless in person.

It’s not the first time we’ve had issues with religious groups, and I doubt it will be the last. Eden makes eye contact with me, and she doesn’t back down from our stare off until someone asks her something.

Not wanting to be rude, she turns away from me .

“I didn’t think he would go through with it,” Jude whispers.

“Who?” I ask and follow her eye line to the brunette laughing with every man and woman that stares at her impressive cleavage, accentuated by her jade green, cut out dress.

She looks up, her smile lighting the room, and every eye follows her as she makes her way to the bar.

Shortly after, she is joined by Sebastian.

With his signature vest, tailored slacks, and leather jacket combo, he still looks every bit the bad boy I remember.

He locks eyes with Jude, and I decide this is what it must feel like to be caught in the middle of a train wreck.

“Jude, this is my…fiancé. Giada. Giada, this is Jude…The heir to the Druid empire.” I can see the jealousy written all over Jude, and I know Sebastian can too.

“It’s amazing how you declare your love for me one week, and then you have a fiancé the next,” Jude says without missing a beat.

If Giada is taken aback by her statement, she doesn’t show it. Kissing Sebastian on his cheek, she says in a husky tone, “I’ll give you a moment,” before she leaves us at the bar.

An agitated Sebastian turns to Jude. “I thought you were mad at me because of the sitdown. Now, you’re jealous? Can you pick a lane and stick to it?”

“I’m not doing this with you here, Sebastian. You’re making a scene.”

“Well, as much as I would love a quick fuck in the closet for you to get your jealousy out of your system, you’ve made it clear you don’t want me.

You would know that tonight was my engagement party if you answered your fucking phone.

Unless you’ve had a change of heart and you’re ready to admit how you feel, deal with it. I’m done being your fuck boy. ”

Sebastian finally acknowledges me with a head tilt before he stalks after his new fiancé, and the whispers about us increase.

If we wanted to fly under the radar tonight and dispel Eden’s rumour mill, well, we failed.

We got people talking more than normal, and I’m not sure how that can be a good thing.