When Luca arrived at the Larsas’ place, the mansion bustled with activity even at such a late hour. The guards at the door showed signs of tension; their shoulders square and stiff while they stood straighter than a wall. He pitied the guys. The unlucky bastards must have endured more than their usual dose of screams.
Lilith Larsa was known for becoming a banshee whenever she got angry.
Standing before the office of New York’s Scarlet Queen of Crime, Luca combed his fingers through his short hair, trying to arrange his messy blond bangs. He growled at a few blue-dyed strands that refused to stay in place and sighed dejectedly before knocking at the door.
His stomach knotted as he waited. Though he had been a member of the Family for years, he had never met their elegant leader in person— unlike Marcus who held the absolute trust of both: The Scarlet Queen and her son, Vergil. Luca received his orders and reported to Vergil, so the only times he had laid eyes over Lilith Larsa were from afar.
The door opened, taking him out of his musings, and his white-haired boss appeared before moving to the side, silently letting him know he could enter. And there he found her, sitting over a large sofa like the crime boss she was.
Her long, crimson hair fell in waves over her left shoulder and her gorgeous amber eyes looked at him with mischief, as if she was fully aware he found her attractive.
Cuidado, Luca. That woman could rip out your heart and eat it in an instant; and I mean it literally, Huitzilopochtli’s voice warned while Luca entered the office. It was strange that the ancient Aztec god showed so much respect and caution before other creatures; meaning his bosses were powerful beings.
What are they? He asked to the divinity sharing his body, curiosity finally getting the better of him. It had been a question he had pondered for years but had never asked out of respect and fear. Plus, his godly buddy wasn’t one to be warning him about every supernatural creature they encountered. Luca had been close to death more than once because of Huitzi’s silence.
She is a demoness of such power that could leave me bleeding and broken, but he is a bit more. His mixed blood has the stench of the Greek gods.
Luca’s sky-blue eyes widened a second before he could reign in his surprise. He worked for two nuclear bombs. That was always great to know.
Suddenly, Vergil cleared his throat and his electric blue irises urged him to talk while the redhead’s lips curved up in a wicked smile. She crossed and uncrossed her long legs, letting the blond know she wore no panties beneath her bellflower, knee-length skirt.
The man swallowed hard before starting his report. He recounted how his group was ambushed by the Yakuzas and, later, how he covered Marcus’ escape. He knew his little supernova stunt would force him to reveal his secret, but it was worth it since he was able to save his friend’s life. Plus, everything was different now. He wouldn’t be seen as a freak since his superiors were supernatural creatures as well.
“So, it was you the one behind the explosion,” Vergil stated, putting his fingers against his lips in a thoughtful expression. “How did you managed to pull that off? It destroyed three blocks.”
Be absolutely sure of this before opening your mouth.
Luca was about to explain himself when the Aztec’s warning made him clamp his jaw. What is your problem all of the sudden? If they are so powerful like you say, we should come clean. I bet I’m already going to be punished for hiding you for five years, so I don’t want to make it worse.
“You’re merely a human,” Lilith said, getting up from the sofa and walking up to him. Her hand crawled up his chest until it reached his left shoulder. “How could you create such an explosion without conventional means?” Her hand lingered in his shoulder as she rounded him and stopped at his right side. Pressing her breasts against his back, she leaned to whisper in his ear. “Is there something you are hiding from us?”
Luca bit his lower lip, wanting more of her body pressed to his, and lowered his gaze. “I’m ashamed to admit I do, Missus Larsa.” He paused to swallow once more as the woman slid her free hand up his chest, clearly feeling the muscles underneath his clothes. “I share my body with the soul of an Aztec god. He lends me part of his powers in exchange for being able to walk among the living once more.”
“Mmmm,” The Scarlet Queen breathed in his ear.
Her moan fanned his desire and began hardening his penis. Dammit! Luca didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of Vergil just because his mother was playing temptress.
Yes, she was gorgeous. Her lips were full and plump like delicious cherries while her large, honey-colored eyes appeared to hypnotize with their depths. Even the faint expression lines at the corner of her eyes only added to her beauty. The problem was he had never been a man who sought out a pretty lady just to fuck her. So, what was wrong with him?
“Which god?” Vergil asked but Luca only looked at him with glazed eyes. The Scarlet Queen’s son rolled his blue orbs and blew out a tired breath before turning to the redhead. “Stop it now, mom. Your pheromones are already messing with his head.”
“Is that so?” She smirked and pulled away but not before biting the blond’s ear. Her efforts were recompensed by a tiny moan that succeeded in turning her smirk into a full-blown smile.
Luca shook his head, feeling as if a fog had been lifted from his mind, and mumbled an apology for his lack of composure. When his white-haired boss asked again, he was quick to answer. A sudden cold shiver ran down his back in response and something told him it meant Huitzilopochtli wasn’t happy with his decision. To hell with the Aztec’s opinion. They were in a middle of a war and he preferred to be on the demons’ side than against them.
Both, mother and son, looked at each other; their eyes gleaming with the prospect of a new pawn to use in their chess game.
“Huitzilopochtli is a sun and war deity,” Vergil said, gazing at nothing in particular as he put a hand under his chin. “His power would be useful to defeat the Yakuzas.”
“No, my dearest,” The Scarlet Queen said, turning to her son. Even when her tone of voice was soft, it demanded obedience. “I have grown tired of those insects. You will not seek defeat but the absolute destruction of every one of those bastards, including their leader. It’s time we rid my city of the Japanese Mafia once and for all. Possessed or not, they all must perish.”
Marcus’ head reeled. The sensation of Tara’s warm, soft body pressed against his was like turning back time. Her sweet fragrance invaded his nose and made him hold her tighter as he kissed her like there was no tomorrow. His eyes were closed while his tongue buried itself deep in her mouth, trying to awaken the same fire that coursed through his veins, but it was futile. She just stood there, letting him do whatever he pleased to her.
It felt wrong. Sick. And the moment a drop of water wetted his cheek, he broke the kiss. But it wasn’t water, it was a tear.
She was crying.
His eyes met her clear ambers confused by the catalyst of such sadness. Was it because of his present actions or the past ones? His hold around her relaxed but his hands refused to leave her waist. He didn’t want to let her go. Not now, not ever.
Was that selfish of him?
He licked his lips, savoring her taste and lifting a hand to cup her cheek. “I have always loved you, Tara. That will never change even if you tell me you’re a demon from hell.”
More tears ran down her cherubic face and she lowered her gaze while shaking her head. Her lips began moving, forming strange, exotic words under her breath the likes he had never heard another use.
“Tara?” he asked. His heart began beating wildly inside his chest, sensing something was wrong.
When her lips stopped whatever they had been muttering, she lifted her gaze to him. Raw pain shone inside her amber irises before she looked away. “I’m sorry. Don’t look for me again.”
And with those parting words, the world around him disappeared.
********************
Spanish
*cuidado= be careful
Chapter word count: 1469
Total word count: 10,896