Lucian (West Norton Boys Series Book 1) Page 3

  It took less than ten minutes to get to Aunt Cora’s, and I could already see the cars lining the driveway that led to her two-storey house. The eight long windows of the second floor where dark, but light came and went as though the doors were being opened up inside.

  The left-hand side of the first floor was in darkness too, but the right was lit up and bodies were moving around to the thumping music that we could hear from halfway down the drive. My mom managed to stop at the turning point next to the small fountain with a dolphin. The water spouted out of its mouth and into the decorative stone bowl below it.

  She turned to me. “Remember what I said. You can have one beer, don’t leave any of your drinks unattended, and if you don’t feel safe, then you find Cora’s room, lock yourself in, and call me right away.”

  I smiled at my mom’s concern. “I promise,” I replied.

  She pulled me in for a hug. “I mean it, baby. Just because Grace is family, it doesn’t mean I trust her friends.”

  I sat back and raised a brow. “Or her?” I fought back a grin.

  My mom pursed her lips. “She might be my niece, but that girl…” She didn’t say anything else as she shook her head.

  “Mom,” I lay my hand on her arm. “I’ll be fine, I swear.”

  My door was yanked open and brunette curls bounced as the head moved down to me. “There you are!” Grace exclaimed, and lifted her hand to wave. “Hey, Aunt Vi. Don’t worry, Lu’s gonna be fine here. I’ll have her home safe and sound.”

  I should’ve brought my car.

  The hairs on my arms stood on end as the thought of having to rely on somebody else to go home hit me. Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? Oh, right, because I’d insisted I had one beer at a party thrown for me by my cousin, and I wasn’t allowed to drive.

  I had an Audi S1, a cute white Sportback that my parents had saved for. Seeing it parked in our driveway that morning was like a dream come true. A huge purple ribbon was tied around it with a bow on the top. It was my pride and joy, and my freedom.

  “Are you regretting insisting you have alcohol?” my mom asked, and I didn’t miss the glee in her tone. “You could’ve come home any time you want, but you—”

  “I know,” I blew out. “Don’t rub it in, Mom.”

  “You’re a worrywart, Aunt Vi,” Grace said, then chuckled. “Luca’s going to be fine, but we gotta get inside before people start to leave before she gets in there.”

  I waved goodbye to my mom, and she watched as I walked up the steps to the front door, only driving away once it opened.

  “I see you went with the safe option?” Grace asked and winked, gesturing to my outfit.

  “What can I say? I know what I like.”

  She laughed. “Well, at least you took my advice and went with the necklace.” She nudged me with her elbow as we headed down the pale peach hall toward the archway to the kitchen. “You look great, and happy birthday.”

  I smiled wide. “Thanks, Grace.”

  “The birthday girl is here!” she yelled when we entered. “Everybody, this is my cousin, Luca!”

  Red cups were held high, faces turned toward us and deafening cheers of ‘happy birthday, Luca’ chorused around the room. It. Was. Packed. There must have been at least thirty people in that room alone. I couldn’t even make out the center island or the black granite top, but that was because of the kegs and the food.

  Even though I’d had a big birthday lunch with my mom, my stomach growled as I spotted the large bowls of chips and dips. They were in the middle where people could grab on the way past, if they could get through the guests, while boxes of pizza sat on the counter to the left, next to the tall ovens. I counted four stacks of five boxes, the strong smell of cheese and fresh toppings wafting over to me when I passed.

  “Was everybody waiting in here?” I asked as Grace took my hand and led me over to them.

  She laughed. “That’s cute. Hungry?” she asked, opening the closest box.

  “Starving.” I peeked inside and grabbed a slice, taking a bite and closing my eyes as I chewed the hot deliciousness. “Oh my god, that’s so good.”

  “I told you we have the best pizza place around here,” she replied with a grin. “I think I must keep them in business.” She turned around and scanned the crowd who was busy talking, some of them looking over at us. “When you’re done, we’ll mingle. Everybody knows to let you settle in before bombarding you with questions.” She winked, and then tucked into her own slice.

