Damien

Lucien pulled up in front of the office at exactly five o’clock. I had gathered my belongings meeting him at the door. Looking up at him I arched my brow, “and what exactly have you gotten into since lunch?”

He smiled at me, “he was now covered in dirt and grease but still managed to look fine as hell. “had to work on one of the machines.”

“Looks like the machine won, ” I said as I followed behind him. Hoping in the truck I looked over at Lucien as I buckled up, “Jax is a mess.”

Lucien laughed, “that boy is a full-on train wreck.”

I looked over at him, “so tomorrow I need to be here at 9?”

Lucien’s smile faded, “yeah if you want. I won’t be here tomorrow.” I nodded at him about to speak when he started talking again, “my brother Damien will be in tomorrow. He shouldn’t be in the office too much.” I looked at him wondering why he disliked his brother so much.

Before I knew it we were in my driveway. I looked over at him as I opened the door noticing the change in him. Sometimes he seemed as if his mind was somewhere else. Like something else demanded his attention.

Getting out of the truck I told Lucien bye before I began walking toward the house. He waited until I was safely inside before he pulled away. I had a billion thoughts running through my mind and every single one of them revolved around him. Walking upstairs I changed deciding I needed to take a run and forget about him for a bit.

The next morning I was not nearly as excited to get up and get ready for work as I was yesterday. The fact that Lucien wouldn’t be there had a lot to do with it. Leaving the house I made sure to give myself a reasonable about of time to get there not wanting to be early but also not wanting to show up straight up at 9.

When I was safely at my desk with a cup of freshly brewed coffee Jax came in collapsing on one of the chairs. “What is your problem,” I asked. “Did you stay up too late last night?”

Jax instantly perked up, “maybe, why do you ask?”

I laughed at him, “well maybe because you look exhausted.”

He shrugged, “I’m ok.” I made a face at him but was amused when I looked up from my paperwork not 5 minutes later to find him asleep in the chair.

The day was dragging, Jax had disappeared and I was debating on going to grab a bite to eat. Walking to the back I heard the front door ding and turned right back around figuring it was another one of the crew. What I saw when I hit the corner made me stop dead in my tracks. If I didn’t know better I would have thought Lucien had dyed his hair a dirty blonde color, the guy standing in front of me could have been his twin. Now I’m not sure if it was his twin but I was certain it was his brother.

The Lucien look-alike eyed me up and down before waking closer, “you must be Samantha.”

I nodded my head, “and you must be Damien.”

His brow arched as he licked his bottom lip grinning, “has my brother been telling you about me.”

I looked up at him, “no, Jax might have mentioned you.”

He nodded, “Lucien doesn’t care for me much so I try not to come around when he is here but you my dear might make me change my mind all together on that.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat, I knew good and damn well this boy was not making a pass at me. I needed air so I quickly changed the subject, “I’m about to leave to grab some lunch do I need to lock the front door?” He looked amused before telling me yes.

I really didn’t know where to go but I found a pizza parlor and quickly pulled in there. The old man at the counter was friendly and soon I was seated at a booth with a salad and a dr pepper as I awaited my pizza. I wasn’t too sure why but I felt almost guilty about my earlier interaction with Damien and found myself texting Lucien. “So I met your brother today.”

I debated on sending the message or not but I finally hit send sitting my phone down and turning my attention to my salad. I had no idea how Lucien would react to my message. The first time I text him and that’s what I decided to send him.

As my phone vibrated I picked it up reading, “he shouldn’t be there too long.”

I didn’t know how to respond so I didn’t, instead I focused on my pizza that was being sat down at my table. Taking a bite of the fresh pizza I sighed it was delicious. My phone went back off and I was halfway surprised to see it was Lucien again.

“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off.”

I read and reread his response smiling a little, “what in my second day! I might get fired.”

Lucien text back “I’m pretty sure the owner won’t mind. Jax can lock up, I’m going to come by tonight if you’re free.”

Free, my heart just stopped beating but I coolly typed “I’m sure I can pencil you in.”

Not returning back to the office made me feel guilty so I stopped by to grab my cardigan off of my chair. Damien and his dad were in the office talking so I politely waved and told them I was gone for the day. Paul wished me a safe trip home but Damien stared at me making me nervous. I couldn’t be sure but I was almost certain Lucien had sent me home because he didn’t want me around his brother.

