Forever After All(51)

“Gag this asshole. I’m done hearing from him. Matter of fact, it seems like it might be best to never hear from him again.” I turn to my little brother and raise my brow. “Do you want me to make him disappear?”

Before Lucian can even answer me, police sirens sound from a distance. I glance at Marcus. He looks fucking stupid standing there with an egg in his mouth, but the victorious glint in his eyes is what pisses me off.

“This motherfucker managed to call the police before Elliot fried his shit.”

I sigh and pull out my phone, hating that I now have to ask for a favor. I manage to get the Director General of the Police on the line just as the police car parks in front of us. Two agents step out of the car, their guns drawn, their eyes on the men that are restraining Marcus.

“Afternoon, officers,” I say, nodding.

They point their guns at me, and I sigh. “Terrible idea,” I mutter. “Could you please tell me your name, rank, and station?”

Both of them blink, startled for just a second. They know as well as I do that they have to provide me with the information I asked for, and they do it grudgingly.

“Got all that?” I ask the Director General.

“Got it,” he repeats. “But you owe me, Alexander.”

I grit my teeth. “I know,” I say, ending the call.

I glance at Marcus with renewed hatred before turning back to the police officers in front of me.

“Now, I’m going to need you to let this man go,” one of them says, his voice calm, his gun aimed directly at me. I have to admire his temperament. We’ve got them outnumbered at least five to one, but it doesn’t faze him.

“I’m afraid I’ll be doing no such thing,” I tell him, feeling somewhat bad for him.

Lucian is clutching my sleeve while Elena’s hand trembles in mine. I hate that I put them in this situation. This isn’t something either of them should have to experience, and this is entirely on me. I’m the one that brought them here. I should’ve known to come alone.

“I regret to inform you,” I tell the officer, glancing at my watch, “that in less than a minute your receiver will inform you to stand back.”

He glances at the device strapped to his waist and laughs. When he looks back at me, it’s clear that he thinks he’s dealing with a psycho of some sort. He wouldn’t be entirely wrong.

He grabs his receiver and raises it to his lips to ask for backup, and I can’t even blame the guy. Unfortunately for him, his device crackles just as he’s about to speak. “Stand down. Leave the premises at once,” I can just about make out, recognizing the Director General’s voice. Both the officers look shocked and take a step back to request more information, their voices low, but eventually I see their shoulders sag.

They look at me, and the annoyance in their eyes is justified. I bet they became police officers because they wanted to make the world a better and safer place, only to come to the realization that none of it matters—this world is ruled by money. It always has been.

“Very well, Mr. Kennedy,” one of them says. He glances back at Marcus and then sighs. He shakes his head as he walks back to his car, his colleague in tow.

“How?” Lucian asks, his eyes filled with admiration I haven’t seen in years. I smile at him and ruffle his hair.

“Connections, Luce,” I murmur. He doesn’t need to know just how dirty I get my hands for our family.

Elena drops her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her.

“Let’s go home,” I say.

Elena and Lucian both nod. They look exhausted, and I’m not surprised.

“Take care of him,” I tell my men. “Make sure he doesn’t talk.”

Lucian looks back at Marcus one more time, his eyes red. Then he turns resolutely, renewed confidence in his eyes. He looks up at me gratefully, and I smile at him as I open the door for him.

Marcus is going to regret messing with my brother.





Chapter 36





A lexander



Lucian stops me as I’m about to walk to my bedroom, his hand on my sleeve. Elena glances at the two of us and slips away, a sweet smile on her face.

Lucian looks nervous and stares down at his feet. “I… I just wanted to say sorry,” he says. “I caused so much trouble today, but you didn’t hesitate to help me. Not just that… I know Elena and you have been arguing. I know I came between you two, and I could’ve fixed everything if I’d just spoken up, if I told you the truth… but I didn’t.”

I place my hand on his shoulder and smile. “You’re my little brother, Lucian. I will always have your back. Always. I’m sorry I wasn’t someone you could confide in.”

He swallows hard and nods. “You—you’re okay with it? You’re not ashamed of me?”

I frown at him. “What? No. Why would I be? Nothing has even changed. You’re still my baby brother, Luce.”

He looks at me in confusion. “But, Alec… I’m gay . This isn’t a phase. I’ve tried all my life, but I’ll never be attracted to a woman. At some point, the world will find out.”

I smile at him. “Well, when you’re ready to tell the world, I’ll be right there with you, if that’s where you want me. I’m not very good at this, Luce. I’m just not. I don’t know what the right thing to say is. I don’t know what you need to hear. All I know is that you’re my brother, and I’ll always love you the same. I don’t care who you sleep with.” I narrow my eyes at him. “So long as it isn’t my wife.”