  That made sense as to why nobody was calling her every second for attention or something else. The last party I’d been to, you could walk through the door, have your first drink, three conversations, and a bunch of questions thrown at you before you made it through the place. I was glad to be able to eat in peace before I met any of the goodness knows how many people were here.

  A girl with red hair tied in a messy knot on her head came up to me. “Happy birthday, Luca, I’m Paige. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Her wide smile was bright and lit up her blue eyes. She blinked her black mascara-covered lashes. “Grace told us you moved here a couple of weeks ago.”

  I nodded. “I did. It’s nice to meet you too, Paige. I love your dress,” I said, looking down at her blue lace overlay dress. The straps were thin, accentuating her slim shoulders.

  Paige looked down too. “Aww, thank you! I got it just the other day. Your party gave me a reason to wear it,” she said, toying with the handkerchief hem, exposing the nude liner underneath. “Are you starting West Norton High?”

  I smiled while narrowing my eyes. “Yeah, why?”

  Paige’s smile grew wider and she slipped her arm around mine. “I go to that school. We should talk,” she said, pulling me from Grace’s side while Grace chuckled. “Let’s grab a drink and I’ll tell you all about it.” She guided me over to the kegs, her black heels clicking on the stone tiles. “I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends.”

  Paige wasn’t kidding when she said she’d tell me all about it. She seriously told me all about it, and instead of finding myself drifting off, I hung on her every word. It wasn’t a big school, but there was enough drama to make up for it. From the pranks of pouring red dye in the pool and blaming it on girls having their period, to dead fish being hidden in the vents and stinking out the place. And those were tame.

  A lot of guests had stopped by to say hi, give their birthday wishes and then moved on. Paige didn't miss a beat once they’d left.

  “The football teams hold an annual ball in the gym to welcome the next year’s hopefuls.” She rolled her eyes. “I swear, they’re worse than cheerleader tryouts. But”—she held up a finger—“instead of trying out, which is held on the field the next day, they have a massive party.” As if sensing my confusion, she continued. “If they can handle a game after an all-nighter, they make it to the next round.” She shrugged, then laughed.

  I laughed with her. “Harsh.”

  “Yeah, but it’s a ton of fun.” She jerked her chin over toward the other people and then looked over at the folding doors at the back of the massive living room. “Well, it used to be when these guys could go. Most of them graduated this year, like Grace, or the previous like some of the others. Those were the days when things could get seriously wild.”

  It could get worse than that?

  “This is boring!” Grace yelled, coming into the mostly white living room. “Crank up the music, the party’s moving outside!”

  I put my hands over my ears when hollers and fuck yeah’s erupted.

  “I guess we should go outside to see what’s going on?”

  Paige nodded. “Now the fun begins.”

  My eyes widened at her devilish grin, and snapped my head to Grace.

  Her eyes sparkled with mischief while her lips stretched until her smile rivaled a Cheshire cat. “Did you think this would be a harmless tea party like when we FaceTimed?” she asked, walking over and taking my hands. She pulled me up from the dark-gray leather cou
ch, closing the gap between us until we were almost hugging. “That was just the beginning. You don’t get to sit down and chat all night, Lu. We like to play games, and they usually involve getting seriously wasted.”

  She pulled me over to the doors, and as I stepped over the edge onto the India-stone patio, my jaw dropped. Not only were people stripping off, revealing their swimwear before jumping into the pool, what looked to be beer pong was set up on a long table, shot glasses and bottle of liquor set up in a row on another, and cards on a smaller round table off to the side. Garden lamps lit up the pathway that wound around the enormous garden, disappearing behind extravagant looking trees and bushes where the pool’s waterfall cascaded down.

  Aunt Cora had been around the world a few times, and it seemed she’d brought her love of the exotic right to her home. Tiny ball lights hung above us, illuminating the madness that was beginning, making it look like a crazy house party I’d seen on TV. I only hoped the end result wan’t the same. My mom would be furious if the cops came, and no doubt Aunt Cora would go completely bat shit if she saw that her expensive home had been reduced to what I could only describe as a wild frat house.