It started raining on me as soon as I pulled off the main road and onto my long driveway. I sighed looking up at the dark clouds that were rolling in. Lucien was forgotten and my thoughts were replaced with how much I would freak out if my lights went out. Parking I had to run into the house and still ended up soaking wet. As soon as I entered my living room and shut the door I peeled off my shirt. I was freezing so I ran upstairs and changed into some socks, pj pants, and a shirt. I could change later for now I needed warmth.

The storm grew worse. I could hear the rain pelting on the roof and the lights started to flicker. Afraid to get caught in the dark I pulled out a lighter and began lighting candles. Soon my living room had candles everywhere. When these lights finally gave I would be ready. It was dark outside and I was just a little scared of how loud the thunder sounded. One loud crash and everything went silent for a moment. The lights had finally gone out and the candle’s glow made the house creepy. In fact, the house was creaking, I knew it was old but it still creeped me out.

With no lights, no tv I decided to go sit on the porch swing and watch the storm. The roof had kept the swing safe from the rain only allowing my legs to get wet as I swung out. Pulling my phone out I read losing myself in a book.

When I heard a truck I already knew it had to be Lucien. Putting my head in my hand I sighed, my ass had never changed, and had on a pair of hot pink and black cheetah socks, tinker bell pj pants, and an old school tee. Lucien on the other hand had parked and was making his way to my porch without hardly getting wet at all.

“Lights out?”

I nodded at him as he sat beside me, “yeah I didn’t even know it was supposed to rain today.”

Lucien looked up at the sky, “it should blow over soon but unfortunately, we lose lights almost every time it rains.”

I nodded at him, “so I ate at Pazoli’s today. It was really good.”

He nodded looking down, “you went alone?” He asked casually but I knew what he meant.

“Yeah, I had to get out of the office. Your brother is a little much.” It was true. Lucien was enough, another one of him was too much for me to handle.

He let out a deep breath, “yeah.”

A deep part of me wanted to ask what had happened between them but another part told me to mind my own business. “I would offer to feed you, but you know no lights,” I said putting my hands up.

He looked over at me, “I would offer to take you to town but,” he grinned at me, “I’m not going with you like that.”

I cut my eyes at him, “and why not?”

We both laughed and he arched his brow at me, ” seriously if your hungry we can go.”

I shrugged, “it’s ok, it’s not like I don’t have cereal or sandwich meat in there.”

He shook his head, “ok, I offered.” I nodded at him watching as his eyes scanned the tree line.

“You make me nervous when you do that,” I said gaining his attention.“Why?”

I shrugged, “cause I already think I hear things in the woods, and the way you scan the woods it’s like you see things in them.” I shook my head, “I’m sure I sound crazy.”

He grinned at me, “great so now you’re paranoid.” I frowned at him only to roll my eyes as he winked at me.

“So will you be in the office tomorrow?” I asked.

Lucien shrugged, “sorta. I will be around but not necessarily at the office.”

I nodded picking an imaginary piece of lint off my pants, “what about your brother?”

Lucien stopped us swinging and I could feel him tense up before he let out a deep breath. “No, he normally only comes in about once a week.”

I wanted to reach out and grab his hand for some reason but instead, I found myself blabbering, “why don’t you like him?”

Lucien bit his lip before turning to look at me, then back out at the trees. “I guess I’d rather you hear from me than anyone else.” I slowly let in a breath watching him kick us back off on the swing.

“Damien and I never were what you would call close. I mean we were brothers but he was always trying to prove himself to be dominant I guess. I left here for a couple of years to go to college and when I came back I brought a wife with me.” I swallowed my mind racing ahead of his words. “She never really liked it down here but I thought she was happy. I mean I didn’t expect to come home early and find her in bed with my brother.”

My mouth fell and suddenly I felt like a complete ass for prying into his business. “Lucien, I am so sorry. I would have never...”

He shook his head, “you didn’t know but it wouldn’t take long before you caught wind of something especially with Jack around.” He sighed, “I was in a rage when I found them, and Damien and I fought, each of us getting banged up pretty bad. In the end, I ended up divorcing her and once she figured out Damien had already moved on to his next target she moved back to where she come from.”

He looked over at me snorting, “the last thing I asked him was why he did it? He laughed in my face and told me it was to prove to me that he could take everything I ever cared about and not think twice about it.”

Lucien went to stand up and I instantly stood up with him causing us to collide and be chest to chest. I put my hands on his chest pushing him back, “please don’t leave yet. I’m sorry I upset you. It was none of my business. I moved here after a pretty bad breakup myself. Not as bad as yours but I understand betrayal.”

He let out a breath as he looked down at me but finally nodded, “okay.” We sat on the porch watching the rain not saying a word to each other, sometimes silence is all that needs to be said.