Page 83 of The Cruelest Chaos

Atlas adjusts his hat. “Luce,” he says conversationally.

Lucifer picks his head up. His eyes are bloodshot.

“When’s the last time you checked up on Finn?”

Way to lighten the mood, asshole.

Lucifer looks like he might kill Atlas. Instead, he rakes a hand through his black, curly hair. “When’s the last time you got hit in the fucking mouth?”

Atlas laughs good-naturedly, slides his hands into his pockets, his feet flat on the floor as he slouches down in the pew. “Chill, man. I was just wondering if Sid had met him yet, that’s all.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrow. “What’s it matter to you?”

Atlas snorts. “You’re my brother. She’s family now.” He shrugs. “I didn’t know you’d be so touchy about it.”

Before Lucifer can respond, Cain speaks from the steps on the podium. “Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve got to hang out with you two, and last night didn’t go so well, huh?” There’s no accusation in his tone, but his dark eyes are narrowed on the back of Lucifer’s head.

Lucifer doesn’t turn around to face Cain, but I know for a fact he’s hating being in the hot seat. He can keep fucking hating it. He’s got shit to answer to, and these are the least of the questions he should worry about. Last night didn’t go wellbeforeJeremiah Rain showed up. He was just the icing on the fucking cake.

“She hasn’t met him. She hasn’t wanted to.”

“How’s Julie feel about your wifey?” Ezra asks.

Lucifer looks back down at his lap, his hands clasped together over his knees. “She doesn’t know.”

I actually choke on my own saliva. “Shedoesn’t know?”I repeat.

Lucifer tips his head up to stare at me. “You deaf?”

“If I was, I wouldn’t have to listen to your emo bullshit. But as it is, no. I’m just shocked to find the woman that you keep coddling with your cash doesn’t know you got fucking married.”

“Fuck off and answermyquestion,” he snaps at me. “Did you take the girl home last night?”

I shrug. “Maybe I fucked her at my house instead. What’s it to you?” I smirk at him, thinking of the other night. “You jealous?”

He tips his head up and laughs, exposing his throat. A throat that I wouldn’t mind sinking my knife into right now. When he dips his head back down, there’s venom in his gaze. “Mav, I think we both know who, between the two of us, is fuckingjealous.”

I’m suddenly wishing I’d drank everything that was left in Ez’s flask. But I keep my composure, not moving as I say, “I already fucked Sid, bro. Yeah, she was good, but Ella? She lets me do whatever the fuck I want to her.”

Atlas is the first person to react. He stands up as Ezra shoots daggers my way. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?” Atlas asks me.

I have my eyes on Lucifer when I answer, “I’m just feeling like something’s happened to us, and I’m not feeling so sure that Lucifer is a good fit for my sister anymore.”

Even though I’m being a shit, I mean what I said. Lucifer won’t let Sid out of his sight. We’re falling apart. We have been ever since…Sacrificium. Since we had to look at ourselves in the fucking mirror for the first time in a while, and turns out, we don’t like a damn thing we see.

“You think Jeremiah Rain is a good fucking fit for your sister, Mav?” Lucifer snarls, pushing up to his feet. He moves slowly, but I see his fists. I see that vein in his neck, just over top his skeleton bandana. “You think she’s gonna survive his hands?”

“Stop, Luce,” Atlas says.

Cain is still staring at the back of Lucifer’s head and Ezra is watching everything as if he’s on high alert. As if he’s not been drinking from that flask all night.

“Actually, I’m starting to thinkhis handscan’t possibly be any worse thanyours.And the way you left Sid last night, when itcounted—”

“You accusing me of something, Mav? If so, why don’t you fucking spell it out for me instead of speaking in metaphors.”

I smile at him, at his little dig at my love of poetry. At least I can fucking read. He might’ve graduated top of our class, but I’m still not sure his father didn’t have something to do with that. “You got Sid a car yet, bro?”

He stiffens. “What I buy for my wife isn’t any of your fucking business—”