  A movement to my right caught my eye. I glanced over at a group of four guys sat around on black woven loungers, rocking on the curved metal legs. Smoke filled the air around them as they exhaled, then drank from the cups on the glass-topped table next to them. Girls circles around them as though waiting to be noticed, flicking their hair and wiggling their fingers at them.

  Grace tugged on my hand, grabbing my attention. “I can loan you a swimsuit, Lu, but I won’t force you to get in.” I was beginning to worry she had a serious case of Jekyll and Hyde. “Look, you’re my cousin, and I care about you. If anybody, and I mean anybody fucks with you, you tell me, got it?” I nodded quickly, suddenly terrified of her. “Good. Then enjoy your night, birthday girl, because your settling in time is over.”

  Chapter 3

  Lucian

  I scrubbed down my face as my irritating tone rang on my phone. I yanked it out of my pocket, and saw my brother’s name across the screen for FaceTime.

  I tapped it, and after it connected, his grinning face appeared along with the blaring noise of Grace’s party.

  “You’re missing out!” he fucking chirped, laughing his ass off while his attention was on something else. “Oh my god, that kid just grabbed a girl and jumped in the pool. She’s fully clothed, too.” He cackled like a witch and added, “Which is shame, cos she’s got a decent rack that I wouldn’t mind checking out.”

  “Looks like you already did,” I fired back, resting back against my windshield. I’d parked up at the back of the closed mall. No bright lights, no sounds of people shopping, just darkness and silence while images of the fight ran fresh through my mind.

  “You know what I mean, dickwad, up close and indecent. I might have to help her dry off.” He pumped his brows, then sat up straight on the lounger, and Charlie’s head came into view. Brady gestured for the guys to gather around. “What gives?”

  I shook my head, and curled one side of my lip as if to say ‘not much’. “It was over when I got there.” I sat up and slid off the black hood, careful not to scratch the paintwork with my jeans. “Murphy was down.”

  Charlie whistled low while Brady frowned. “How did he take it?”

  I shook my head again. “Fuck knows.” I shrugged, then added, “He looked dead when I got there.”

  “Fuck me,” Brady whispered. “Is he okay?”

  “No clue. I’m waiting on a call back.” I’d called one of the regulars I’d known since I started at the pit. I made some shit up, saying that I was calling about Murphy’s fight, and asked how much cash he’d won. When he told me Murphy had been taken to the hospital, I’d acted like I was surprised. “Trent’s supposed to keep me updated, but it’s been more than two hours.”

  “Then come over,” Nate chimed in, his face moving in front of Brady’s, shoving his fucking nostrils up to the screen.

  “I can see up your nose, asshole.”

  He laughed then the picture shook as though the phone was moving. “Check this out,” he said, then the camera flipped. The same old shit appeared in front of me, except it was in focus. “Blaine’s challenging some chick to a shot race. He said that if he wins, she sucks his dick, if she wins, he eats her out.” He laughed hard. “I don’t know how he got her to agree to that, but either way, the asshole’s gonna get some action.”

  I chuckled. There was no doubt that if Blaine won, that girl was gonna win too. He’d eat her pussy anyway, then he’d fuck her. It was always the way.

  While Nate held the camera, my eyes bulged. That hair, that face… I’d seen them before. The long blonde waves, the big blue eyes, those lips… Fuck, I had to get to Grace’s party. Standing behind the girl that had no idea Blaine was going to, as he put it,’rock her world,’ was Luca. The same girl that I couldn’t get out of my damn head for weeks.

  “Give me my phone, Nate,” Brady said, then the camera turned back to him. “You coming over while you wait for Trent’s call?”

  I shrugged as though I wasn’t already digging my keys out of my pocket while walking to the driver side of the car. “Fuck it, I’ll be there in ten.”

  “I have a joint with your name on it, dimples, so hurry the fuck up.”

  The second my engine roared to life, I wheel spun as I floored the gas pedal. If I knew my brother and friends, and I fucking did, I didn’t have much time before they honed in on the fresh meat.

  She was mine.

  I slammed on the brakes, cut the engine and ditched the car in the middle of the graveled driveway. I didn’t give a shit that I’d blocked in at least four others. What were they gonna do, kick my ass? I snorted at the thought. I glanced over my shoulder at the two huge stripes I’d caused with the tires, one side of my mouth curling up. They’d be gone by lunch time tomorrow. Grace always hired a company to clean shit up after her parties, making sure her mom never had a damn clue how out of control they could get.

  I walked up to the front, the light from the inside blocking the view through the long, narrow glass in the center, disguising my arrival. I gripped the sleek, chrome handle and was about to push open the wooden door. I paused, catching sight of Grace talking to the reason I changed my mind. I stared at her profile, the slope of her nose, the way her lip protruded, making them look fucking edible. Her hair was wet, and the white tee and denim shorts she wore made my mouth water.

  I backed away from the door, the idea of approaching her looking more and more ridiculous the longer I thought about it. But, it was a party. People talk at parties, they mix, they have a good time with the other guests—nothing more to it.

  I turned, walking down the four brick patterned steps and cut across the flat lawn to the side gate.

  “Brady,” I said next to his ear at the same time I slapped my hands down on his bare shoulders. He jumped, spilling beer over his stomach and chest.

  “Stupid fuck!” he squealed, making me chuckle. “It’s a good job you’re my brother, otherwise I’d fucking drown you in that pool,” he snapped, which only made me laugh a little louder. “You said ten minutes—that was barely five.”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “Light traffic.” I quickly glanced over to the doors that were folded all the way back, leading to the living room, but I couldn’t see in far enough to spot Luca.

  Brady side-glanced me, narrowing his eyes. “My ass.” He wagged his finger, the suspicious dick, and moved closer, lowering his voice. “It’s almost eleven. Traffic is always light at this hour. What’s going on?”

  I rolled my eyes and stole his seat on the lounger. I threw my hood back and unzipped my black hoodie, showing my red t-shirt underneath. It was still scorching hot, but I didn’t want it to appear like I was there to stay.

  Nate handed me the joint, and flicked the lighter when I put it to my mouth. “Blaine’s upstairs,” he said after my first pull. The smoke entered my lungs,
the burning lasting just a few seconds before I released the cloud into the air. “And would you know it, he lost the shot race.” He smirked, shaking his head. “Cadence was so pleased.”

  “I bet.” I took other pull of my joint, letting my shoulders relax as I lay back against the curved rest on the lounger. “Fuck, this is good shit.”

  “You know it,” Charlie said, coming to sit on the end of the other lounger next to me. His hair dripped wet, and he ran his hand over it, slicking it back. Drops flew over me, but I didn’t give a damn. “Stoney’s got the best around here. I got a kilo bag this morning. Should last us a while at least.”

  I nodded while I slowly blew the smoke upward, rounding my lips and jerking my jaw to make rings.

  A dark figure passed in front of the lights, casting a shadow over me. “I was hoping I’d see you here tonight.”

  I opened my eyes and turned my head to see Darcy standing there, her yellow bikini soaking and slightly see-through. The dark circles of her nipples were visible through the fabric. “Here I am,” I replied, closing my eyes and resuming my position. I had no fucking idea why she was here, or who’d let her in, but I needed to her to move out of the damn way because she was cutting off my view. The lounger was in the perfect spot, almost facing the house.

  Light shone on the side of my face, and just when I thought Darcy had gone, her ass landed on my lap. My eyes shot open and I glared. “You’re wet,” I growled.

  She bit her lower lip. “I could be,” she purred, but it did absolutely nothing for me.

  I looked down at her body, the drips of water sliding down over her barely covered tits. Darcy was hot, there was no denying that her curves would make any guy give his left nut to fuck her. But, she was clingy, needy and damn irritating; traits I never found attractive whatsoever, and also one of the worst people I knew. She went after what she wanted, though, and I admired that, but in this case she wanted something she couldn’t have.